Halton Marine, Energy, and Infrastructure (MEI), also known as Halton Marine, is part of the global Halton Group and develops advanced ventilation and safety solutions for demanding environments, ranging from offshore platforms to cruise ships. At the Lahti factory in Finland, components are transformed into final products that must meet strict international safety standards. One key supplier has played an important role in this process: V.A.V. Group.

Looking for a Fast, Flexible, and Reliable Supplier

Purchasing Manager Merja Kauto recalls that the collaboration began a decade ago when Halton Marine needed seals cut to exact lengths. “We are a project-based company, and we were looking for a supplier who is flexible, fast, and reliable. That’s when V.A.V. Group became our partner,” she explains.

Today, V.A.V. Group delivers seals for a wide range of Halton products, particularly fire dampers used on ships. These components play a vital role in passenger safety. In the event of a fire, the dampers close to prevent flames and toxic gases from spreading to other parts of the vessel. Even though seals may seem like a small element in the system, their function is critical.

Customer-Centric Service

Halton’s requirements are strict for a reason: seals must meet stringent safety certifications, withstand explosive atmospheres, and comply with ISO standards. According to Kauto, V.A.V. Group delivers consistently on all fronts.

She highlights the personal service provided by V.A.V. Group’s sales manager, Mia Ahlgren: “Whenever I call, I get an answer—or a call back almost immediately. She understands that our customers in Asia, for example, cannot wait until the next day. Quick responses are essential.”

This responsiveness extends beyond communication. V.A.V. Group agreed to cut seals to precise measurements for different damper blades, a service that makes installation on Halton’s manufacturing floor faster and easier. Importantly, the same level of attention is given regardless of order size, whether Kauto orders two pieces or twenty thousand.

Quality, Price, and Reliability

For Halton, the decision to continue working with V.A.V. Group is clear. The “holy trinity” of quality, lead time, and price is consistently met. While seals are not the most expensive components in their products, their reliability is non-negotiable.

Kauto also notes the value of transparent communication. “Problems do and will happen– whether it’s availability issues or quality concerns. But V.A.V. Group always informs us in advance. That honesty makes it possible for us to prepare and for our own customers to prepare. It’s not easy to deliver difficult news, but it shows real partnership.”

Beyond Transactions: Building Trust

The relationship goes beyond email exchanges. Meetings at trade fairs and factory visits have built trust and opened doors for joint development discussions. According to Kauto, this personal connection makes it easier to ask questions and explore potential solutions together.

Halton also values the supplier’s commitment to sustainability and certifications. Documentation, audits, and continuous improvement efforts demonstrate that V.A.V. Group is aligned with the growing importance of environmental responsibility in the industry.

For Halton Marine, safety and reliability are the cornerstones of its products, and V.A.V. Group’s seals help ensure both. A decade of collaboration has proven the value of a partner who delivers quality, flexibility, and transparent service. As Kauto summarizes, the reason for loyalty is simple: “When quality, delivery time, and price are all in balance, there’s no reason to change suppliers.”

Artikkeli Customer Story: Halton julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran V.A.V. Group.

Custom seals for specific purposes

Since the criteria for pressurized seals are very precise, the end product must also be accurate. Most of our pressurized profiles are made with extreme precision to fit the hatch, door or other opening perfectly. First, the custom profile is manufactured to meet the client’s needs. Then the profile is cut to length, the valve is mounted on the profile, and the ends are joined together, using the method best suited for each material.

The result is an enclosed profile of a circular, oval, rectangular, or technically any shape requested by the client. The profiles are then delivered to the client who can easily install them. After the installation, the profile can be pressurized using the fitted valve, or it can be permanently connected to the pressure system.

Durable joints ensure the seal fits tightly

When the two ends of a profile are joined together, the joint must be 100% secure. Our professionals at V.A.V. Group take into account the specific requirements of each profile, such as pressure, mechanical and chemical wear, and tolerances. The raw material of which the end product is made will define the method of joining the ends together. The most common practice is vulcanizing, in which the same material used for the profile is heated so that the softened silicone acts as a glue. For silicone profiles, the most suitable adhesive is 2-part silicone, which is also heated to form a more durable bond. It is not uncommon to use good old superglue, either! For TPE profiles it is often the most convenient alternative. Whatever the bond, you can always be confident that we will not cut any corners in manufacturing the most reliable seal for your needs. Every batch is tested for durability before shipping the products to our clients.

