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As of this year, EN45545-2, the European Standard for fire safety in rolling stock is mandatory across Europe. With a reputation for excellence and reliability in the rail and mass transit industry, CB Frost constantly strive to provide innovative products that comply with all industry standards and as such, our range of specialist rail materials are all EN45545-2 compliant. As a result of our commitment to fire safety and protection, we are proud to work in partnership with Armacell to supply Armaflex® Rail SD insulation foam.

High-tech insulation with advanced fire protection for railway vehicles

Armaflex® Rail SD is a high-tech and innovative closed-cell thermal insulation material designed specifically for the rail industry. The closed-cell structure of this elastomeric foam-based rubber allows for improved fire-retardant properties and low smoke generation to meet hazard level 2 according to EN45545. In the event of fire, it is self-extinguishing, does not drip and does not spread flames.

In addition to its excellent fire protection properties, Armaflex® is also a highly effective material for applications such as insulation and protection for air-conditioning and refrigeration air ducts and pipes, including fittings, elbows and flanges. The closed-cell structure of the material combined with Microban® antimicrobial product protection provides an effective barrier to water vapour, reducing the risk of corrosion, mould and mildew to improve indoor air quality.

Whilst Armaflex® Rail SD resists temperatures of between -50°C and +110°C, it is unsuitable for outdoor use as it is not a UV stable material and as a result should not be exposed to direct sunlight.

Our Armaflex® Rail SD products

At CB Frost, we stock various Armaflex® products as standard in the colour blue:

• Armaflex® Rail SD tubes in a range of lengths and thicknesses
• Armaflex® Rail SD continuous rolls in various thicknesses and roll lengths
• Armaflex® Rail SD self-adhesive continuous rolls in various thicknesses and roll lengths
• Armaflex® Rail SD self-adhesive tapes at a width of 50mm, length of 15m and thickness of 3mm

Using our in-house capabilities, we can also convert Armaflex® materials into a number of different bespoke products, including:

• Tape/strip – plain or adhesive backed
• Gaskets and washers – plain or adhesive backed
• Mouldings
• Fabrications Extrusions

To view our Armaflex® Rail SD brochure, please click here.

For more information on Armaflex® Rail SD or other rail industry products, simply contact our sales team on +44 (0)121 773 8494 or browse cbfrost-rubber.com.

As specialists in the supply and conversion of a comprehensive range of silicone products, we regularly provide extruded silicone profiles for the rail and mass transit industries, including the development and manufacture of specialist, bespoke products.

Needless to say, the specifications of sealing solutions for the rail industry are unique – not only are all materials, profiles and products required to comply with a number of industry safety standards, but they must also be able to withstand the vibration, shock, abrasion, range of temperatures and risk of fire that exist as a result of high-speed rail travel. Whilst the requirements of our rail clients can be highly complicated, we always work alongside them to devise sealing solutions where the end product can be as simple as possible. Our metal reinforced silicone profiles are certainly a good example of this.

Sealing solutions – Metal reinforced silicone edge trims to EN45545-2

As rail stock will be subject to vibration and shock when travelling at high speeds, ensuring that sealing profiles are effectively fixed is vital. A reliable solution for a profile to be fixed to an end product is to reinforce the profile; by using metal reinforcement to strengthen the fixing point of a silicone profile, this removes the need for tape, adhesive or any separate fixing plate. As a result, the overall design of the end product will be kept as simple as possible.

At CB Frost, our metal reinforced silicone profiles contain a core of stainless steel wire which is embedded within the profile during the extrusion process. This adds rigidity to the profile to ensure a guaranteed fit to the end product, with easier installation.

