Industries
Dynamic Rubber Inc provides a broad portfolio of advanced, highly engineered elastomer products and innovative solutions designed to meet the needs of industries requiring critical-to-function components.
Inflatable seals are used in a variety of manufacturing and OEM applications. Inflatable seals are ideally suited for applications that need a positive pressure applied along a part, door frame, mold, vacuum chamber etc.
Aerospace – Composite Molding, Rubber Seals, and Inflatable Canopy Seals
Hatches and doors on small private aircraft are often susceptible to excessive noise and wind leakage. Inflatable seals installed around door frames or canopies create a continuous, reliable seal during flight. When activated, these seals are pressurized by a compact electric pump, significantly reducing noise and wind intrusion to enhance cabin comfort.
This same inflatable seal technology is widely used in military aircraft, where canopy seals must perform reliably under extreme stress, vibration, and demanding operating conditions. Rigorous quality controls and high-performance materials ensure long service life and failure-free operation.
Our advanced molding processes, precision extrusion capabilities, and broad material selection enable the manufacture of inflatable seals designed for the most demanding aviation applications.
Material and Seal Profile Selection
Seal Selection
Proper selection of an inflatable seal or gasket is critical to achieving optimal performance. DRI works closely with customers to ensure correct sealing properties and profile design. If your aircraft currently uses an inflatable seal, DRI can engineer a replacement that integrates seamlessly with your existing system.
Material Selection
Aircraft doors and hatches are exposed to wide temperature ranges, along with oils, fuels, and chemicals. Selecting the appropriate material is essential to seal durability and service life. For detailed information on chemical resistance and temperature ratings, please visit our Materials page.
Refineries – Fuel and Oil
DRI inflatable seals are currently used in refining and processing facilities handling hydrocarbon and gas products. Applications include pipe testing, exhaust vent sealing, and vapor recovery assistance during product transfer at tanker filling stations.
Through custom compound formulation and in-house mixing capabilities, DRI can supply materials engineered to perform in the harshest fuel and oil environments. Customers are encouraged to consult with a DRI engineer to determine the optimal compound for their specific application.
Chemical Processing
Dynamic Rubber Inc. has developed a range of inflatable sealing solutions for fluid bed dryers using FKM and silicone materials engineered to withstand high temperatures and aggressive chemical environments.
For fluid bed dryers, DRI offers both standard and custom inflatable seals for chemical and pharmaceutical processing equipment. These solutions are designed to handle high operating and explosion pressures. Depending on the application and equipment design, several standard seal profiles are available that can integrate seamlessly into existing systems. All products are manufactured in compliance with FDA sanitation requirements, and supporting certification documentation is provided for both chemical and pharmaceutical applications.
Most DRI solutions for the chemical processing industry involve custom-designed components or OEM replacement parts. For customers seeking to reduce costs associated with OEM suppliers, DRI provides a competitive alternative for inflatable seals, bladders, and standard rubber components.
Certificates of material compliance, along with CFR and FDA documentation, are available for all applicable products.
Conveyor Applications – Brakes, Bumpers, and Grippers
Dynamic Rubber manufactures inflatable seals and gaskets for a wide range of material handling and conveyor applications. Inflatable conveyor stops can safely guide, stop, or lift products along a conveyor line. When pneumatically actuated, these systems reduce reliance on mechanical components, helping simplify conveyor operations and improve reliability.
Additional material handling and supply chain applications include:
- Conveyor Lines – Inflatable seals function as brakes, stopping materials to improve flow control and reduce bottlenecks.
- Bulk Bags – Pneumatic gaskets installed around the bag collar seal the filling station, preventing dust emissions and material loss.
- Drum Seals – Inflatable seals provide a secure, leak-tight seal for drums or casks.
- Butterfly Valves
- Dome Seals
- Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs)
- Tanker Fill Vapor Recovery
Food Processing – Mixers and Smokehouses
Food processing mixers and smokehouses commonly use inflatable seals on doors to prevent product loss and contain smoke fumes. DRI supplies food-grade rubber products that comply with FDA requirements, ensuring safe and reliable operation in food processing environments.
Note: DRI offers both complete smokehouse seals and stand-alone extrusions.
Smokehouse Seals
DRI manufactures a variety of inflatable gaskets designed to fit existing smokehouse doors. Several standard styles and sizes are available, offered either as stand-alone extrusions or as complete, ready-to-install seal assemblies.
Smokehouse seals are available in EPDM, high-temperature silicone, and oil-resistant neoprene. These materials provide dependable performance across a range of operating conditions.
Customers using DRI smokehouse seals report improved sealing and more consistent operation, particularly in hard-to-seal corner areas common in smokehouse ovens.
