Transfer Molding Rubber Parts
Qualiform provides expert rubber transfer molding services ideal for creating parts with complex geometries, tight tolerances, and intricate rubber-to-metal bonding. Serving automotive, aerospace, and medical sectors since 1976, our ISO 9001:2015 certified facility ensures superior American-made quality for every project.
What is Transfer Molding?
Transfer molding forces pre-heated rubber from a transfer pot through sprues into closed mold cavities under controlled heat and pressure. This process excels at medium-volume runs requiring exact insert positioning, complex multi-cavity designs, and tolerances to ±0.010″—precision difficult to achieve with compression molding.
The closed-mold design eliminates excess spillage at parting lines, delivering superior dimensional consistency. It’s particularly effective for delicate metal inserts, multi-cavity tooling, and parts requiring minimal flash with sharp edges.
Our Process
- Material Preparation → Raw rubber formed into preforms. Custom rubber formulations prepared in-house.
- Loading → Preforms placed in transfer pot. Metal inserts positioned in cavities with fixtures.
- Transfer & Cure → Heated plunger (280-400°F, 1,000-3,000 PSI) forces rubber through sprues. Material vulcanizes around inserts.
- Finishing → Parts ejected, flash removed, inspected. Cryogenic deflashing available.
Capacity: Platens to 48″ x 56″ | Shot sizes to 20 lbs
Industries & Applications
Key Advantages
| Feature | Benefit | vs. Other Processes |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerances | ±0.010″ standard | Tighter than compression (±0.015″), looser than injection (±0.005″) |
| Insert Positioning | Exact placement, minimal movement | Superior to compression molding |
| Surface Finish | Smooth with minimal flash | 50% less deflashing time than compression |
| Cavity Count | 50-200+ per tool | One preform fills multiple cavities |
| Production Volume | 500-50,000 parts economical | Ideal for medium runs |