In some cases, the profile is provided with a tape strip for easier installation. When the profile is being installed on a hatch, door or window, the installer simply removes the tape from the back of the profile and presses it in place.

Requirements and challenges are never an issue

During our nearly two decades of manufacturing high-end seals and profiles, we have seen a lot of different requirements. According to Sari Silvennoinen, our Logistics Manager, there has never been a case where we have given up in the face of a challenge. “There have been a few cases where somebody has asked me if this kind of profile or connection can be done. The answer has always been the same: ‘Yes, we can find a way’”, Silvennoinen ensures.

“Of course, there are products that require a bit more work and thought put into it, such as complex or unusual shapes or angles,” says Sari Silvennoinen. She recalls one exciting case of manufacturing custom dampers for a gaming solution. It involved a mat the player stands on, that acts like a massive keyboard. “The challenge was that the profile had to be equally flexible in every direction but still act as a damper. We came up with this accordion-type profile that is both flexible and supportive. Because of the shape, it was rather tricky to join into a rectangular profile. But we did it, and it worked well!” Silvennoinen explains.

Safety requirements are a whole different aspect when it comes to custom profiles. In the shipbuilding and railway industry, the seals and profiles used in doors, windows and hatches must be fireproof. The joint must also be perfect to prevent heat, flames and toxic fumes from entering the compartment. Regardless of the material, every joint is made with utmost care to ensure there are simply no weak links anywhere in the profile.

READ MORE ABOUT FIREPROOF SEALS

3D printing has endless potential

Our value offer is built around four primary goals: to be innovative, fast, flexible and reliable. 3D-printed tools and valves are essential in reaching those goals. We can print the custom tools to the customer’s specifications in-house, so there is no waiting period from a sub-vendor. 3D printing is also convenient for joining the profiles, as the jigs needed to hold each custom profile in place must also be custom-made. V.A.V. Group’s Logistics Manager Sari Silvennoinen, is very satisfied with using 3D-printed equipment. “When we manufacture custom profiles, it is clear that there simply isn’t a jig with the right angle and profile off-the-shelf. By printing the tools ourselves, we reach our value proposition and maintain our reputation as a highly reliable manufacturer,” Silvennoinen states.

The range of 3D-printed items is not limited to V.A.V. Group’s tools and valves for customer needs. The high-end metal printer is capable of manufacturing spare parts, tools and other detailed items for a broader client base. 3D printing a spare part is often faster and cheaper than ordering it from the other side of the world. For manufacturing purposes, 3D printing can shorten the stoppage period significantly, minimizing the time the machine is out of order.

Artikkeli Assembly and connections julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran V.A.V. Group.

Different methods for making frames and rings

We have several ways to make silicone and TPE profiles into frames, rings, hoops and other similar products. The production method is chosen according to the customer’s needs and the material of the profile. The dimensions of the ring or frame to be manufactured are obtained from the customer, and the elasticity of the material, for example, is taken into account before the product is manufactured. 

Silicone profiles can be joined together either by vulcanisation or by adhesive bonding. In vulcanisation, either silicone paste or liquid silicone, more commonly called thermal adhesive, is placed between the profiles to be joined. Thermal adhesive is used when the product is so small or delicate, that the parts cannot be physically pressed together too tightly during the joining process. A lower temperature is also sufficient for thermal adhesive. Finally, the profiles are vulcanised together using heat. The vulcanisation process results in a very durable and high-quality joint. The method of joining therefore depends primarily on the size of the product.

TPE profiles can be joined either by mirror welding or by adhesive bonding. In mirror welding, the ends of the TPE profiles are melted and then pressed together to form the joint. The joint becomes very neat and resists stress very well. With adhesive bonding, both silicone and TPE profiles are bonded using a special glue that holds the joint together very well. Bonding is used in smaller batches where speed and economy are critical or when the product itself is small. 

Vulcanisation and mirror welding require profile-specific tooling and are suitable for the most demanding solutions. These methods require more time and effort on the production line, which is why they are recommended for larger production batches.

TPE or TPU? Find out which one fits your requirements the best!

Durable profiles for all environments

Our profiles go through several different treatments to make sure they are durable and ready to be installed. Because they are used in so many different industries for so many different purposes, they need to be prepared to last as long as possible, even in harsh conditions.

In downstream operations the manufacturing process is simple enough; the profiles that arrive from the production line are measured and cut to the right length and holes are made for vents and valves according to the order. The profiles are shaped and prepared with tools like a heat gun and a curing press, depending on what kind of properties the profile needs. For example, large profiles meant for construction are usually cut to the right shape and then treated with a heat gun. 

