Fasten Up!

Is a Gasket the Same as a Washer?

Posted by APM Hexseal on

APM Hexseal is a leading provider of durable high-quality sealing hardware, including custom-molded gaskets and washers. Gaskets and washers are often assumed to be the same thing, as they have a similar design and are both used in conjunction with other components. While they have a similar appearance, they serve very different purposes. Gasket vs. Washer: What's the Difference? Although gaskets and washers share some similarities, they serve different functions. Gaskets are used to prevent leaks around mating surfaces, whereas...

Read Full Article

APM Hexseal Seeloc Washe

The Purpose of Washers & Why They’re Used With Fasteners

A washer is a mechanical component that consists of a circular flattened metal, plastic, or rubber disk with a hole through the middle. Washers are typically used with fasteners such as screws and bolts to distribute the load of the fastener, prevent damage to sensitive surface materials, and reduce the potential for leaks. Are washers necessary? That depends largely on the application and the substrate.  For more than 70 years, APM Hexseal has been creating innovative sealing solutions for customers...

Read Full Article

Metal Roof Leak

Common Causes of Metal Roof Leaks

Metal roof leaks are not unusual, but they can be extremely costly. Undetected and unchecked, a leak can allow moisture to collect on roof supports, interior walls and ceilings, and even structural supports that keep the building standing. Over time, moisture can cause these building components to rust or rot. Standing water in the building interior can also promote microbial growth, which can cause severe air quality issues and health problems.  At APM Hexseal, we understand that an impenetrable metal...

Read Full Article

APM Hexseal Seelskrews & Seelbolts

How a Self-Sealing Screw Works

Founded in 1947, APM Hexseal has provided environmental sealing solutions for over 70 years. We offer a wide range of innovative sealing products for use in industrial and commercial applications. Unlike traditional fasteners, they serve a dual purpose: joining components together and sealing contaminants in/out.  One of our core offerings is self-sealing screws. In this blog post, we provide an overview of these products, highlighting what they are, how they work, and what applications they are used in.  What Is...

Read Full Article

Assorted O Rings

A Guide to O-Ring Material Selection

O-rings play a vital role in sealing fasteners. Sealing fasteners are hardware devices (e.g., sealing bolts, sealing screws, and sealing nuts) used to mechanically join two or more components together. They also form seals at the fastening point that prevent unwanted ingress or egress of materials. They have built-in O-rings, which create a tight hermetic seal once the fastening element is fully installed.  The O-ring element in a sealing fastener can be made from a variety of materials depending on...

Read Full Article

Sealing Fasteners

Guide to Sealing Fasteners

Fasteners such as screws, bolts, nuts, and nails provide connections for critical components and disparate substrates across industries. Sealing fasteners go a step further by tightly sealing against the substrate, making them particularly for high-value and high-intensity situations. Today, we want to take a closer look at sealing fasteners – what they are, how they work, and why they're so crucial. What are Sealing Fasteners? A sealing fastener features an elastomer molded or built into the hardware, eliminating the need...

Read Full Article

Fastener Innovation Award

Nutzilla Wins Fastener Innovation Award

People are going nuts for our new “Nutzilla” product! The largest Seelnut® in our portfolio has shown users across industries that sometimes bigger really is better.  If you need large, self-sealing nuts in your application, Nutzilla is the product for you. After all, these puppies are the size of...well, puppies! Nutzilla Product Design Nutzilla benefits from the same innovative design and excellent molding quality as the rest of our Seelnut line of products, so you can expect it to feature...

Read Full Article

Women's History Month

Happy Women’s History Month!

What Does it Mean to Be an Icon? Such an interesting term, used to describe many people and many things but what does it truly signify? In layman’s terms, icon means idol, standout, pinnacle – the essence of greatness in a category. Icons can come from anywhere or from any walk of life.  It is their unparalleled success or excellence that awards them the status of icon. What is usually fascinating about icons is their journey, their history, their “how...

Read Full Article

Community Service

APM Hexseal Gives Back

At APM Hexseal, we believe in taking care of one another. At times like these, it’s important to remember that we’re all in this together, and  together is how we will get through this pandemic. To that end, we’re doing all that we can to help the citizens of our community. Doing our part to help those in need has always been one of the core values of our APM Hexseal family. Our Recent Community Efforts The APM Hexseal team...

Read Full Article

Assorted Parts

Benefits of Working With a One-Stop-Shop Manufacturer

In order to fabricate custom sealing components, many industry professionals must closely coordinate with each other throughout every step of the process. During the course of a project, you are likely to find yourself working with: Designers Manufacturers Engineers Quality Inspectors Tooling Experts  Vetting and continually communicating with so many contractors can be challenging and time-consuming, often leading to difficulties in controlling critical aspects of the production process. Working with a one-stop-shop manufacturer makes it possible to consolidate all aspects...

Read Full Article