Industrial sealing solutions

Optimizing your applications

The Power of Knowledge Engineering

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See your sealing challenges
from a new perspective
A single source for industrial seals
We offer industrial equipment OEMs and end-users a compre-
hensive selection of sealing options, whether you need a
replacement seal, or a highly engineered solution for an
extremely demanding application. With both moulded and
machined seal manufacturing capabilities available worldwide,
we deliver seals in quantities ranging from a few prototypes to
serial production.
Although SKF is well known for providing high-quality bearings
to diverse industries through our global logistics system, we
use that same system to supply an extensive range of seals for
rotating, reciprocating and static applications.

While seals have a crucial impact on system performance, Engineered for your requirements
in many applications they are viewed as a maintenance Temperatures, speeds, pressures, lubricants and other
application operating conditions greatly impact seal life and
component, or even a commodity item. Not at SKF. performance. Accordingly, the knowledge that goes into the
Backed by more than 100 years of industrial application development of a sealing solution makes the difference
between poor, adequate, or exceptional performance.
experience, SKF sees every sealing challenge as an
opportunity to boost performance. Our customers beneit With our proven capabilities in seal design, materials, testing
and manufacturing, SKF offers extensive support to help
from our unmatched understanding of both the interac- engineering teams worldwide make all the right choices during
tion between bearings, seals and lubrication, as well as the entire product life cycle. We can also help you evaluate seals
on-site at your location, or at one of our global testing facilities
the dynamics of reciprocating systems. This deep knowl-
using both physical test rigs as well as 3D modelling and
edge base supports every sealing solution we offer, for simulation tools.
equipment ranging from power transmission to luid Such capabilities have allowed SKF to develop seals that are
power and luid handling systems. optimizing performance in everything from the world’s fastest
race cars to the most eficient wind farms. Whether you need
an all-new seal or to upgrade an existing one, industrial sealing
solutions from SKF can help you optimize your system too.

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Materials Design
Industrial seals are exposed to a wide range of challenging
operating conditions such as high temperature, speed, pressure
and agressive chemicals. To handle these and other harsh
conditions, it is essential to select the most suitable sealing
materials. Several factors impact material selection, including
exposure to media, pressure, temperature and stringent
regulatory requirements common in food and beverage or oil
and gas applications.
Whatever your requirements are, SKF can meet them with a
wide range of rubbers, thermoplastic elastomers and other
materials such as high performance plastics. SKF constantly
develops solutions for high performance applications from
these key material types:

Rubbers As the world’s only engineering company that develops both

These materials are extremely lexible and can be stretched bearings and seals, SKF has a unique perspective on the
and delected by exerting relatively little force. Many of them interplay of elements in rotary sealing systems. And during our
deliver excellent resistance to mineral oils, greases, or other 100+ years of diverse industrial application experience, we’ve
media. also developed a deep understanding of the conditions that
affect reciprocating and static seals. Sealing solutions from SKF
Thermoplastic elastomers beneit from years of research and development in sealing
Thermoplastic elastomers offer advantages typical of both technology combining materials, design and tribology.
rubber and plastic materials. SKF’s high performance polyure-
Our in-house simulation tool, SKF Simulator for seals, can be
thanes (TPU) combine excellent abrasion and wear resistance,
used to explore the non-linear behaviour of various sealing
low compression set and tear strength, and outstanding
materials, which helps to predict sealing performance under
pressure resistance.
various conditions.

PTFE SKF engineers also apply non-linear Finite Elements Analysis

Engineered to handle extreme conditions, polytetraluoroethyl- (FEA) to simulate almost any operating condition by using
ene (PTFE) and its compounds can withstand aggressive chem- different seal geometries to identify the critical areas in the
icals plus high temperatures and pressures. Due to their design.
extremely low coeficents of friction, they can also tolerate dry
running conditions.

Plastics
From engineering plastics to high performance plastics such as
PEEK, SKF’s range of specialty plastic materials can meet
higher temperature, chemical and mechanical property
requirements.