Marine and Naval Applications
These applications include a wide range of highly customized sealing systems for naval and submarine use. DRI’s extensive experience in manufacturing inflatable seals, combined with proprietary molding technologies, makes our solutions well suited for the high-performance demands of marine environments.
Typical applications include inflatable seals for sliding windows on Coast Guard vessels, large inflatable seals for aft deck ramps on Navy destroyers, and specialized inflatable butterfly valve seals used aboard Navy ships.
Aft Deck Inflatable Door Seals
DRI manufactures inflatable seals using weather-resistant EPDM rubber and silicone compounds. These seals are ideal for weathertight sliding doors and hatches exposed to harsh marine conditions. Common installation areas include patio doors, sundecks, aft deck doors, and other exterior leisure areas.
Inflatable Seals for Sliding Hatch Covers
Large sliding hatches are particularly challenging to seal using traditional methods. Inflatable marine hatch seals accommodate wide tolerance variations while retracting away from the door to allow smooth, unrestricted sliding movement.
Deck Elevator Inflatable Seals
Fabric-reinforced inflatable seals provide an effective solution for watertight sealing between cargo elevator platforms or cargo hatches and surrounding decks on both commercial and naval vessels. These seals maintain a leak-tight barrier even under severe racking conditions caused by sea loads on the hull. When required, seals can be manufactured using oil- and fuel-resistant neoprene or nitrile compounds.
Inflatable Seals for Marine Hatches
Fabric-reinforced inflatable seals are also used with large hinged marine hatches to ensure a leak-tight seal and to compensate for tolerance variations between the hatch cover and the ship’s hull. Oil- and fuel-resistant neoprene or nitrile materials are available upon request.
Medical Applications – Inflatable Sealing Solutions
Dynamic Rubber provides medical-grade inflatable sealing solutions for a wide range of healthcare and laboratory applications, including sterilization systems, airtight medical doors, and accessible bathing equipment. Our inflatable seals are engineered to meet strict medical, hygiene, and regulatory standards, making them ideal for OEM and aftermarket medical applications.
Inflatable Seals for Sterilization Systems
Dynamic Rubber manufactures inflatable seals for medical sterilization chambers, including compatibility with the Steris System 1 and other sterilization equipment. Available through aftermarket distribution, our sterilizer seals can reduce costs by up to 50% compared to OEM pricing, with additional volume discounts available.
We also supply replacement inflatable seals for large drive-in sterilizers from multiple manufacturers. All sterilization seals are designed to withstand demanding medical environments and comply with rigorous performance and cleanliness requirements.
Airtight Inflatable Door Seals for Medical and Laboratory Facilities
Our airtight inflatable door seals are used in critical medical and laboratory environments such as virology labs, animal research facilities, cleanrooms, and decontamination areas. Installed around the door perimeter, the inflatable seal expands outward to create a reliable airtight barrier while allowing frequent and efficient access.
This design eliminates the need for complex locking systems or raised thresholds, helping to improve workflow efficiency, contamination control, and personnel safety in healthcare and laboratory settings.
Medical-Grade Inflatable Bathtub Seals
Dynamic Rubber produces medical-grade inflatable bathtub seals that enhance the safety and watertight performance of accessible sit-down bathtubs for elderly or mobility-impaired users. Applications include bathtubs with hinged doors, sliding doors, or combination door-and-seat designs.
Once the user is seated, the inflatable seal automatically inflates as the tub fills, forming a secure, watertight barrier. This system supports safe entry, exit, and use, making it ideal for medical facilities, assisted living centers, and home healthcare applications.
Nuclear Applications – Inflatable Sealing Solutions
Dynamic Rubber provides high-reliability inflatable seals for nuclear power plants, engineered to meet the demanding safety, performance, and redundancy requirements of nuclear environments. Our sealing solutions are used worldwide in pool gates, airlocks, access doors, hatches, and containment systems, supporting both new installations and maintenance operations.
Inflatable Pool Gate Seals for Nuclear Power Plants
To ensure maximum sealing reliability, nuclear pool gates are typically equipped with redundant, fully molded inflatable seals. These seals are reinforced with high-strength fabric to improve structural integrity and enhance resistance to rupture, tearing, and long-term wear.
When application requirements dictate, flexible “J” seals can be supplied as an alternative to inflatable seals. Pool gate designs may be hinged or lift-out, with sealing systems engineered to maintain leak-tight performance under demanding operating conditions.
Airlock Inflatable Seals for Nuclear Facilities
Dynamic Rubber manufactures inflatable airlock seals, O-ring gaskets, and custom compression seals for personnel airlock doors and equipment hatches in nuclear power plants worldwide. As with pool gate systems, seal redundancy is incorporated into airlock door designs to enhance safety and operational reliability.
Our airlock sealing solutions are designed to support containment integrity while allowing repeated cycling, pressure changes, and long service life in critical nuclear applications.
