How much is downtime costing your business? Spoiler: it’s likely more than you think. From unexpected production halts to last-minute overnight shipping fees, inefficiencies add up.
Link to CDI
That is where solutions like custom seal kits and stocking programs come into play.
A seal kit includes everything you need to make a seal happen in one bag. These parts are individually packaged and labeled according to your instructions. Then, they are bundled together in one bag that is easy to grab and head into the field or onto the assembly line. A stocking program ensures you always have these in hand without over- or understocking.
So, how exactly can this impact your productivity and bottom line?
When we talk about downtime and stocking issues, we often think of being out of stock. This is a problem, but overstocking can also become a financial drain. Over-ordering can lead to wasted resources and storage risks while increasing te risk of the parts becoming obsolete.
Your inventory carrying cost is the total cost of holding and managing unused inventory. As a general rule of thumb, your carrying cost usually is 20-30% of your inventory value.
If keeping your sealing parts inventory overstocked as a safety net isn’t the answer, what happens if you understock?
Stockouts could be more damaging and cost you even more. When you run out of essential sealing components, production grinds to a halt. And downtime isn’t cheap:
The cost of unplanned downtime has increased over the last two years. Between and , Fortune 500 companies saw an 8% increase in costs associated with unplanned downtime.
How do kits help? According to your Bill of Materials (BOM), packaging kits ensure you have everything you need without running low on parts. Setting up a customized stocking program keeps the right amount of material on your shelves without going dramatically over or under.
One of the big benefits of custom kitting is the ability to combine multiple components into a single shipment. Instead of receiving several separate boxes for different parts, you get everything packaged together. This reduces shipping costs significantly because you’re not paying for multiple deliveries or dealing with the extra logistics of coordinating them.
Fewer shipments also mean fewer resources used in packaging and transportation, which helps lower your carbon footprint. The efficiency gained from consolidated shipments not only saves money but also supports sustainability goals by reducing the environmental impact of your supply chain.
Another major factor you should consider is reducing the cost of emergency orders. Overnight deliveries can be expensive, not to mention the cost of the downtime and adjusting your manufacturing schedules.
Custom seal kits and stocking programs prevent this by ensuring you always have the right parts, reducing or eliminating these costly shipping emergencies.
Do you know how much it costs for you to place a purchase order (PO), excluding the cost of the goods purchased?
On average, processing a single PO can range from $50 to $500. Businesses with automated systems typically experience costs around $50 to $150 per order on the lower end of that scale. On the other hand, manual or complex processes can push the cost toward $500 or more, especially in industries with stringent regulatory requirements, like oil and gas, where PO processing costs can even exceed $1,000.
You can significantly lower these processing costs by reducing the need for multiple POs through custom seal kits and a stocking program. Fewer orders mean fewer administrative tasks, less time spent on approvals, and overall cost savings.
By setting up automated reordering systems and a stocking program, you can ensure critical parts are always available without constant manual monitoring. When stock levels hit a predefined threshold, the system automatically triggers a replenishment order, eliminating the risk of running out of essential components. This not only reduces the risk of stockouts but also saves significant time and effort, allowing teams to focus on more value-added tasks rather than tracking inventory levels.
Custom seal kits can dramatically minimize productivity waste, especially for technicians in the field and on assembly lines. Instead of wasting time hunting for individual parts while included in the Bill of Materials (BOM), techs receive everything they need in one kit. This not only reduces the time spent searching for components but also ensures that no part is accidentally overlooked, which can happen when gathering items manually.
By reducing time spent on non-value-added tasks, custom seal kits enhance operational efficiency and ensure that production or maintenance processes run smoothly and without interruption.
The benefits of custom seal kits and stocking programs go beyond convenience. They also cut down on waste and loss.
By avoiding overstocking, you reduce the risk of parts becoming obsolete, a common issue when demand shifts or new versions of components are released. This translates into less wasted inventory and more efficient use of space and resources.
Moreover, stocking programs and seal kits ensure you get the exact amount of each part tailored to your specific BOM. This reduces excess, eliminates the need for extra inventory, and minimizes the likelihood of parts getting damaged or misplaced. When everything is pre-packaged and delivered in accurate quantities, you also cut down on the chaos of sorting through large stockpiles, which often leads to mishandling or product loss.
One of the biggest perks of a custom kitting program is the ability to buy in bulk. By consolidating your parts and placing larger, more strategic orders, you can take advantage of volume discounts that save you money. Suppliers are more willing to offer better rates when you’re ordering higher quantities, and with a custom kitting solution, you’re bundling everything into one efficient package. That means fewer, larger orders — and bigger savings in the long run.
