FTL Technology Ltd

Here at FTL Technology, we’ve been a leading supplier of precision engineered seals, bearing and material solutions for over 40 years.

In addition to providing a comprehensive consultancy service, we’ve provided off-the-shelf products and custom solutions to solve thousands of engineering problems.

Mark McCormack, Engineering Director, said:

“We add value to companies across the world by improving equipment and operation efficiency with our vast expertise; and we’re proud to say we have a great number of technical strengths.”

Here’s a breakdown of all our core capabilities and why we should be your leading choice when it comes to problem-solving...

In-house test validation

Our experts can provide proof of concept through validation, testing and analysis.

FTL offers an extensive range of independent testing services for companies looking for help in investigating materials, sealing or generic engineering problems.

Materials technology is at the core of our business, so our state-of-the-art training facility includes an advanced laboratory and development cell which possess a wide range of equipment dedicated to the development of manufacturing processes for new materials.

As new materials and designs are developed, processing characteristics are fully understood before manufacturing begins.  

Strong testing capabilities can analyse:

Chemical- Seal materials are often used in unique combinations of fluids over a wide variety of temperatures. Our test facilities allow chemical compatibility trials to be performed to solve specific needs. We can examine changes in physical properties and determine the best material for the chemical environment.

Failure Analysis- A seal or bearing that has failed in an application is analyzed using various techniques to identify the root cause and mode of failure. This often involves investigating possible causes - such as mechanical failure, environmental stress, premature ageing, contaminants/inclusions and poor design.

Thermo-mechanical Evaluation- Using environmental chambers to test the physical properties of materials at actual or elevated operating temperature provides accurate results which are much more representative of actual applications.  The data is then used in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) computer modelling to create accurate simulations of seal designs.

Explosive Decompression ED Testing- Explosive decompression (ED) damage of seals occurs when seals are under high pressure for some time and then rapidly de-pressurise.

We have advanced ED testing equipment that can pressurize seals of various geometries up to 20,000 psi (13.8 MPa) and can decompress over any desired cycle or time, whilst at a temperature of up to 250°C (482°F).

Compounds can be developed and tested to confirm the performance of seal types and grades before installation.

With a 3L cylinder, the ED test rig has been designed to meet Total, NACE, NORSOK and Shell test requirements with all temperatures, pressures, gas mixtures and depressurization rates detailed there-in.  

The O-ring carrier insert is interchangeable to allow O-rings to be tested at various squeeze levels and piston geometries. This equipment also tests high-pressure sealing capability versus diametral clearance and back-up ring performance.

Rotary Shaft Seal Test Rig- Elsewhere, we have a rotary shaft seal test rig that can test up to Ø165. The test rig runs through pressure and vacuum cycles that can be changed to suit specific parameters up-to 10 Bar and 5m/s.  We have a standard test we use for comparative validation, it runs through 2, 4, 6 and 8 bar pressure as well as vacuum.

Cycle time is 60 minutes and we normally test for 500 cycles; whilst the seal is dynamic.

Weld bead test rig- What’s more, we have a weld bead test rig for pipeline wheels.

Access to Clean Room Manufacturing

Our sister company- PPE- operates five ISO 1,000 cleanrooms dedicated to manufacturing components for the semiconductor, food/dairy and pharmaceutical/medical industries.

By working together, FTL Technology can harness these state-of-the-art clean rooms on your behalf - giving you access to superior controlled manufacturing environments (three in the UK, two in the USA); so you can get peace of mind of a unique quality product.

Equipment for measuring and control

FTL has equipment for measuring and managing temperature controlled environments via our:

• Manual CMM Machine
• CNC CMM Machine
• Optical (non-contact) measuring machine
• Surface finish measurement
• Usual Micrometers, Vernier caliper, digital calipers, torque wrenches, pressure gauges, all contained within a controlled calibration register.

5s Fundamentals

FTL first adopted the 5S methodology in October 2017 as part of our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement in the workplace.

We took more steps in 2018 to implement the findings across the FTL facility.

The 5S team (comprising Production, Dispatch and Operations) dedicate time to the five principles of Sort, Set, Shine, Standardise and Sustain to transform our workspace into a leaner, cleaner and more efficient environment.

Through the process, we have created dedicated hubs for displaying and discussing our standards to improve the visibility of our progress throughout the business.

The 5S team meet weekly to discuss the status of projects, identify new tasks and find ways to improve our 5S system.

Product Design and Material

FTL Technology’s engineering solutions go far beyond seals, bearings and packings. 40 years’ experience in the sealing market and our role as leakage, friction and wear problem solvers, we deliver an extensive range of engineering components for all kinds of applications and industries.

We can design and manufacture tailored solutions that are specific to a particular set of operational parameters and we do this through our:

• Autodesk Inventor Professional 3d CAD software to allow for assembly modelling, detail drawing and FEA.
• Material expertise – we have a combined 120+ years experience, so it’s safe to say we know a thing or two!

As you can see from the above, our core capabilities are far-reaching; so the only question to ask is simply how can we help you? If you’ve got a tough engineering problem, let us rise to the challenge.