Faltenbälge

A bellows is used whenever a wiper seal cannot be employed due to the risk of media carryover or contamination. This is particularly relevant in aseptic applications or when handling abrasive media that would damage or prematurely wear out a conventional seal.

A rubber bellows is widely recognized and commonly used. However, a PTFE bellows is typically selected when one or more of the following conditions apply:

• Exposure to aggressive chemicals such as acids, alkalis, or solvents
• Use in food processing or pharmaceutical applications
• Prevention of diffusion and carryover of volatile substances, such as flavors, fragrances, or plasticizers
• Operation under high pressures and/or elevated temperatures
• Resistance to mechanical fatigue caused by frequent flexing and repeated bending cycles

Unlike elastomer bellows, a TEFLON® bellows is typically machined from solid material. This manufacturing method offers a high degree of design flexibility, making it possible to develop multifunctional solutions or to accommodate specific installation space constraints.
As a result, prototype production can usually be carried out without significant tooling costs.
As a PFAS-free alternative, UHMW-PE is an excellent choice, offering flex fatigue resistance comparable to that of PTFE and making it well suited for applications involving repeated bending and cyclic loading.

Upon request, we support and guide the entire development process, from the initial concept and design phase (including optional FEA analysis), through prototype production with multiple design variants, all the way to full-scale series production. Testing on dedicated test rigs designed specifically for the application under actual production conditions completes the development process. Further information about our services can be found here.