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Testing Manufacturing flexibility

Developing optimized sealing solutions requires sophisticated Whether you need a single seal or a high-volume production
testing and analytical methodology, thus SKF operates a global run, SKF can support your needs. Our lexible seal production
network of dedicated testing facilities. Every year, these model combines moulded and machined manufacturing
state-of-the-art laboratories conduct thousands of tests, capabilities to accommodate virtually any demand.
including durability, performance, contaminant exclusion, salt
With competencies in compression, injection and transfer
fog corrosion, cold fracture, pump rate, friction torque, dry
moulding technologies, SKF can apply the most appropriate
wear, and chemical compatibility.
option for your requirements. With the machined seals concept,
We can test seals in static and pulsating test rigs capable of we are also able to provide machined seals very quickly, without
simulating harsh operating conditions, including extreme tooling costs.
pressures and temperatures. Dynamic tests are continuously
monitored to verify parameters such as under-lip temperature,
friction force and friction torque, oil leakage, extrusion resist-
ance and a host of other conditions.
Results from thousands of seal tests conducted annually
provide valuable know-how and a broad empirical knowledge
base for failure analyses and benchmarks, ultimately leading to
a consistent low of new products and innovative solutions.

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 Radial shaft seals
SKF offers an array of proven shaft sealing solutions that
protect bearings, keep lubricants in and improve system
reliability. At work in power transmissions across every major
industry, SKF radial shaft seals support greater uptime in
everything from the smallest high-speed machine tools to the
largest wind turbines.

Seals for general industrial applications

Available in diverse designs and
materials, SKF general industrial seals
include many that meet ISO, ASTM, or
DIN standards. SKF rubber outside
diameter shaft seals resist aggressive
gearbox oils. SKF metal outside diameter shaft seals feature
the SKF Wave lip design, which reduces friction compared to
conventional straight edge radial lip seals.

Seals for heavy industrial applications

In heavy industries, keeping lubricants
in and contaminants out of systems is a
serious challenge. SKF can meet it with
heavy-duty metal-cased seals, rubber
outside diameter seals with metal
inserts or rubber reinforcement, and polyurethane seals.
Reinforced all-rubber HSS seals feature a harder grade
material for the part of the seal body that contacts the housing
bore, improving stability during operation and installation.

Cassette seals
Featuring a multi-lip seal, an integrated wear
sleeve and high-performance elastomeric materi-
als, SKF Mudblock seals for oil or grease applica-
tions deliver robust protection from harsh contam-
inants.

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Axial shaft seals Wear sleeves
Designed to seal axially against a counterface perpendicular to Over time, contaminants, high pressure and speed, or
the shaft or pin, axial shaft seals from SKF include high perfor- inadequate lubrication can cause particles to become trapped
mance primary seals plus cost-effective secondary seals such as underneath a shaft sealing lip. Wear grooves begin to form on
V-ring seals. the shaft as it rotates, eventually leading to sealing failure and
severe shaft damage. Repairs usually involve dismantling and
Track pin seals re-machining the shaft, and installing a new seal size. SKF
Representing a new generation of heavy-duty Speedi-Sleeve and large diameter wear sleeves offer a much
sealing units for oil-lubricated track chain pins, SKF faster, more cost-effective alternative.
Trackstar seals can help dozer operators reduce
machine wear, maintenance and operating costs. SKF Speedi-Sleeve – Standard and Gold
SKF Speedi-Sleeve is a thin-walled shaft sleeve that is simply
Metal face seals pressed into position over the shaft to provide an excellent
Originally designed for low speeds and severe sealing surface for radial shaft seals. In fact, its surface properties
conditions that affect off-road and tracked vehicles, result in a counterface that is better than what can normally be
SKF metal face seals have proven equally suitable achieved on a shaft.
for applications exposed to sand, soil, mud, water Whether it is used to reduce initial shaft machining expenses or
and more. to limit downtime costs while repairing a
worn shaft, SKF Speedi-Sleeve offers
V-ring seals enhanced sealing system perfor-
V-ring seals from SKF offer an easy-to-install mance and beneits for both OEM
solution for rotating shaft applications, including and aftermarket customers – with-
use as a secondary seal in highly contaminated out the need to change the original
environments. They can be stretched and, seal size.
depending on the size, pushed over other
components like langes, pulleys or even housings. Large diameter sleeves
Designed for heavy industrial applications, large diameter wear
Axial excluder seals sleeves accommodate shaft dimensions up to 1 143 mm (45 in.).
Featuring our proprietary special H-ECOPUR
material, SKF axial excluder seal HRC1 offers a
high-performance alternative to rubber excluder
seals that can wear out quickly when operating on
abrasive counterfaces or under poorly lubricated
conditions.