In order to conform with the safety regulations of the global rail sector, our metal reinforced profiles conform to the following fire safety standards:

• EN45545-2 – European Union Standard Fire Testing
• DIN5510-2 – German Standard Fire Testing
• NF F16-101 – French Standard Fire Testing
• BS6853 – British Standard Fire Testing
• NFPA130 – French Standard for Fixed Guideway Transit and Passenger Rail Systems
• GOST 12.1.044-89 – Russian Standard Fire Testing

Key uses of metal reinforced silicone edge trims

The properties of metal reinforced silicone profiles mean that they are well suited for a number of applications within the rail and mass transit industry. They are commonly used as sealing solutions for:

• Windows
• Door systems
• Floors
• Ceilings
• HVAC systems
• Walls
• Lighting systems
• Luggage compartment racks

Standard reinforced profiles

In addition to developing bespoke metal reinforced profiles, we are also able to offer a selection of several standard profiles. The tooling for said profiles is owned by CB Frost, so our customers are completely free to utilise these in their projects.

For more information on our reinforced profiles and other extruded products, or to discuss a project you are working on, please call +44 (0)121 773 8494.

In a commitment to future growth and expansion into new sectors, we have recently undergone a seven-figure management buyout, led by existing directors Paul Kennedy and Mark Jones. The new company structure will focus on the expansion into new sectors and further investment in the plant and its machinery.

Director David Dunn is set to retire from the business, while Philip Beadle will remain on the Board of Directors as Non-Executive Chairman to oversee the transition to the new management team. While it was not an easy decision for them, they both feel that the buyout will pave the way for further growth and development at CB Frost & Co.

Paul Kennedy (Technical Director) said “There is a lot of history in this company. We are grateful to Phil and Dave for letting us have this opportunity and very much look forward to growing the business.”

Mark Jones (Sales Director) said “Having started working for CB Frost straight from college and progressing through the company, it will be both challenging and extremely exciting taking the company into the next era.”

At CB Frost & Co, we design and manufacture a wide range of products for varying industries, including: rail, construction, energy, automotive, military defence and medical. Our in-house machinery means we can produce a huge range of quality items, quickly and cost effectively. Whether it’s extrusions and mouldings or fabrications and gaskets, we’re committed to designing and developing products in house.

If you think we can help with your business needs, please call us on: 0121 773 8494 or email us here.

 

Front Row from L to R : Lauren Henderson and Daniella Tarbuck (Rutherfords LLP) and Sarah Monaghan and Stuart Price (Thursfields)

Back Row from L to R : David Dunn and Philip Beadle (CB Frost), Alan Butler (Harben Barker), Paul Kennedy and Mark Jones (CB Frost)

In the modern transport industry, comfort is always considered a top priority. Passenger carrying trains, buses and coaches are all designed with comfort in mind when it comes to the interior. As well as designing comfortable seating arrangements, public transport designers and manufacturers also factor in the importance of maintaining comfortable temperatures for all conditions.

In most public and mass transit vehicles, HVAC units are installed throughout to provide heating or air conditioning for all passengers. Naturally, heating, ventilation and air conditioning units for large vehicles are linked for ease of use and consistency of temperature and air flow. As a result, they can be somewhat noisy, and temperature is more difficult to keep under control. At CB Frost, as preferred converters of BISCO® cellular silicones, we regularly provide HVAC seals for the rail industry and other modes of public transport.

Key properties of HVAC seals

In order for HVAC units on trains, buses and coaches to function effectively and efficiently, proper insulation is vital. HVAC insulation seals must fit certain characteristics, including:

• Excellent sound insulation – HVAC seals must provide a good level of sound insulation to ensure that noise generated by the units are kept at a comfortable level for passengers.
• Excellent temperature resistance – Materials used for HVAC seals must continue to function effectively in both low and high temperatures. As well as external temperatures, seals must also be able to withstand the high or low air temperatures generated by the HVAC units to allow them to provide the appropriate, consistent temperatures.
• Durability – Durability and longevity of sealing materials is essential. HVAC units must be designed for long term and regular use, so seals and gaskets must be suitable for these specifications to ensure the smooth running of heating and air conditioning units.
• Fire safety – Any insulation material used in trains, buses and other forms of public transit must comply with government regulations for fire safety. Rail industry standards include BS6853, the British standard for fire testing and fire safety, as well as EN45545, the European standard for fire safety, which is now mandatory across Europe. Insulation materials must be resistant to fire and help to prevent fire and smoke from spreading.

