Understanding How Rubber Tracks Are Made
It goes without saying that not all rubber track manufacturers produce their tracks in the same way. However, nearly every manufacturer must undertake certain key steps throughout the process. To gain a better understanding of how rubber tracks are made, continue reading this simple guide.
Sourcing Raw Materials
The first step in creating rubber tracks is sourcing the raw material. Most rubber track manufacturers use natural rubber as well as synthetic rubber polymers in their compound. In addition, most manufacturers also use other chemicals such as carbon black and silica.
When creating a top-quality rubber track, it is essential to ensure the raw materials used in production are of premium quality. It is important to note that not all rubber track manufacturers use the same raw materials. Manufacturers like McLaren Industries that source their materials from leading, internationally recognized suppliers will almost always offer consistently better quality tracks than small domestic suppliers that may not follow international suppliers.
McLaren also differentiates itself by using a diverse array of chemicals in our compound. By including various additives, such as anti-aging chemicals, anti-ozone, specialized coupling agents, and high-performance additives, we can fine tune our products to offer optimal performance.
Processing and Procedure
The next step in creating rubber tracks is processing and procedure. The key types of machinery used in the process of creating rubber tracks are hydraulic press machines and the rubber track mold.
Hydraulic Press Machines
All rubber tracks are made using hydraulic press machines. However, not all hydraulic press machines are the same. Most rubber track suppliers purchase their hydraulic presses from other manufacturers.
At McLaren, however, we use hydraulic press machines built in-house by our manufacturers to vulcanize our rubber tracks. By in-housing our production processes, we have developed comprehensive knowledge regarding track production, which allows us to better innovate our production technology to improve rubber track quality.
Another important aspect of the manufacturing process is the mold used to create the rubber tracks. The mold acts as a sort of waffle iron that imprints its pattern onto the rubber to create various track patterns and features. The thickness of the mold and temperature distribution largely impacts the track’s design.
McLaren also produces all rubber track molds in-house using specialized CNC machinery. Because we are fully integrated in the sense that we build our own press machines and molds, as well as make our own rubber compound, we have the advantage of being able to improve track quality and make innovations more quickly than manufacturers that outsource their services.
Another important factor in the production of rubber tracks is the ISO certification. An ISO certification indicates that a manufacturing process has met all the requirements for standardization and quality assurance to ensure consistency.
At McLaren, our facilities are ISO 9001; 2015 certified, which is the most updated certification for ISO. Further attesting to the quality of our manufacturing procedures, our processes have been certified by SGS, which is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing, and certification company.
At McLaren, we are committed to producing top-quality rubber tracks every single time. Our dedication to consistency guarantees that all our customers receive the superior quality rubber tracks that McLaren is known for. In addition to rubber tracks, we also provide exceptional over-the-tire tracks, steel tracks, and solid cushion tires. To learn more about our products, call or contact us today.