The Production Bottleneck: Manual Rubber Strips vs. Robotic Foam Dispensing

Many manufacturers still seal enclosures using manual rubber strips (EPDM, neoprene) or pre-cut gaskets. While this seems straightforward initially, it introduces significant hidden risks and costs:

• Risk of Leakage in Corners: Manual strip gasketing always creates at least one joint (butt joint) in the sealing ring. This joint and the sharp corners are where water or dust ingress first occurs.
• Expensive Manual Labor: Hand-applying and gluing gaskets is a slow, labor-intensive process, making series production slow and expensive.
• Compression Set (Loss of Elasticity): Simple adhesive-backed gaskets lose their resetting ability under constant pressure and temperature fluctuations, leading to sealing failure over time.

The Solution: FIPFG Technology and the Henkel Sonderhoff Standard

Vesimentor solves these challenges with automated FIPFG (Formed-in-Place Foam Gasket) robotic dispensing. The process is fully automated using our state-of-the-art Henkel Sonderhoff CNC dispensing system.

The high-precision linear robot moves along the enclosure's groove with millimeter accuracy (even for complex 3D shapes) and dispenses liquid polyurethane foam. The material reacts within seconds, expands in the groove, and cures to form a completely seamless and jointless foam gasket that adheres chemically to the substrate.

Fermapor K31 – The Global Standard in Industrial Gasketing

We exclusively use high-quality Henkel Fermapor K31 polyurethane materials, providing engineers with confidence through outstanding technical properties:

High-precision CNC mixing head over the enclosure

Continuous and uniform Fermapor K31 foam application

Key Ingress Protection (IP) Applications

Thanks to its excellent adhesion to plastics (ABS, PC, polyamide) and metals (aluminum, steel, powder-coated surfaces), this technology is essential across multiple industries:

• Electrical Cabinets & Junction Boxes: Protects sensitive electronics from dust and rain.
• Industrial & Outdoor Lighting: Keeps the interior dry even under severe weather conditions.
• Automotive Parts: Door modules, taillight housings, where seals must withstand vibrations and extreme temperatures.
• Ventilation Systems & Filter Frames: Guarantees air-tightness and prevents leakage in the system.

Sonderhoff SMART-L automated setup with conveyor belt for series production