Aside from saving money on ordering, you can also predict the cost of these orders. With a customized stocking program, you gain more control over your costs. You’ll be able to forecast your expenses better and manage your budget, knowing that your inventory is being replenished regularly. Plus, custom programs can shield you from fluctuating supply chain prices. When you’ve locked in predictable orders, you’re less vulnerable to market volatility, helping you maintain financial stability and focus on growth.
Control over your supply chain is critical. A reliable stocking program helps you maintain that control. When you’ve got a dependable partner keeping your inventory stocked with the right parts, you reduce the risk of delays or stockouts. Fewer disruptions mean you avoid those last-minute, unplanned expenses that come from emergency shipments or production halts. It’s all about building a stable relationship that ensures your parts are there when you need them—no surprises.
By cultivating a long-term partnership with a reliable supplier through custom kitting, you’re not just getting parts — you’re securing long-term savings, operational stability, and cost predictability.
There’s a common misconception that improving cost efficiency means sacrificing quality, but custom kitting turns that idea on its head.
With custom kitting, you don’t cut corners; you ensure that every component meets the highest standards.
By bundling parts together in one kit, custom kitting delivers consistency and high-quality components every time. Each part is pre-checked and packaged with your customer part number or barcode, depending on your needs, reducing the risk of errors or damaged materials.
Maintaining quality comes with its costs, which typically fall into three categories:
For many companies, the combined cost of quality control can account for 10% to 15% of their revenue.
Custom seal kitting helps you stay ahead of these costs by delivering accurate and complete kits that minimize the risk of errors or defects downstream. This proactive approach to quality control reduces the need for expensive rework or corrections.
Custom kitting and stocking programs offer a cost-efficient way to streamline operations without sacrificing quality or performance. By bundling exactly what you need into one package, these programs help businesses reduce overstocking, minimize the risk of stockouts, and cut down on administrative costs. With fewer handling steps and pre-packaged components, operational efficiency improves while maintaining high-quality standards. This ensures parts are delivered in perfect condition and ready for immediate use, reducing downtime and waste.
Marco Rubber takes customization to the next level.
If it’s something we sell, we can include it in a custom kit, making the solution as flexible as your business requires. We even offer user experience (UX)-based options, such as custom labeling, to personalize kits and make them even more usable and efficient for your team.
Ready to streamline your processes and cut costs? Explore how Marco Rubber’s custom kitting and stocking programs can optimize your business operations. With incredibly customizable options and a focus on quality, we ensure everything you need is packaged and delivered exactly to your specifications.
Explore our kitting options.
Oil seals are vital to the daily operation of most factories and a wide range of industrial and commercial equipment. They are available in imperial and metric dimensions for both single- and double-lip design. Motors, Mechanical Hydraulic systems, pistons, and pumps utilize oil seals to protect internal components. Depending on the application, there are various material, size, and configuration options to best fit your needs. Learn more about oil seals, their composition, and the wide range of advantages they offer for your equipment.
What Is an Oil Seal, and What Are Its Elements?
An oil seal has two tasks: Keeping the lubricant in and keeping dirt and contaminants out of rotating components. This separation must be accomplished between surfaces in relative motion, usually a shaft or bearing inner ring and a housing. With correct installation, oil seals can also prevent seal leakage and maintain the lubricity of a bearing to ensure that the rotary shaft and its bearings remain fully functional.
A typical oil seal consists of three common parts: an outer ring, the sealing element, and a spring. The exterior metal ring component provides strength and rigidity to the oil seal in the bore or recessed groove. Attached to that ring is the sealing element. This flexible interior component of the oil seal, the O-ring, prevents any fluid leaks between the shaft and housing. A spring ensures the constant pressure that deforms the O-ring, creating a reliable seal while maintaining radial force on the shaft.
Generally, oil seals vary in materials and types based on the corresponding application. Common materials include:
Nitrile Buna-N 70. NBR is compatible with numerous environmental conditions and is also relatively cost-efficient, which makes it one of the most popular and best-suited materials for the industry. Nitrile works well in the -30° to 250° F range and when exposed to anything from water and hydraulic fluids to gas, silicone, vegetable, or animal oils.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Custom Oil Seal.
