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  • Meeting Industry Standards in Rubber Molding

    In the rubber molding industry, adhering to industry standards is not just a formality—it’s a necessity. Standards ensure that every molded part meets the required level of quality, performance and safety. Without these benchmarks, there’s a risk of faulty products that could fail in critical applications, leading to safety hazards, costly recalls or even legal issues. For industries like automotive, medical and electronics, where precision is non-negotiable, the importance of these standards cannot be overstated. 

    Custom Rubber Corp. has been a leader in meeting these high standards for over four decades. From the earliest stages of design to final delivery, we focus on providing reliable, high-quality molded rubber components that meet the exact needs of our customers.
     

    Defining Industry Standards in Rubber Molding   

    Industry standards in rubber molding refer to a set of established guidelines that govern the quality, safety and performance of rubber components across various sectors. These standards include internationally recognized certifications like ISO (International Organization for Standardization), which sets guidelines for quality management systems, and FDA (Food and Drug Administration) regulations for medical-grade materials. Other standards, such as ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials), outline the necessary testing methods for rubber products, while industry-specific standards like those for automotive or medical components address unique performance and safety requirements.  

    Custom Rubber Corp. is actively involved in shaping industry standards. We are on the committee that periodically reviews and updates the ARPM-M01 Rubber Handbook, a key resource outlining tolerances, dimensional guidelines and other rubber-specific attributes. Our direct involvement in this process gives us insight into the latest industry developments, allowing us to stay ahead of changes and ensure our products meet the most up-to-date standards. 

    For manufacturers, adhering to standards is critical to delivering products that are safe, high-quality and legally compliant. They help prevent costly mistakes, product recalls and potential safety hazards by ensuring that products meet rigorous performance criteria. 

    On a global scale, compliance with industry standards is vital for accessing international markets. It helps companies maintain a competitive edge, meet international regulatory demands and build trust with customers and partners worldwide, ensuring their products are accepted and relied upon in any market. 
     

    Challenges in Meeting Industry Standards

    One of the biggest challenges in meeting industry standards in rubber molding is selecting the right material. Each industry has its own specific material requirements—whether it’s flexibility for consumer products or strength and resistance for industrial applications. Finding the right material that balances these needs, while also complying with regulatory standards such as FDA regulations, ASTM material specifications and ARPM-M01 dimensional requirements. Incorrect material choices can affect the molding process and compromise the performance and safety of the final product. 

    Additionally, manufacturers must consider RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliance, which ensures that materials are free from hazardous substances like lead, mercury and certain phthalates. This is especially important for industries such as electronics, where strict environmental and safety regulations must be met. 

    The complexity of the rubber molding process itself is also challenging. Maintaining consistency throughout production, especially when dealing with custom or complex parts, demands precision and expertise. The need to meet tight tolerances and avoid defects is even more pronounced when molding high-performance components. This becomes more difficult when scaling up for large production runs. 
     

    Custom Rubber Corp.'s Commitment to Exceeding Industry Standards 

     

    Certification to ISO 9001 

    Since achieving ISO 9001 certification in the 1980s, Custom Rubber Corp. has continuously maintained and enhanced our quality control processes to ensure reliability and excellence in every part we manufacture. ISO 9001 is a global benchmark for quality standards, and our long-standing commitment to this certification demonstrates our dedication to meeting or exceeding customer expectations. With decades of experience and a focus on ongoing process improvements, Custom Rubber Corp. ensures that every part we produce is consistently defect-free, cost-effective and delivered on time. 
     

    Advanced Technology Integration 

    Custom Rubber Corp. goes beyond traditional quality management with our innovative technology applications: 

    Vision Inspection System: Used in high-volume production runs such as rubber grommets and sealing washers, the Vision Inspection System detects defects quickly and accurately in the manufacturing process, ensuring that only parts meeting the highest quality standards are delivered to customers. 

    In-Mold Vision Inspection: This technology prevents mold damage by checking the alignment of metal inserts before the mold closes. It reduces the risk of producing defective parts and helps guarantee that every product meets critical specifications. 


    How Certifications Enhance Product Quality and Reliability   

    Not only does Custom Rubber Corp. adhere to ISO 9001 standards, but we also maintain additional certifications like ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations). ITAR governs the export and import of defense-related technologies, ensuring that our products meet stringent national security and compliance requirements. These certifications are essential for ensuring that our products meet the highest standards of quality and safety, particularly in highly regulated industries such as defense.  

    We also utilize the latest testing equipment as a part of our quality control process to further validate the performance of our products. With tools like digital durometer gauges and digital calipers, along with partnerships with accredited testing labs, we ensure that every product undergoes thorough testing. Our rigorous testing protocols guarantee that each product we manufacture is safe, reliable and in compliance with the global standards required by industries with the highest regulations. 
     

    Custom Solutions and Industry-Specific Standards 

    At Custom Rubber Corp., we know that each industry has its own set of precise needs when it comes to rubber components. Whether you're in automotive, electronics, consumer products or any other industry, we specialize in creating solutions that meet the unique standards for you. By focusing on the specific challenges and regulatory requirements of each industry, we are able to produce rubber parts that not only adhere to relevant standards but also excel in performance, durability and functionality. 

    Our approach is highly collaborative. From the design phase, we work together with our clients to guarantee that every part is optimized for its specific application. This level of involvement ensures that we don’t just meet regulatory requirements but also optimize every aspect of the design for the intended use, ensuring better performance, cost-effectiveness and overall reliability.  
     

    Partner with a Company That Prioritizes Industry Standards 


    Custom Rubber Corp. is the partner you can trust to ensure compliance and quality at every stage of your project. Industry standards exist to guarantee safety, performance and consistency, and we take them seriously in every aspect of our manufacturing process. From Design to Delivery, we implement thorough quality control measures to ensure each component meets the necessary specifications. 

