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3 Tips For Storing Your Hydraulic Seal Inventory

If your business relies on industrial machines to produce goods each day, then you know how important hydraulic seals can be. Without these seals, the hydraulic systems within your machines couldn't work properly. Having enough hydraulic seals available to make last-minute changes is important when it comes to keeping your production line rolling.     

Here are three tips you can use to make sure you are storing your spare hydraulic seals properly.

1. Don't store hydraulic seals in areas that get too hot or too cold.

Since hydraulic seals are made from a type of rubber that is classified as a polymer, it's essential that temperature be taken into consideration when storing your spare seals. If temperature in your storage area is too low, the rubber seals can become brittle and shatter easily.

When temperatures are too high, rubber seals become viscous and begin to deform. If you don't want to ruin your extra hydraulic seals, keep your inventory in an area that stays at room temperature consistently.

2. Keep your hydraulic seal inventory in an area where humidity can be controlled.

Moisture from the air can affect the performance of hydraulic seals. When moisture condenses on the surface of the seal, the polymer can begin to break down. To avoid losing money by having to discard seals that have been compromised by moisture damage, be sure that you keep your inventory in an area where humidity can be controlled.

Experts suggest that the humidity levels in storage rooms where hydraulic seals are kept should not exceed 75%. If you have polyurethane seals in your inventory, humidity levels should be kept below 65% for maximum performance.

3. Make sure your hydraulic seals stay lubricated during storage.

Keeping your hydraulic seal inventory properly lubricated during storage can help prevent serious problems with your industrial machinery. When seals aren't lubricated during storage, they may become dried out or corrode over time. These damaged seals don't function properly, and could compromise the hydraulic systems within your machinery.

During storage it is also possible for the lubricant placed under the seal lip by the manufacturer to leak out. Placing a seal that has leaked lubricant on one of your machines could lead to localized friction or seal twisting. By keeping seals properly lubricated while in storage, you ensure that they will be ready to use when needed.

Storing your spare hydraulic seals in a temperature and humidity controlled environment, and ensuring that they are properly lubricated, will help you maintain the integrity of stored seals for the future.