For the watertightness of steel gates, beyond profiles sold by the linear meter, PXL SEALS, a subsidiary of the Origin Seal group, manufactures molded corners as well as complete or semi-assembled frames, ready to install. These components are produced in-house at their workshop.
1. Why dedicated frames for steel gates?
A gate frame is not simply a sealing profile. It is a technical assembly made up of several components of different shapes and lengths, designed to fit precisely to the geometry of each gate.
PXL SEALS has mastered the mechanical requirements and load-bearing constraints specific to these frames. Their joint-making expertise has been built up over years of experience working with hydroelectric plant operators.
Our added value rests on three key technical choices:
- The number of joints
- The location of the joints
- The type and quality of the joints
Two possible types of joints
To meet the needs of hydroelectric plants, dams, and locks, PXL SEALS offers two types of solutions: molded corners, and half-frames or complete frames.
Extruded profiles with corner pieces supplied separately
Where possible, using molded corners avoids cold bonding at 45°, a particularly exposed area where the risk of delamination is high.
Two types of seals are manufactured: extruded profiles and a corner block. The two are then bonded together to form a frame.
These corners are used together with our extruded profiles supplied by length, so that only straight-section bonding needs to be carried out on site operations that are far simpler to perform and more reliable over time.
PXL SEALS maintains a broad range of existing corner blocks and can develop new references to meet specific needs.
Examples of corner blocks
Half-frames or fully assembled frames built in-house
For greater reliability, PXL SEALS also offers half-frames and complete frames fully assembled in-house, using a hot-splicing process with added material.
These turnkey solutions for steel gates offer several advantages:
- Simplified on-site installation
- Fewer bonding operations to perform in often difficult conditions
- Improved joint reliability
Several frame configurations can be proposed depending on the profile and the type of gate involved.
We generally recommend delivering half-frames with extra length, to be trimmed and adjusted directly on site. This approach accommodates the frequent discrepancies between design drawings and on-site reality.
The choice between molded corners and assembled frames depends on the profile type and the shape of the frame. Our engineering department will guide you toward the solution best suited to your configuration.
All our frames are made from profiles produced by extrusion. PXL SEALS maintains a large stock of standard references and also designs custom profiles to meet your specific dimensional requirements.
Ultimately, it is the client, working together with our engineering department, who determines the most suitable solution:
- Extruded profile and molded corner supplied separately, or
- Half-frame or complete frame ready for on-site use
2. Standard gate corners
Here are some examples of standard gate frames offered:
Flat corner – Outer bulb seal
Flat corner – Inner bulb seal
Edge-mounted corner – Outer bulb seal
Edge-mounted corner – Inner bulb seal (facing inward)
These configurations are also available for other families of sealing profiles.
3. Custom / Specific gate corners
Beyond the standard catalog, PXL SEALS designs frames adapted to all profile configurations used on steel gates, including:
Flat corner – double bulb
Flat corner – double/single bulb
Flat corner – double tail
Rounded corner with outer bulb
For your steel gate frame projects, PXL SEALS offers two complementary approaches: molded corners combined with extruded profiles, or frames fully assembled in-house both built on proven expertise gained working with operators in the hydroelectric sector.
Our solutions are manufactured in Hydrorubber, a specially formulated EPDM 70 compound designed for gate sealing applications, compliant with DIN 19704.
Our engineering department will help you choose the configuration best suited to ensuring optimal watertightness for your gate.
Have a sealing project for a steel gate? Let’s talk.
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