Gum Rubber Single Stage Press Membrane Inserts Extend Membrane Life and Reduce Maintenance Costs

If you own a Single Stage press of any manufacture you have probably considered using an alternative to water for filling the membrane. We have heard many ideas over the years. The best idea to date and now proven in field trials is the use of 1" thick gum rubber sheets cut to fit the inside of the membrane.

Milnor has sourced the gum rubber in precut diameters to fit the inside of the Milnor single stage press membranes. The kits are available for both the 60 and 115 KG presses. Performance trials have proven the concept, longevity and ease of maintenance. The inserts require no maintenance and no membrane filling. Field testing and monitoring indicates life of the rubber membrane itself at over 100,000 cycles when using the gum rubber inserts. The rubber membrane can continue working with some damage, since a water leak is no longer cause for a replacement. In theory, the membrane can be used until it is no longer attached to the internal metal ring and is impeded from being pushed into and pulled out of the can.
Membranes with a leak that have been retained by the customer can also be utilized with gum rubber inserts and essentially reclaimed into service for some period of time, possibly for 10's of thousands of cycles before they can no longer be used in production.

Installation of the gum rubber requires the membrane to be aligned under the platen and then the ram raised. The gum rubber sheets are then slipped into the membrane one at a time until the membrane is full. The smaller diameters are installed last and on top of the larger diameters. Then the platen is lowered and the bolts installed. No sealing of the membrane to the platen is needed.
We have yet to hear of the need to replace the gum rubber inserts, some with over 150,000 cycles.

The 60 kg Milnor Single Station press gum rubber inserts can be purchased under Milnor Part number ACW10010. The 115 kg presses utilize kit number ACW10011.


In your service,

Gary Lazarre
Manager Customer Service
Pellerin Milnor Corporation


7/24/08