As specialists in the field of rubber and plastics, with particular expertise in the rail and mass transit sector, the CB Frost team are well placed to advise on the most suitable materials for HVAC seals. We take great pride in our extensive technical knowledge and high quality of customer service, combine with our second to none product range.

Our range of BISCO® cellular silicones for HVAC seals include:

HT800 silicone sponge

HT800 silicone sponge provides an ideal solution for any HVAC sealing requirement. It exhibits fantastic resistance to extreme temperatures and flames, UV light and ozone to provide consistently excellent performance in all environments. HT800’s compact cell structure and unique formulation allows for a much-enhanced sealing performance, resisting the penetration of fine particles and wind-driven rain.

MF775 silicone rubber

MF775 is a solid silicone rubber with a range of properties that are well suited for use in HVAC sealing applications. It boasts a high level of resistance to UV, ozone and extreme temperatures and will not absorb moisture. These characteristics, combined with fire safety compliance, mean that MF775 is well suited for sealing gaps of various sizes in HVAC systems.

BF1000 and BF2000 silicone foam

Both BF1000 and BF2000 are highly compressible silicone foams with excellent compression set and are as a result highly suitable for use in sealing applications. Due to the softness of the material, they exhibit low closure force, so less force is needed to seal HVAC units, whilst still providing excellent protection and insulation. As is essential for all HVAC sealing materials, BF1000 and BF2000 silicone foam withstand extreme temperatures and resist UV light, ozone and flame in all environments.

To discuss your HVAC sealing needs, or for more information on suitable sealing materials, please contact CB Frost today by calling +44 (0)121 773 8494 or leave us a message online.

 

 

Another year has almost passed – another year to add to our 90 plus years of experience and another year of new development. 2017 has provided us with many opportunities to talk about our constant commitment to innovation, from supplying sealing materials to the Chernobyl New Safe Confinement, to introducing our brand new EN45545-2 compliant lightweight rail material:

CB Frost’s involvement in the Chernobyl New Safe Confinement project

One of our most notable projects of recent years has been our involvement in the Chernobyl New Safe Confinement. We were tasked with supplying suitable sealing materials to prevent the escape of radioactive dust from within the enormous shelter, as well as preventing air moisture from entering the arch, helping to prevent the internal steelwork from rusting.

Silicone sponge (CF19) and HT800 Silicone sponge were identified as the most suitable materials for the application, due to their resistance to ozone and UV light, extreme temperatures, fire resistance, good compression set and prevention of microbiological growth.

Construction began in 2012, however, the structure is nearing completion and is expected to be commission at some time in the first half of 2018.

Our commitment to rail industry fire safety standards

From 2018, throughout Europe, almost everything weighing over 100g on a rail vehicle will be required to comply with EN45545-2 fire safety standards. Rail industry materials will be rigorously and extensively fire safety tested.

At CB Frost, we are ahead of the game – our BISCO® cellular silicones comply with not only EN45545-2, but also BS6853:1999, NFF-16-101 and LUL fire safety standards. We supply an extensive range of specialist rail industry materials – for more information, please contact our highly knowledgeable sales team.

CBF SIL-VO – Our new lightweight rail material

Earlier this year, we introduced our new lightweight silicone rail material, CBF SIL-VO. Ahead of the new compulsory safety standards set to be in place as of 2018, it is compliant with EN45545-2. With a fully closed cell structure and excellent compression set, CBF SIL-VO is specially designed to be lightweight to help reduce weight on trains and improve efficiency – it’s ideal for use in a number of rail applications, including lighting seals, gap fillers, HVAC units, electrical enclosures, LCD display and anti-vibration strips and seals.