Fluoropolymer. FKMs, or Viton®, are perfect for high-temperature applications up to approximately 400° F. Additionally, they feature low compression characteristics. Seals of this material are highly resistant to solvents, gas, and petroleum or transmission oils, so they are a good fit for applications around these materials.
Silicone. Vinyl-methyl-silicones (VMQs) maintain performance in temperatures from -140° to 392° F. In addition, silicone is resistant to adverse weather conditions, light, and ozone. The healthcare and food industry sectors, as well as pneumatic and hydraulic systems, often use silicone.
Polyacrylate. Polyacrylate is a good combination of quality and cost benefits. It is highly resistant to oxidation and heated oil, withstanding temperatures from -25° F to 300° F. This material has applications in vehicle transmissions, shaft seals, O-rings, and more.
What Benefits Do Oil Seals Provide?
Oil seals can offer:
Low levels of friction. The lubrication within the seal ensures that the seal lip does not come into contact with the rotary shaft, eliminating the risk of burning or wear.
Compact size and lightweight. Oil seals possess a small and lightweight design, which belies their strong endurance capabilities.
Reliable, rugged performance. Even under harsh conditions or extreme temperatures, these durable components will maintain their seal.
Simple construction. Easy to handle and assemble, oil seals only take a matter of minutes to replace as technicians do not have to take a machine apart.
Versatility. Standard lip seals are best for applications within dry environments, or those lacking lubrication. Oil seals can act as an alternative with increased functionality.
Why Should You Choose Emerson for Your Oil Seal Needs?
Choosing high-quality oil seals for your roller bearings, precision bearings, and more is an important decision, so at Emerson Bearing Company, we do more than manufacture oil seals. We draw from over 50 years of expertise in the area of bearings and bearing-related components so that our team can help you choose the right oil seals for your exact needs, regardless of the nature and complexity of your application. Should we not have a particular part in stock in our vast inventory, we also utilize a worldwide sourcing network to deliver on premium products. The Emerson team strives to provide a one-stop experience for our customers, from sourcing and budgeting to assistance in oil seal selection and timely delivery with same-day shipping options.
Our oil seals serve a wide array of industrial sectors both domestically and internationally, and we offer the following as part of our online product catalog:
We also believe very strongly in providing superior customer service and are here to support you 24 hours a day. Contact us to learn more about our oil seals and additional services.
The Benefits of using OE Oil Seals over Cheap Replicas
In the present day we are often conscious of cost and time as both normally work together. We often want something that costs as little as possible and takes the least amount of time to source and fit
In the present day we are often conscious of cost and time as both normally work together. We often want something that costs as little as possible and takes the least amount of time to source and fit. However, going for the cheaper option isn’t always the right thing to do. Often when it comes to vehicle maintenance or repairs buying a cheap part could cost you more in the long run due to additional damage to surrounding components as well as replacing the original part that failed to start with.
As a brand of Freudenberg, the leading manufacturer of oil seals, we believe quality is key and we want to help you choose quality over cost.
This doesn’t just apply to cars and end users but also applies to Light Commercial and Commercial Vehicle companies as down time for their vehicles can have a big impact on cost more than anything. More downtime due to repairs means less vehicles on the road completing consignments for customers leading to less revenue.
Below we will run through the benefits of using original equipment over buying cheaper unbranded oil seals from within the automotive aftermarket.
· Originally installed by vehicle manufactures – Corteco oil seals are selected by vehicle manufacturers and are installed into new vehicle while in production, demonstrating the accreditation in which the brand holds. If OE seals are good enough for vehicle manufacturers then why wouldn’t you replace like for like to ensure that it is maintained to the highest possible standard?
· Better quality – As the aftermarket division for the largest seal manufacturer in the world, all products are made from high quality material that undergoes rigorous testing to ensure the parts meet the requirements set by the vehicle manufacturer.
· Less likely to fail, due to the materials and testing mentioned above, this allows you and your customers to have confidence in repairs carried out on the vehicle.
· Come with warranty – unlike many cheap replicas all quality and original equipment parts will come with a warranty allowing you and your customer reassurance that the part will not fail and if the part does fail prematurely then you can get this easily sorted by contacting the supplier and resolving this in a timely manner.
As these are only some of the benefits of using quality products over cheap replicas we believe it is right to share the negatives to buying a cheaper product.
· Cheaper material, as replicas are trying to keep the cost of their parts down this often is done by using materials that are of a lower quality making them less expensive to produce and to sell on however, cheaper material means a lower quality part being pushed into the market.
