Specialised rubber solutions for the defence industry

When a valve fails, or a pump stops working, the problem is rarely the steel itself or the underlying electronics. Often, it is a relatively small component that no one normally notices: the gasket, the diaphragm or the specially developed rubber solution.

The above statement was made by Anders Guldbæk Christensen, Sales and R&D Director at AVK GUMMI A/S, which develops and produces customer-specific rubber components for industries including valves, pumps and equipment manufacturing.

“A valve does not work if the gasket fails. And a pump cannot pump if the diaphragm does not function. That is a bit of a paradox for us: we make quite complex solutions that no one notices as long as they work,” he says.

Material technology and performance requirements

AVK GUMMI is part of the family-owned Danish AVK Group and has exported to industrial customers in the EU, the United States and China for more than 40 years. The company develops its own rubber compounds and works closely with customers to translate functional requirements into concrete solutions.

“We have a very broad customer base, and they all prioritise high quality, approvals and technical service. We do not make our own products. We exclusively supply customer-specific solutions,” says Anders Guldbæk Christensen, adding that much of the work is driven by advanced performance requirements.

“Some solutions must function at extreme temperatures. Others must be able to withstand aggressive chemical environments or meet specific approval requirements. It is important that our customers inform us of the environment in which the solution will operate, as well as the requirements for function and lifetime. We then translate that into a solution that works,” he says.

The company has its own chemists and chemical engineers, who develop and qualify new materials and solutions. The entire development and engineering function is located at the company’s headquarters in Låsby, Denmark, while production takes place in Denmark, China and the Netherlands. AVK GUMMI is also in the process of establishing production in the United States.

Defence places specic demands on suppliers

AVK GUMMI is a highly specialised tier 2 supplier that supplies indirectly to the defence industry through European manufacturers of valves, pumps and equipment. Although the defence industry may impose different extreme requirements than, for example, the healthcare industry, the basic principles are often the same.

“Whether a pump is used on a warship or in a pharmaceutical production unit, it must not fail. Function, traceability and the correct approvals must be in place. That is deeply embedded in the way we work,” says Anders Guldbæk Christensen.

He also points out that AVK GUMMI’s experience from many different industries allows the company to contribute early in development projects and advise customers on material selection, regulatory requirements and the qualification of new solutions.

PFAS and new regulatory requirements

One of the areas currently taking up a significant part of the company’s development work is PFAS. AVK GUMMI has spent several years developing PFAS-free alternatives and closely follows developments in European legislation.

“We try to stay ahead and develop solutions that customers can begin to qualify before new legislation enters into force. It is not only about compliance, but also about helping customers navigate the requirements of the future. EU legislation has been postponed, but we have chosen to continue developing PFAS-free alternatives,” says Anders Guldbæk Christensen.

He emphasises that PFAS-free alternatives will not necessarily achieve the exact same properties, but that it is usually possible to find solutions that match customers’ needs sufficiently well.

The company has worked systematically with environmental and regulatory requirements for many years. Among other things, AVK GUMMI obtained environmental certification at an early stage and has carried out life cycle assessments of the products. The company was also the first rubber company in the world to be certified according to ISO 14001. Most recently, AVK GUMMI has been awarded a bronze medal by EcoVadis for its ESG and sustainability work.