Rubber Bumper
In the automotive industry, where the variety of possible collisions is wide, most vehicles' bumpers are designed to absorb collision impact in a way that minimizes the risk to the vehicle's passengers. For this reason, passenger vehicles' bumpers are typically composed of some combination of metal and plastic. In the marine industry, where possible collisions are mostly limited to occasional bumping or brushing against wood, metal, or other kinds of dock material, bumpers can be made of extruded rubber and are designed to maintain the structural and cosmetic integrity of the boat. Some commercial vehicles, especially large freight trucks, are equipped with rubber bumper systems at the rear of the trailer that prevent damage to the trailer and loading docks. In manufacturing contexts, bumpers also help to stabilize machinery that would otherwise vibrate excessively as a result of their operation. The
vibration absorption products industry is a major producer of such products.
Rubber bumpers are produced by
rubber extruders, which are machines that take raw natural or synthetic rubber material and process it into a useable product. Most rubber extruders begin with a collection of raw rubber pellets, or stock, which is directed through a hopper into a conveyance channel. In rubber extrusion, the conveyance channel usually contains a large screw that pressurizes the stock and moves it toward the die. As the stock works its way toward the die, it is heated and pressurized to a near-liquid state. As it nears the end of the conveyance channel, the stock is ready to enter the die. A die is a tool designed to shape raw materials into a useful product. Because dies can be designed in any shape, extrusions can be designed in whatever shape a customer may call for. After being extruded, the product cools and settles into its final state, at which point it can be cut and shipped or continue to additional processing. Because of the wide range of shapes to which bumpers must be attached, and because of rubber's impact absorption capabilities, extruded rubber products make excellent bumpers.