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 Hydraulic seals
For luid power applications like hydraulic cylinders, seals have
to withstand extreme operating conditions and high power
density demands. SKF can meet these requirements with
highly engineered designs and proprietary material formula-
tions that provide outstanding mechanical properties and
excellent chemical compatibility with various hydraulic luids.

Piston seals
Optimized for single and double-acting cylinders,
piston seals prevent low past the piston while
allowing an oil ilm to minimize friction and wear.
The SKF piston seal proiles CUT and SCP combine
polyamide/nitrile materials and a step-shaped split
for easy installation and effective sealing for high
pressure applications. MPV and DPV polyurethane piston seals
feature optimized dynamic surface proiles and side vent
notches in our proprietary X-ECOPUR PS material, which was
developed speciically for piston seals.

Rod and buffer seals

SKF has a robust range of rod and buffer seals to
prevent failures and boost system reliability.
Designed for heavy-duty metric applications,
single-lip S1S rod seals are made of our proprie-
tary ECOPUR thermoplastic polyurethane.
Designed to protect the rod seal from system pressure spikes,
SKF buffer seals support rod seal functionality and longer
hydraulic cylinder service life. RBB buffer seals are a U-cup
design suitable for heavy-duty applications.

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 Fluid handling seals
Wiper seals For luid handling applications like those in the oil and gas or
SKF wiper seals prevent contaminants from being food and beverage industries, seals come into direct contact
transported into the system with the reciprocating with aggressive luids or slurries. SKF offers sealing solutions
piston rod. Our single-acting press-in PA proiles that can withstand these harsh conditions, as well as meet the
are widely used in off-highway equipment. For stringent regulatory requirements of such industries.
snap-in applications, our patented DX wiper seal
features the functional beneits of a press-in seal, SKF Spectraseal
but with snap-in convenience and better rod tracking. The SKF Spectraseal product line is used when
conventional elastomer or thermoplastic seals cannot
Guide rings withstand temperature extremes, aggressive chemi-
Non-metalic SKF guide rings prevent wear and cals and solvents, abrasive or non-lubricating media,
damage to the cylinder bore and piston rod sealing high surface speeds and/or high pressures.
surfaces. Our polymeric material guides are SKF Spectraseal are seals machined from engineered plastic
precision-machined and available in reinforced materials such as PTFE-based compounds, ultra high molecu-
polyamide, phenolic resin and fabric or PTFE, and lar weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), polyetheretherketone
deliver substantial improvements in seal life and (PEEK) and other high performance plastics. They are also
sealing performance. For heavy duty applications, SKF guide available in materials with a very low coeficient of friction,
rings include the PGR piston guide ring, the RGR rod guide ring, enabling sealing at high surface speeds in dry or non-lubricat-
or the WAT which can be used in either rod or piston applications. ing conditions while reducing linear or rotating friction.