With our extensive in-house capabilities, we can provide our new lightweight rail material as sheet material, or convert it to strips, seals or fabricated sections to suit your needs.

In introducing CBF SIL-VO, we have further strengthened our commitment to innovation – manufacturers looking for peace of mind can always be safe in the knowledge that CB Frost always work to the very latest regulations and safety standards. Times change, but we are always ahead of the game.

You can request a SIL-VO sample here.

One size doesn’t fit all

In manufacturing, there are practically no situations where a one size fits all approach is suitable. At CB Frost, bespoke rubber and plastic products are our bread and butter – we will always work with you to create completely customised solutions. With close to 100 years of experience, we always pride ourselves on our ability to problem solve.

Our extensive in-house manufacturing facilities allow us to provide an extensive range of bespoke products, including gaskets, washers, extrusions, mouldings, fabrications, sheeting and strip to suit practically any application.

 

With the year growing to a close, all the team at CB Frost would like to wish our customers and clients a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. If you would like to talk to us about our commitment to industry safety regulations, or would like to discuss your requirements, please call our highly knowledgeable team on +44 (0)121 773 8494 or contact us online.

When times change, it pays to work with good suppliers. During 2018, the fire standard EN 45545-2 will become the mandatory fire safety standard for the rail industry. For manufactures and engineers, that means preparing well in advance to make sure their components are compliant with the new regulations. Working with an excellent supplier, one that’s ahead of the game with its technology and materials, takes the pressure off designers and lets them focus on what they do best.

At the start of next year, the European standard will replace all of the old national standards from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Poland. While providing far greater safety assurances to passengers around the continent, the regulations also provide new challenges and opportunities to manufacturers as they continue to improve technology while adhering to the latest safety standards.

A unified step towards safety

Fire safety is an incredibly important facet of railway manufacture and design, and EN 45545-2 is the culmination of 20 years’ worth of research and testing. Its key areas identify what factors are important for adequate fire safety, including:

• Fire spread
• Ignitability
• Heat Release
• Smoke emission
• Toxic emission

The latter are especially important considerations given their history. In 1987 and 2003, fire tragedies at King’s Cross and South Korean Daegu subway respectively caused the deaths of hundreds. Among these, the most common cause of death was exposure to toxic fumes. It is exactly these kinds of events that fuel the drive towards greater safety, and materials that minimise smoke and toxic emissions when they burn are therefore essential to compliance with the new safety standard.

Innovative new material for EN 45545 compliance

With the standard in mind, CB Frost’s new material aims to step up to the new challenges. CBF SIL-VO is a lightweight silicone sponge, ideal for HVAC and electrical enclosures, LCD display gaskets, anti-vibration strips/seals or as a gap filler. As well as being EN45545-2 compliant, the material boasts a fully closed cell, meaning it’s resistant to water, moisture and dust.

The introduction of the new material optimises CB Frost’s commitment to innovation. For manufacturers that want peace of mind that their supplier is on top of the industry’s shifting sands, they can be safe in the knowledge that CB Frost always work to the latest regulations.

Get more information on SIL-VO by downloading the flyer or requesting a printed version and sample using the form below. Find out what other innovative ways CB Frost supply the rail industry.

At this time of year, when the temperatures can dip below zero in the UK and much lower in other parts of the world, identifying the most appropriate gasket materials is important. The weather can be hard on gasket materials and extremely cold temperatures can have an especially adverse effect on gasket performance, especially when combined with moisture.

Frozen gaskets are very susceptible to cracking and failing, however, the problems don’t stop there. If gaskets don’t crack, gasket materials can expand and grow stiff in freezing temperatures. The problem is, when temperatures start to rise, and ice begins to melt, gaskets loosen up and are much more likely to leak. Open cell gasket materials are certainly a no-no for use in extremely low temperatures as they will absorb moisture, freeze and expand, destroying the material.