The profiles used for machines in the paper industry have to endure strong air compression and withstand high temperatures. Some profiles come into contact with different dissolvents or oils and so they need to be durable enough that they don’t get damaged. For some use cases, like on fire doors, trains, and ships, the profiles must also have fire safety certificates. Profiles, like our Fire X, that are treated for fire safety have a thermal resistance of over 270°C and can slow down the spread of fire, even in extreme conditions. Properties like these are added to the profile during our manufacturing process.

From the production line to the client

Our strengths lie in the flexible and fast supply of small to medium-sized volumes. The goal is to have your product ready within two weeks of the order, and if there are ever sudden changes in supply sizes, our downstream operations can be directly in contact with the client. We aim to offer a reliable service every time. That’s why we actively listen to feedback and are constantly developing in terms of new processing methods and equipment, as well as improving the sustainability of materials and methods used on our production lines. 

If you want more information on the ordering process and the time it takes to get your first tool sample, click here!

Artikkeli Frames, rings and attachments from silicone or TPE julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran V.A.V. Group.

The silicone used for pressure profiles goes through a lot of further processing. This ensures that it can withstand the pulp washers’ harsh mechanical and chemical wear and tear. The profiles and valves must endure harsh conditions. They deal with fast spinning motions and the different acids and alkalines used in the bleaching and washing phases. Pressure profiles are made according to the drum’s measurements, and finished profiles are connected to metallic valves, which direct air to tightly seal the profiles.

We at V.A.V. Group are happy to assist in the product development of the pressure profiles and valves. We place high importance on quality assurance and therefore conduct several inspections throughout the assembly process to ensure safe and high-quality products.

Do you need help finding the best solutions for your needs? Contact us today!

Artikkeli Assembly Services: Pressure profiles julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran V.A.V. Group.

V.A.V. Group has the right tape for every application. Depending on the materials and the target environment, we can find the best solution for your needs.

Choosing the right tape

The choice of tape is determined by the material of the surface to be taped. The most common tapes are suitable for almost any material, such as aluminium, wood or steel. Taping requires a flat surface to hold the seal in place during installation.

Speciality tapes are used, for example, on powder-coated surfaces or in areas where water or various chemicals can impair the durability of normal tapes. V.A.V. Group has been producing a variety of tapes throughout its history, and we have included 3M tapes in our selection. We can suggest suitable solutions if the customer does not know the right tape for the job.

The tapes are mainly attached to silicone and TPE materials. For silicone, a silicone adhesive is added between the tape and the sealant as a binding agent. For TPE no separate adhesive is needed.

Potential problems with seal tapes

The shape of the seal can affect how easily you can attach the tape to it. If necessary, the gasket will be designed so that taping is still possible. We have only encountered a few cases where the tape designed by the customer did not fit the profile. In such cases, the profile is either redesigned or we will find a different solution. The majority of tapings function according to the customer’s plans. 

Easy to incorporate into our seal manufacturing process

V.A.V. Group’s production is optimised so that taping can be added to the seal manufacturing process whenever the need for it arises. If the customer wishes, we can provide the complete package ready to go without any change in schedules. We can also add tape to seals purchased elsewhere, but to ensure quality we recommend that you consider a complete package from V.A.V. Group to avoid problems and save time.

If this article raised any questions or you are interested in tape seals, please contact our sales team or our Tools Manufacture & Quality Manager, Tuomas Moilanen.

Contact form:

Contact Information – V.A.V. Group 

Tuomas Moilanen

p. 0406 604 208

engineering@vav-group.com OR

tuomas.moilanen@vav-group.com

Artikkeli Installation and profile tapes julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran V.A.V. Group.

A serial number is an insurance for your product, and any informative markings are extremely useful in unpredictable cases where the product is faulty or has sat in storage for too long. Engravings are extremely useful for traceability, and they help keep track of the origin, date, and materials used in your product. 

V.A.V. Group offers laser marking for many materials, including silicone, TPE and TPV, metal,  wood, and even glass. Outside of seals and profiles, it has so far been used to mark for example names and dates on metal assembly pieces and label plates. Our laser marking machine is the Finnish-made Cajo Stella.

Contact our team to get personalized laser markings for your profiles and other products: Contact Information – VAV Group

Artikkeli Laser markings for your profiles julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran V.A.V. Group.