Additional Nuclear Seal Applications
Dynamic Rubber supplies inflatable and compression sealing solutions for a wide range of nuclear plant applications, including:
- Personnel access door seals
- Equipment hatch seals
- Torus and wet well access hatch seals
- Refueling canal hatch seals
- Pool gate seals
- Airlock door seals
- Airlock shaft seals
- Dry well head seals
- Inflatable door seals
- Inflatable valve seals
All nuclear sealing solutions are engineered for durability, redundancy, and compliance with nuclear facility standards.
Semiconductor Applications – Inflatable Seals and Molded Rubber Components
Dynamic Rubber provides inflatable seals and precision molded rubber components for semiconductor processing equipment, helping simplify equipment design while delivering reliable sealing performance in ultra-clean environments. Our sealing solutions are used in both manufacturing and test equipment across the semiconductor industry.
Inflatable Seals for Semiconductor Processing Equipment
Inflatable seals offer effective sealing solutions for a wide range of semiconductor applications, including:
- Wafer processing equipment
- Chemical Mechanical Planarization (CMP) systems
- Cleanroom doors and enclosures
- Filtration systems
- Circuit board imaging equipment
By deflating when access is required, inflatable seals allow rapid equipment opening without mechanical complexity, supporting efficient maintenance and reduced downtime.
Semiconductor Equipment Applications
Dynamic Rubber supplies seals and molded components for critical semiconductor systems, including:
- Actuators
- CMP equipment
- Door seals and access panels
- Filters and filtration housings
- Lithography systems
- Optical equipment
- Robotics and automation systems
- Washers and wet processing tools
Low-Outgassing Inflatable Seals and Molded Components
The semiconductor industry demands extreme cleanliness, chemical resistance, and dimensional stability. Dynamic Rubber delivers low-outgassing materials and contamination-controlled manufacturing processes to meet these requirements.
Our production processes include:
- Low-outgassing elastomer formulations
- Heat treating to stabilize material properties
- Cryogenic deflashing to reduce particle contamination
We commonly use fluorocarbon (FKM) elastomers for their superior chemical and high-temperature resistance. Additional material options include EPDM, Neoprene, and Silicone, allowing seal selection tailored to specific process requirements.
Pharmaceutical Applications – Inflatable Sealing Solutions
Dynamic Rubber supplies pharmaceutical-grade inflatable seals for a wide range of pharmaceutical processing equipment, supporting critical operations such as drying, mixing, coating, and material transfer. Our inflatable sealing solutions are available as direct replacements for OEM equipment at a fraction of the original cost, without compromising performance or compliance.
Inflatable Seals for Pharmaceutical Processing Equipment
Inflatable seals are widely used in pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, including fluid bed drying, blending, granulation, and product distribution. Dynamic Rubber offers replacement inflatable seals for fluid bed dryers and other processing equipment in multiple elastomer options.
Common materials include silicone and fluorosilicone, selected for their temperature resistance, flexibility, and chemical compatibility. All elastomers used in pharmaceutical applications are FDA-approved and suitable for cleanroom and hygienic environments.
Glovebox Isolator Inflatable Door Seals
Glovebox isolators are essential in pharmaceutical manufacturing processes where maintaining a sterile, controlled environment is critical to product quality and safety. Dynamic Rubber provides inflatable door seals for glovebox isolation chambers, engineered to deliver reliable, leak-tight sealing during operation.
Optimal glovebox designs utilize pharmaceutical inflatable seals installed around the perimeter of large plexiglass doors, offering excellent visibility and convenient access. When access is required, the seal is simply deflated and the door lifted—eliminating the need to disassemble complex flanged systems typically associated with compression seals. This design improves efficiency, ergonomics, and contamination control.
Inflatable Door Seals for Tablet Coaters
Large-scale tablet coating equipment depends on smooth batch-to-batch transitions and efficient cleaning between production runs. Inflatable door seals provide reliable sealing while allowing fast access for inspection, swabbing, and routine maintenance.
By deflating the seal, operators can quickly open coating equipment doors without excessive force or mechanical complexity. This improves uptime, process reliability, and overall product quality in pharmaceutical tablet coating operations.
Material Handling
Inflatable seals provide a “soft” yet secure gripping solution for a wide range of material handling applications—from sand castings in engine manufacturing to delicate satellite components. The compliant nature of rubber inflatable seals allows for high lifting forces without damaging sensitive or high-value parts.
When multiple inflatable seals are used in a single system, lifting capacities can exceed 20,000 lbs, depending on system design. Incorporating backup seals as a fail-safe mechanism further enhances safety and reliability, making inflatable seal systems ideal for lifting, rotating, and positioning critical components.
Inflatable seals are also commonly integrated into conveyor lines, where they are used to stop, move, and lift parts as they travel through the production process.