leading suppliers are showing how sustainability and performance can go hand in hand
Across the fastening and sealing sector, a wave of innovation is enabling manufacturers to boost process reliability while cutting environmental impact
From hygienic seals in food and beverage production to PFAS-free thread coatings and cleaner fastener preparation, leading suppliers are showing how sustainability and performance can go hand in hand.
HYGIENIC SEALING WITH REDUCED WASTE
Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has developed a new clamp seal with support ring that provides gap-free, hygienic sealing of tube systems. Designed in accordance with DIN 32676, the system uses local, media-based compression of the elastomer seal. A metallic outer ring limits compression and, crucially, can be reused. This approach conserves materials and energy while minimising waste, and the seals are backward-compatible with existing tube systems, enabling simple retrofit solutions.
The company is also rolling out its SmartChange system for the Radiamatic HTS II shaft seal series. This specially designed clamping ring enables fast removal and installation of high-performance seals, meaning entire dismantling and mounting cycles can now be completed in minutes. Because the clamping ring remains in place, only the sealing element is replaced, saving time and eliminating unnecessary scrap.
Complementing these systems is Freudenberg’s new 75 HNBR 641 material, which meets FDA and EU 1935/2004 requirements. This compound offers exceptional abrasion resistance and long service life even under dynamic stresses. By extending seal lifetimes and reducing material consumption, Freudenberg helps its customers achieve higher process efficiency and lower total cost of ownership.
PFAS-FREE THREAD LOCKING
Within fastening, environmental regulations are accelerating the move away from persistent fluorinated chemicals. Inlex Locking has responded by introducing precote 85, a reformulated, PFAS-free thread locking coating manufactured by omnitechnik. The new version eliminates PTFE and instead uses a biodegradable wax content, maintaining the same frictional
and thermal performance as the original product.
Gareth Lowndes, technical sales manager at Inlex, notes that customers are increasingly environmentally conscious and welcome to this option. As the UK’s leading certified coating partner for the precote range, Inlex supplies thread locking adhesives, sealants and lubricants across multiple sectors and continues to develop new applications in line with sustainability trends.
CLEANER FASTENER PREPARATION
At the production stage, TR Singapore, part of the Trifast plc Group, has overhauled its fastener cleaning process by installing IFP Europe’s KP100 vacuum solvent cleaning system. The closed-loop technology replaces kerosene-based methods, dramatically improving air quality and operator safety while recycling solvent for reuse. Eric Tay, head of operations, calls the change ‘a cultural shift’ toward cleaner technology and safer working environments that benefits both employees and customers.
A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Together, these advances illustrate how fastening and sealing technologies are evolving beyond traditional performance metrics to embrace resource efficiency, regulatory compliance, and workplace safety. By rethinking materials, processes and designs, suppliers such as Freudenberg, Inlex and TR Singapore are setting new benchmarks for sustainability, helping their customers reduce waste, improve reliability and move closer to their environmental goals.
