5 Questions To Ask Your Supplier of Gasket Material

Automotive, oil & gas, and aerospace are some of the biggest consumers of gaskets, and there’s simply no room for error. If these little sealers break, the result is usually loss of revenue, angry clients, or worse. As a gasket company, your job is to ensure the products are reliable, durable, and reasonably priced. And that boils down to the material used to produce the gaskets.

This article covers the top five questions to ask your gasket material supplier so you can find a reliable source in the shortest time possible.

1. How Many Types of Materials Do They Have?

If you already know what material works for your niche, finding a good single-product supplier should be easy. However, it would be a good idea to find a vendor with more than what you need. That means you can expand the business to other industries without having to deal with another provider. 

New companies might also benefit from having access to several gasket materials. It gives you room to experiment in a quest to find the right fit, all without having to deal with several vendors.

Generally speaking, most reliable suppliers will have more than one material in stock. A provider with rubber, graphite, Garlock and more gasket materials in stock is usually the most experienced. And those are the connections you need to make.

2. Can the Material Meet ASTM Standards?

ASTM standards are designed to improve the performance of materials and products. These guidelines directly impact the quality of your gaskets and determine if you’ll meet the demands set for your industry. Examples of industry standards include the ISO/TS 16949 for automotive, ISO/TS 13845 for the medical industry, and the AS 9100 for aerospace.

Usually, gasket makers who source their material locally do not have to worry about compliance issues as the suppliers have to follow US laws. The real problem comes when sourcing from other countries. You risk spending your hard-earned money on low-quality gasket materials that will cause all kinds of nasty surprises for the end-user.

3. Is there After-Sale Support?

Check if the gasket supplier offers after-sale support. Remember that you’ll be making a big purchase with them, and things don’t always go according to plan. How can you track the shipping process? Can they help if you run into problems with a defective gasket? These are some of the questions you should ask before the purchase.

A supplier who really cares about your success will bring in their technical knowledge to help you solve any issues during implementation. They should also be in a position to take returns and replace any products that arrive damaged. This shields you from most surprise costs that may arise along the way.

You might also want to work with a supplier with a proven track record in your line of work. The company should give solid advice on improving or solving leaking issues using the appropriate gasket material. 

4. How Does the Supplier Handle Quality Assurance?

By now, you’ve probably noticed the emphasis on quality gasket materials throughout this article. That’s because your overall success depends on it. If anything, it is better to wait in line for a high-quality supplier than to place an order with a company with no track record.

We recommend settling for a supplier with a solid internal testing procedure. And it’s easy to identify them – they usually flash fancy equipment on their websites and are more than willing to take custom orders. If you can, please visit the facility or insist on a virtual tour to get a rough idea of how they run quality assurance.

During this tour, you’re looking at the equipment they use and how many people are in the production line. Without these people, there’s no way to make sure the quality stays consistent. Any signs of outdated equipment speak volumes about the company’s lack of attention to detail.

5. What is the Lead-Time?

Nobody likes waiting, especially when the clients are a manufacturing company with their own deadlines to meet. That’s why you need to create a partnership with a supplier who guarantees timely deliveries. 

Of course, there will be times when shipments will arrive late due to unavoidable circumstances, and that’s fine. But you don’t want to deal with a seven-day delay at any point. That would cause big problems with clients and might result in lost business.

Ideally, find a supplier who can almost guarantee timely deliveries. And the easiest way to do that is avoiding offshore providers as they have a long shipping period compared to local suppliers.