O-rings and back-up rings Rotary manifold seals

Genius in their simplicity, O-rings seal through their SKF rotary manifold sealing solutions maintain
own deformation between surfaces. In hydraulic proper luid low between machine components for
systems, O-rings from SKF are often used as static virtually any application, including those optimized for
sealing elements. Using one or two SKF back-up low friction to enable greater energy eficiency and
rings with an O-ring can help prevent O-ring service life.
extrusions from getting into the clearance gaps.

Rock hammer seals Locking T-seals

Locking T-seals from SKF enable easier assembly
Hydraulic rock hammers require hydraulic
and less risk of damage, even in remote locations or
reciprocating seals that can handle short strokes and
with automated equipment. The seals feature ridges
extremely high velocities. These seals are made of
that snap into place when installed and mechanically
high-performance polyurethane and bonded to a
lock the anti-extrusion rings in the proper orienta-
low-friction PTFE back-up ring for longer service life
tion. The seals can also be used in dynamic recipro-
and less maintenance.
cating applications, as well as high-pressure static
connections.

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 Machined seals concept

Meeting unique sealing demands, on-demand

The machined seals concept provides a fast, lexible alternative
to moulded seal production. With a unique combination of
capabilities, we can deliver polymer seals in a very short time,
in virtually any dimension and any design, for virtually any
industrial application.
The machined seals concept combines several SKF strengths,
including extensive application engineering support, a wide
selection of seal proiles and materials, and worldwide availability.
Together, these capabilities enable on-demand manufacturing
for everything from a single seal to a low-volume series, for luid
power, luid handling and power transmission applications.

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Application engineering support CNC manufacturing process
We begin with a consultative process through which our Featuring proprietary software and high-precision cutting
engineers gain an understanding of your particular sealing tools, the SKF SEAL JET manufacturing system uses Computer
application challenges. Once we determine your unique Numerical Control (CNC) technology to machine polymer seals
requirements, we can develop a solution, choosing from the quickly. The system machines a seal from a semi-inished tube
most appropriate seal proiles and materials. of your specially selected materials.

Proile and materials selection Rapid delivery worldwide

We select your seal proiles from an array of designs that are The machined seals concept and related services are available
pre-programmed in our proprietary machining system, or we globally at selected SKF Solution Factories and machined seals
can work with you to design a fully customized proile. Our centres. Strategically positioned throughout the world’s major
engineers will also determine the optimum sealing material. industrial markets, these facilities enable rapid manufacturing
and delivery.
Our world-class range of standard and special-grade machin-
able sealing materials includes many that comply with FDA,
NSF, NORSOK, NACE and other key industry standards and
government regulations.

Need a unique sealing solution to solve an application problem or to meet an immediate need?
SKF can deliver it – quickly and cost-effectively.

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 The Power of Knowledge Engineering These competence areas include bearings and
Combining products, people, and application- units, seals, lubrication systems, mechatronics,
B
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 specific knowledge, SKF delivers innovative and a wide range of services, from 3-D computer

a   s 
solutions to equipment manufacturers and pro- modelling to cloud-based condition monitoring
duction facilities in every major industry world- and asset management services.
wide. Having expertise in multiple competence SKF’s global footprint provides SKF customers
M 
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areas supports SKF Life Cycle Management, a with uniform quality standards and worldwide
proven approach to improving equipment reliabil- product availability. Our local presence provides
ity, optimizing operational and energy efficiency direct access to the experience, knowledge and
and reducing total cost of ownership. ingenuity of SKF people.

® SKF, ECOPUR, X-ECOPUR, H-ECOPUR, SPEEDI-SLEEVE, WAVE, SEAL JET and SPECTRASEAL
are registered trademarks of the SKF Group.
© SKF Group 2014
The contents of this publication are the copyright of the publisher and may not be reproduced (even extracts) unless prior
written permission is granted. Every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this
publication but no liability can be accepted for any loss or damage whether direct, indirect or consequential arising out of
the use of the information contained herein.
PUB SE/S2 14662 EN · June 2014
Certain image(s) used under license from Shutterstock.com

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