Materials, Products, Services

Using a wide array of manufacturing processes, MI has been providing precision formed custom parts and components for about every type of machine and equipment under the sun for nearly four decades.   In addition to nearly all molded and extruded rubber products, we offer two-dimensional shaped parts fabricated from rubber, plastic, textile, fiberglass, cork, and various compressed and composition type gasket sheets — about anything less brittle and more pliable than steel, glass, and wood.

Custom Fabrication Services

Since those seeking information on custom fabrication services commonly have different perspectives, information, etc., we’ve outlined our Custom Fabrication Capacities three-ways (details below):

1. Manufacturing Processes – Parts, products, and services in relation to base manufacturing processes (e.g. molded or extruded rubber, die cut gaskets, roll slitting, etc.).
2. Materials – Parts, products, and services related to base materials (e.g. rubber gaskets, Teflon™ spacers, Mylar™ insulators, etc.); regardless of form, we are able to competitively quote most products fabricated from listed material categories.
3. Product Nomenclatures – Parts or components based on application nomenclatures and descriptions (PCB insulators, high temperature gaskets, pipe flange gaskets, etc.).

What about Tooling Charges?

Tooling costs are a concern we’ve been dealing effectively with for nearly four decades as a key supplier/partner with diverse original equipment manufacturers (OEM’s).  Many of our customers manufacture commercial products and equipment for relatively low volume markets and, therefore, require custom-made components in quantities measured in tens, hundreds, and thousands rather than hundreds of thousands and millions.   Of course, they also expect precision tolerances at the lowest possible costs, including tooling charges…and that’s what we do.  More details on typical tooling charges may be found at the Order Info and Standard Policy page, but a few things we routinely do to minimize such costs include:

1. We simply don’t charge tooling charges on many product lines, and commonly waive them in whole or part on others.  (We may not take you to lunch or bring you pastries, but consider offsetting your cost of doing business a wise investment.)
2. We use our searchable database to find suitable tooling in our extensive 12,000 tool and die inventory.
3. We analyze the cost and benefits of all available manufacturing options.
4. Whether charged or not, we maintain and repair tooling at our own expense.
5. In cases where more expensive tooling might otherwise be required, we’ll search our network of suppliers and partners for suitable standard or semi-standard offerings that might satisfy the requirement or be economically modified to do so.
6. Our engineering staff will consult and advise on any functional alternatives that might reduce or eliminate tooling and other costs associated with a requirement.

What About Minimum Quantities?

There are no firm minimum purchase quantities on most products fabricated from our thousands of standard sheeted rubber, plastic, insulating, and gasketing material selections.  However, since production set-up costs generally run between $25 and $200, even lower cost items can be quite high priced in lower quantities.  For example, a part that costs $0.12 each for 1,000 pieces ($120), may be priced at $0.75 for 100 ($75), $2.50 for 25 ($62.50), and so on.

As on tooling (discussed above), we continually strive to minimize the costs of production set-ups and have developed alternate processes that allow us to only use processes involving greater setup times when production time savings are justified by higher quantities.  For instance, we may be able to use either of three types of punch presses to die cut a part — one requiring an hour to set-up, another 30 minutes, and another 5 minutes; the first is capable of producing 10,000 parts per hour, the second about 1,000, and the last around 200.  From there, the math is easy, but the point is that we adapt our processes to requirements, not vice versa, and always with overall cost-benefit factors in view.

Some product groups, like custom molded and extruded rubber, typically have minimums keyed to compound batch sizes measured by weight.  This is because rubber compounds must be mechanically blended, and irreversibly processed and cured to shape (sheeted, molded, or extruded) within a relatively short timeframe.   Because these products are usually keyed to standard batch sizes, minimum purchase quantities vary according to the part or cross-section sizes.   The same basis for minimums also applies to some non-standard sheeted materials, though more options for cross-over applications obviously tend towards relieving minimum purchases of parts fabricated from sheet stock materials.

Materials

• Sheet Rubber
• Plastic Films / Sheets
• Sponge Rubber
• O-Ring Cord
• Cork Compositions
• Fiberglass Cloth, Insulation
• Ceramic Fiber Insulation
• RF / EMI Shielding
• Foils, Screen, Metallic
• Non-Rubber Gasket Sheet
• Compressed Non-Asbestos
• Vulcanized Fiber (Fishpaper)
• Paper Products
• Textiles, Cloths, Leather
• Foam Rubber
• Pressure Sensitive Adhesives

Nomenclatures & End Applications

High Tech Equipment Components

• Mylar Insulators
• PC Board Insulators
• RF Shields / Shielding
• EMI Shields / Shielding
• Light Enhancing / Diffusing Screens
• Conductive Rubber Gaskets
• Avionics
• Medical Equipment
• HEPA Filtration Equipment
• GPS Systems
• Telecommunications Equipment
• General Electronics…

Heavy Equipment, Construction-Related

• Bridge Bearing Pads
• Neoprene Seals
• Rubber Cushions
• Die Cut Gaskets
• Closure Seals
• Rubber Washers
• Ring Gaskets
• Heavy Equipment
• Railroad Cars
• Automotive
• Forklifts
• Cooling Towers
• Construction Equipment
• Conveyor Systems
• Agricultural Equipment

(Fluid, Air, Gas) Filtration, Storage, Handing, & Processing

• Gaskets and Seals
• Tank Stripping Gasket
• Flange Gaskets
• Bulb Seals
• Manway Gaskets
• Die Cut/Stamped Filters
• Perforated Diffusion Tubes
• HEPA Filtration Equipment
• Cooling Towers
• Irrigation Systems
• Petroleum Storage/Handling
• Water/Wastewater Treatment
• Fire Damper Systems
• Chemical Processing Equipment

Other Equipment

• Damper Pads
• High Temperature Gaskets
• Sponge Pads and Cushions
• Shims
• Pump Seals
• Bushings
• Commercial Dishwashers
• Commercial Weigh Scales
• Motorcycles
• Handicap Access Equipment
• Outdoor Grills
• Squeegee Blades