Trelleborg launches EPDM sealing range for potable water applications

Trelleborg, Sweden – Trelleborg Sealing Solutions (TSS) has introduced a new range of EPDM sealing materials, designed to meet increasing regulatory standards for potable water.

The WaterPro series is aimed at manufacturers operating in sectors such as heating, filtration, valves, pumps and smart metering, TSS announced 8 May.

The material is suited for everyday use and certified to "meet or exceed" major international standards, including French ACS, US NSF/ANSI/CAN 61, UK WRAS, German KTW W270 and European DIN EN 16421.

Furthermore, the elastomer complies with ASTM D6284 and is pre-qualified for the upcoming KTW-BWGL regulation, now expected to come into force in 2026.

The “worldwide compliance” of the material enables global manufacturers to meet “all current applicable standards wherever they sell their products,” said Adam Li, global segment director, processing industries.

Furthermore, manufacturers eliminate risks associated with regulatory delays by employing the “ready-to-use” certified materials.

The sealing materials are PFAS-free and can be directly injection moulded for automated production processes, or overmoulded as rubber-to-plastic and rubber-to-metal solutions.

They also offer "strong resistance" to chlorine and chloramine disinfectants and have low compression set properties for long-term sealing, according to TSS.

The WaterPro range offers three grades: a 60 Shore A version for low sealing force applications, a 70 Shore A general-purpose grade, and a 90 Shore A compound designed for high-pressure environments.

Furthermore, TSS said it had developed its own enhanced version of the ASTM D6284 testing standard for seals exposed to chlorine and chloramine at its innovation centre in Plymouth, Minnesota.

“Our more aggressive version of the standard is intended to provide a more rigorous analysis of how our WaterPro seals perform in real-world scenarios,” said Tim Reski, rubber technology leader.

In over 1,000 hours of testing, all the elastomers within the range maintained their integrity and exhibited less deformation and devulcanisation than a direct competitor material, Reski added.