Loss of Power Steering at Extreme Temperature
The Purchasing Manager of an important company in the Automotive sector contacted us in 2014 to inform us:
PROBLEM OF LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT EXTREME TEMPERATURES (-40°C) AND THE INABILITY TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM BY THE MULTINATIONAL COMPANY WHICH SUPPLIED THE GASKETS.
Product: Articoli a Disegno | Produzione articoli in gomma customizzati da disegno tecnico. / Application: Automotive | Guarnizioni per automotive / Compound: FKM/FPM - fluoroelastomero
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM
The gasket used by our client let oil seep in the power steering if exposed to extreme temperatures, with consequent safety problems for the vehicle.
As often happens, the performance of the gasket compromises the safety of the final product.
Thus, for this reason we have been urgently contacted by the Client because his supplier, leader in volume of sales in the gasket sector, has lost time to provide alternative solutions.
From what we know, it often happens that large scale suppliers do not have an immediate and pro-active reaction to the request to solve problems which are attributed to them by the Purchasing and Technical Manager, so the Client has had to find autonomously alternative ways to resolve this delicate and urgent problem.
As a first solution the Technical Manager attempted to act on the type of elastomeric compound in use, but this solution failed at the start and was also demonstrated by:
- Durability tests
- Pressure and Compression Set tests
- Test of the chemical compatibility of the materials with which it comes in contact.
Once in contact with the staff of TS INTERNATIONAL® within a few weeks a precise solution to the problem was supplied.
Thanks to team work, in collaboration with our reliable supplier of compounds, among the most well-known in the sector, we tested some materials and finally we found the definitive solution for the Client.
OUR SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM
Here is how we acted:
1 - Firs we had a meeting with Technical Office of the Client, with whom we put together the problems and the specific requirements of the use of the gasket.
2 - We identified the problem in the technical performance of the gasket in presence of extreme temperatures, also due to the high pressure to which it was exposed (127 bar) and we developed a new special Fluorelastomeric Compound, at high mechanical performance, with environmental resistance, adapted to extreme temperatures and high pressure.
3 - We supplied the samples and all the necessary paperwork in short time.
4 - After accurate tests, the Client confirmed the suitability ad functionality of the product.
Problem resolved, Product Improved and Client Satisfied.
SUGGESTION: In cases such as this it is not enough to take into consideration only the agent triggering the problem (extreme temperature) and to focalize the research for the solution only on this single aspect.
One needs to consider all the conditions of the working of the gasket, especially:
- At what temperature the gasket works and for how long.
- At what pressure the gasket works and for how long.
- With what materials and/or agents does the gasket come into contact with and for how long.
- At what mechanical force is the gasket subjected and for how long.
Only after having made an accurate analysis with a specialist from the gasket sector is it possible to identify a definitive solution, that is, that bears in mind ALL the conditions of the case and avoids future problems.
[OFFICIAL DATA]: Increase in sales figures in 2015 with the client of this Case Study: +24,32%
MORAL OF THE CASE STUDY
Post sales assistance, often, has a value much higher than the price of gasket, for this our Clients speak of us as "The Gasket Specialists", because we do not just supply excellent gaskets, but we want to give the maximum assistance to the Purchasing and Technical Managers, for them to be able to do their work tranquilly, professionally and with absolute security.