Application Case Studies

A large hatch on a yacht — used to store wave runners and other equipment — was leaking consistently. The hatch mated against an irregular surface with varying gap widths, causing conventional compression seals to fail. The compression seals would take a set over time, losing their ability to conform to the uneven surface, and leaks would return. The seals required frequent replacement, adding cost and downtime.

DRI provided a custom DR-152 non-reinforced inflatable seal in EPDM. When inflated, the seal expands to conform to the irregular mating surface regardless of gap variance — something a compression seal physically cannot do. When deflated, the seal fully retracts to allow the hatch to open freely.

The inflatable seal eliminated the leak problem entirely. Unlike the compression seals that required frequent replacement due to compression set, the inflatable seal maintains consistent performance over time because it actively conforms to the surface on each inflation cycle. The cost of the inflatable seal was justified by eliminating ongoing leak damage and seal replacement.

A food processing facility needed an inflatable seal for a bag filling operation that could contain dust during filling while holding the bag in place. The application required a gap large enough to slide bags into position, then seal the opening during the fill cycle. The facility's existing seal supplier had long lead times and higher costs.

DRI provided a DR-13 non-reinforced inflatable seal in FDA-compliant EPDM at a lower cost and shorter lead time. The seal allows the bag to slide freely into position when deflated, then inflates to seal the opening and clamp the bag in place — performing dual functions of sealing and holding. The FDA-grade compound meets food-contact requirements for the processing environment.

The dust problem was completely eliminated. Installation time was significantly reduced compared to using a compression seal that would need to be mechanically clamped. The DRI seal simplified the process: position the bag, inflate, fill, deflate, remove — with no tools or clamps required. The competitive pricing and faster delivery made DRI the preferred supplier.

A medical facility required metal-to-metal contact between a door and its frame to achieve proper RF (radio frequency) shielding. The existing solution used a fabric reinforced EPDM inflatable seal that held up well enough, but the facility was looking for a more cost-effective option with shorter lead times.

DRI proposed a DR-12 non-reinforced Nitrile inflatable seal covered with a conductive metal mesh — a simpler, less costly design with a much shorter lead time than the existing fabric reinforced seal. The seal acts as an actuator: when the door closes, the seal inflates and pushes the metal mesh outward to make positive metal-to-metal contact between the door and frame, creating a continuous conductive path for RF shielding. The non-reinforced construction was tested and approved for the application.

The non-reinforced Nitrile seal passed testing and was approved as a replacement for the fabric reinforced EPDM seal. The facility gained the same RF shielding performance at lower cost and with significantly shorter lead times. The inflate/deflate cycle allows the door to operate freely when depressurized, with reliable shielding engagement on every cycle.

A manufacturer of commercial washing machines needed a reliable watertight seal for the machine door. The existing seal from another supplier was allowing water leakage during wash cycles, leading to water damage and maintenance issues in commercial laundry facilities.

DRI provided a DR-152 non-reinforced inflatable seal in Nitrile. Nitrile was selected for its resistance to the detergents, solvents, and cleaning chemicals present in commercial wash cycles. The inflatable seal creates a complete watertight perimeter when inflated, and fully retracts when deflated to allow the door to swing open without interference.

The inflatable seal eliminated water leakage from the washing machine door. The Nitrile compound provides long-term resistance to the chemical environment inside the machine, maintaining seal integrity across thousands of wash cycles.

Inflatable door seals are used in Center for Disease Control (CDC) airlock doors and similar biosafety containment facilities. These doors require a fast, reliable airtight seal that engages instantly when the door closes — critical for maintaining negative pressure zones and preventing cross-contamination between containment levels.

Conventional compression seals take a set over time and can't guarantee a complete airtight perimeter on every door closure. Inflatable seals solve this by actively expanding to fill the gap between door and frame on each cycle. The seal engages quickly, provides a verified airtight barrier, and retracts fully when deflated — allowing smooth door operation with zero drag.

The standard seal profiles for this application are the DR-F20 and DR-F3 — fabric-reinforced inflatable seals manufactured in FDA-compliant EPDM. These profiles are specifically designed for airlock-type applications requiring rapid, complete airtight sealing. DRI manufactures these profiles and can provide custom configurations to match specific door frame geometries and containment requirements.