    Our expertise in precision manufacturing and quality assurance means your rubber components will be built to last. Let’s work together to create a solution that meets your exact needs—contact us today to get started! 

     
    Posted Thursday, March 13, 2025 by: Carla Crawford
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  • Custom Rubber Focusing on Employees - Now and in the Future

    Custom Rubber Corp. President, Charlie Braun, was recently selected by their insurance carrier Acuity to share some thoughts around employees - now and in the future.  Watch these two videos.

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    The Holidays brought new presents to Custom Rubber Corp.  A total of four new machines arrived December 23rd, just in time for the Holidays!
    Some of the machines are additional capacity, some are upgrades to machines that were old and needed to be replaced.  Custom Rubber Corp.'s commitment to our customers and our employees is to continuously upgrade our equipment to make sure every machine we run is dependable easy for operators to use.
     

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  • Custom Rubber Corp. continues to add new products and customers

    Custom Rubber Corp. continues to add new products and customers.  The website is a catalog of success - successes organized by industry and by application-product usage.  Some of the recent additions are in Automotive, Protective Cases, Rubber to Metal Bonding, Electronics, Round Gaskets and Seals, and more.

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  • More Part Examples Posted

    Custom Rubber Corp. has added two more part examples to the website.  Read on....

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    Custom Rubber Corp. added five new videos to the company's YouTube channel.  All the videos will be used for instructional purposes during the shift-start meetings that take place every day. 

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  • Custom Rubber - Second Place, Educational Outreadh

    Custom Rubber Corp. won Second Place for the ARPM's Educational Outreach Award in late 2019.

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  • "Engineer for a Day" Tour

    On February 22, 2019, Custom Rubber Corp. hosted high school students for a day-long exposure to Engineering.  The event is organized annually by Cleveland State University and Custom Rubber Corp. has participated the last three years.  
    The tour event was also the first time Custom Rubber Corp. used a new audio tour guide system.  After winning a $750 prize associated with the "Educational Outreach" award from ARPM (Association for Rubber Products Manufacturers), CRC purchased a system of 10 receiving headphones and a microphone transmitter.  
     

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  • Custom Rubber Corp.'s Innovative Use of Vision Technology

    John Bellett presented at the Industry Benchmarking conference about Custom Rubber Corp.'s innovative use of vision technology, both for part inspection and also for mold safety. (Photo Courtesy of Creative Technology)

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  • Developing Next Generation

    Custom Rubber Corp. presented at the annual industry Benchmarking conference in Indianapolis back in October about their efforts to attract the next generation of folks to the manufacturing industry.

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  • Rubber News article: Custom Rubber Corp. hosts ARPM Tour

    The October issue of Rubber and Plastics News has a two page article discussing Custom Rubber Corp.'s approach to manufacturing employment and some technological investments the company has made.  The entire article is available here....

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  • Custom Rubber Corp. Tour

    On September 26, 2018, Custom Rubber Corp. hosted a tour of High School students from Warrensville Heights High School.  The students are in an Engineering and STEM class.  The students learned a bit about what makes manufacturing in general exciting and also some specifics about molding rubber.  At the end of the tour, the students were given a project....

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  • Custom Rubber - Building the Next Generation

    Custom Rubber Corp. is facing the same challenges many other companies are facing: Where can we find additional, dedicated employees who have some training?
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  • Custom Rubber Corp Upgrades Quality Capabiltieis

    Custom Rubber Corp. has added significant quality inspection capabilities that utilize the latest in automated vision inspection equipment.

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  • Great Place to Work

    Custom Rubber Corp. released a new video sharing the experiences of employees.  Potential employees can watch to find out what kind of work environment Custom Rubber offers and see the type of work.  Custom Rubber Corp. is now hiring, $11.85 starting wage for night shift.

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  • Custom Rubber Corp. article in Inside Rubber Magazine

    Custom Rubber Corp. was featured in an article in the most recent Inside Rubber Magazine.  The article discusses the continuous improvement approach that Custom Rubber Corp. is taking with Mill Drills and Safety.

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    Custom Rubber Corp. just updated and added information to the Round Molded Gasket / Round Molded Seals page.  The information includes the three primary ways to produce a round gasket or seal and what the advantages and drawbacks are to each.  Also discussed are three primary technical issues that are important to selecting the right type of round gasket and/or round seal.

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  • Colored Rubber Molding - How To

    Custom Rubber Corp. added content to its website with a host of information about molding colored rubber.  The information includes five reasons why Custom Rubber Corp. is one of the leaders in molding colored rubber products and four reasons why product developers, engineers, and companies in general should consider specifying a color other than black for their next rubber molded component. 

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  • Custom Rubber Grommets - How To

    When desigining a custom molded grommet, there are a number of things to consider.  Custom Rubber Corp. recently added detailed information regarding the issues or questions that need to be answered and an outline of how to work through the steps.

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  • Protective Case Design How-To

    Custom Rubber Corp. has added detailed, step-by-step information regarding how to design a custom silicone rubber protective case for your electronic device or instrument.

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  • Rubber Bellows Design How-To

    Custom Rubber Corp. added information related to designing molded rubber bellows and molded rubber convoluted boots.  Information is now available on the five steps or questions that designers need to consider when developing a custom molded rubber boot or bellow.

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  • New Look For Molded Rubber Products Website

    We're very excited about the recent launch of our new website. Much of the content is carried over - our old site had excellent illustrations of the types of products we make and customers we serve - but the look and feel of the site is much more up to date. We've included some larger photos showing some of our employees at work and have updated many of the product pictures.

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