· No warranty – Unlike with quality parts, replicas often do not come with warranties, this allows them to reduce cost and to sell more parts in the market as failures will often be replaced by the same part causing a repetitive cycle.
· Less miles before another replacement is needed, due to cheaper material being used. As the parts are cheaper the material will be weaker, meaning the pressure it can withstand will be less, causing it to fail more quickly. A part failing early can have an impact on surrounding components causing them to absorb leaks or take on additional stress this can result in bigger repairs being needed costing your both more time and more money.
· Prone to premature failures this links back to all of the above points, premature failures occur due to cheap material wearing out or leaking quicker than OE parts.
Although the OE parts cost more initially you will save money in the long run due to the reliability and the parts being able to perform as expected in comparison to the cheaper parts. Just remember buy cheap then be prepared to buy twice.
Head to www.corteco.com/en/products/sealing to view Corteco’s sealing range which consists of oil seals and much more.
By mkcseal |
10
March |
0
Comments
Oil seals are an essential part of any machinery, from cars and motorbikes to industrial engines and powerplants. Not only do they keep dirt out, but they also prevent fluids from leaking out into the environment. High-quality oil seals play a vital role in extending the life cycle of your machinery by reducing wear and tear on components as well as preventing costly repairs or replacements. Read on to learn more about why it’s so important to invest in high-quality oil seals for all types of equipment.
An Overview of Oil Seals and Their Function
Oil seals are rotary shaft seals that play an incredibly important role in preventing oil leakage from rotary components. These seals are typically made from rubber, metal, polymeric or a combination of all three materials to create a strong seal that is resistant to extreme wear and temperature variance. Oil seals are used to lubricate inner rotors or cylinders of moving parts, allowing them to spin faster and more efficiently. While these rotary shaft seals provide friction so that the rotors stay in place, they also work to prevent external contaminants from getting into the moving parts and ruining the machine's operation altogether. In conclusion, oil seals remain one of the most important components for rotary machinery and their effectiveness should not be overlooked.
Common Materials Used in Oil Seals
Oil seals are essential parts of engine components to prevent leaks and maintain engine efficiency. Common engine oil seals generally consist of a variety of materials, including neoprene, nitrile rubber, PTFE, silicone rubber and Viton®. Neoprene is resistant to ozone breakdown and common engine oils as well as other chemicals, making it one of the most highly sought-after materials for engine oil seals. Nitrile rubber provides excellent resistance against engine fuel and mineral oils but not gasoline-derived products. PTFE is used because it has low coefficient of friction and excellent corrosion protection characteristics while providing optimal mechanical strength in engine gaskets that require high levels of stiffness. Silicone rubber tends to be more expensive than other materials but has superior heat resistance and can handle higher temperatures that are typical in engines undergoing multiple long-distance trips. Finally, Viton® provides outstanding permeation resistance compared to other commonly used engine seal materials and is compatible with a variety of fluids including hydraulic brake fluids and gasoline fuels. By choosing the right engine oil seal material for the application, engineers can ensure maximum efficiency and performance for engines.
Benefits of High-Quality Oil Seals
Oil seals are a critical component of any oil-powered system, and having access to a reliable oil seal kit can make all the difference. High-quality oil seals help to maintain oil cleanliness by keeping oil away from adjacent components that may be sensitive to oil contamination. Furthermore, they help form a barrier between two parts that may move relative to each other, helping reduce wear on both components. Through their sealing properties, high-quality oil seals also ensure fluids are contained within the system and don't spill out or lead to other problems. Ultimately, investing in a high-quality oil seal kit can offer lasting protection for your system and reduce costs associated with having to replace or repair your equipment due to oil leaks or contamination.
As is evident, oil seals are an important factor in keeping lubricants and contaminants out of equipment. The material used for the seal can greatly influence its effectiveness. High-quality oil seals made from nitrile rubber are preferred because of their durability and long-lasting performance. This material offers superior resistance to oil, heat, and moisture while also providing flexibility. Sealing systems with proper lubricant maintainance will keep your machinery running efficiently and extend its overall lifetime. The benefits of high quality oil seals far outweigh the initial cost associated with them; they provide a valuable investment as they will keep your equipment functioning at optimal levels throughout its entire life cycle. In short, it pays to use good quality oil seals. So if you're looking for a way to get the most out of your machines and make sure they last as long as possible, invest in adequate lubrication system maintenance with high-quality oil seals.
Want more information on Hydraulic Oil Seal? Feel free to contact us.