Sheet Rubber & Texcel: A Carousel of Progress

Sheet Rubber & Texcel: A Carousel of Progress

From its rudimentary forms derived from naturally tapping rubber trees, to the sophisticated synthetic varieties engineered today, sheet rubber has evolved and played a crucial role in many industries. Whether you encounter it in weather stripping or specialized uses such as industrial gaskets, the developmental transformation of sheet rubber serves as a testament to human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of progress.

Gaskets are one of the most common byproducts of sheet rubber and have been used for hundreds of years to create seals and prevent leaks between two surfaces. The modern rubber gasket owes much to the invention of vulcanization by Charles Goodyear between 1841 and 1844. This process made rubber more durable and elastic, making it ideal for gasket production. By the 1850s, rubber gaskets began to be widely used. Over the years, advancements in materials and manufacturing techniques have led to the development of various types of gaskets, including those made of Neoprene, Silicones, and other synthetic rubbers such as Peroxide Cured EPDM and Nitrile (Buna-N).

Sheet rubber and other flat goods play a crucial role in many industries, from oil & gas to aerospace, ensuring that fluids and gases are contained, and systems operate efficiently. There are several different types of flat goods, each with unique properties and applications. From the most common Neoprene rubber, best known for its versatility, to FKM known for its superior heat and chemical resistance, each type of flat good has its own strengths and is chosen based on the specific requirements of the application.

In the early 1990s, Texcel began supplying the US market with quality sheet rubber and skirtboard products in large quantities allowing its industrial distributors to consolidate hose and flat goods, passing along savings in freight and time. Texcel’s “No Surprises” and “Yes, we can do it” policies have paved the way for its current ubiquity. Just a few short years later, Texcel became the first supplier in the US to provide precut-to-width skirtboard rolls, known still today as TEX-GOLD. From there, Texcel was committed to becoming the country’s top supplier of hose and flat goods by opening new locations and investing in high-inventory quantities to have what the customers needed when they needed it.

The same values hold true today, Texcel’s Flat Goods division is committed to providing exceptional service to its customers. With a commitment to continuously adding to its product line, a network of strategically located warehouses, same-day shipping, and an unwavering dedication to quality and availability, Texcel delivers the flat goods you need, when you need them, all backed by the superior service you’ve come to expect from Texcel.