When temperatures get low, gaskets are likely to get wet, so it’s always advisable to choose closed-cell gasket materials. Open cells absorb moisture, so open-cell materials are a recipe for gasket failure – as soon as the gaskets take in water, freeze and expand, material will quickly be destroyed.

Ideal gasket materials for use in winter weather conditions

Whilst Nitrile rubber gaskets can withstand extreme temperatures of as low as -20°c and also exhibit good resistance to oil and solvents in general, if used in an outdoor application, Nitrile does not provide strong resistance against ozone and UV light, so a more expensive material is recommended.

EPDM rubber gaskets provide an ideal outdoor gasket material for applications not involving oils or solvents. EPDM provides a good level of resistance against water absorption, ozone, UV light and general resistance. Importantly, in winter weather conditions, EPDM can resist extreme temperatures of as low as -40°c, which is much colder than ever recorded in the UK.

At CB Frost, we can provide EPDM rubber gaskets in a wide range of thicknesses and shore hardness to suit different applications.

Gaskets for extreme winter temperatures

In parts of the world, particularly Northern Norway, parts of Russia, Canada and the USA, temperatures of less than -40°c are often recorded during the winter months. This means that gasket materials with an extreme resistance to low temperatures are necessary to prevent regular gasket failure.

At CB Frost, we supply many grades of gasket materials that are designed to withstand temperatures of colder than -40°c. In addition to being fire and smoke resistant, specialist rail materials such as BISCO® HT-200 and MF775 solid Silicone rubber can resist temperatures of as low as -55°c. These materials also offer outstanding resistance to UV and ozone and are well suited to many different applications.

General purpose Silicone rubber gaskets can withstand temperatures as cold as -60°c (and temperatures as high as 230°c). These gaskets can be supplied in a fair range of thicknesses and shore hardness and are well suited to outdoor applications. By choosing general purpose silicone rubber gasket material, your gaskets are likely to withstand a cold winter outdoors without warping or failing.

For more advice on gasket material selection in different conditions, please feel free to call our highly knowledgeable team on 0121 773 8494.

When it comes to the manufacturing industry and the components that are required, there’s not always a one size fits all approach. That’s why at CB Frost, we’ve heavily invested in our in-house manufacturing capabilities to provide a wide range of bespoke rubber products.

We’ve put together a list of our top five products that we can customise and make especially for you:

1. Gaskets

Whether it’s standard gaskets or gaskets of the self-adhesive variety, we can produce these handy products in any shape or size. From simple shapes to complex designs with holes, radius and angled corners, the possibilities are endless. Depending on customer requirements, we can kiss cut gaskets in large numbers, use our overhead or swing arm presses, or for certain materials use water jet cutting techniques. At CB Frost, we are also preferred distributors for Bostik, allowing us to take advantage of their technical expertise to find the ideal adhesives to suit each application.

2. Extrusions and mouldings

From EPDM and natural rubber to silicone and Viton, we often manufacture extrusions in various materials. We find that EPDM rubber extrusions are particularly popular, thanks to its strong resistance to UV light and weather, as well as flexibility in very low or very high temperatures. If you provide us with drawings or samples, we can arrange the perfect tooling to create your product.

3. Washers

We often create high quality, affordable and bespoke rubber and plastic washers from many materials including: silicone sponge, rubber, cork, EDPM, neoprene and PVC sponge, to name just a few. They can be supplied in a range of thicknesses, as plain and adhesive backed – whichever suits your needs best.

4. Sponge, silicone and foam rubber sheeting

We can supply a huge range of closed cell sponge or closed cell foam sheets which are fantastic for sealing against air or fluid in specific applications. The cell foam rubber materials are commonly made from polyethylene foam and offer a strong, chemical resistant material perfect for a range of settings.  Our rubber sheeting can be purchased in a range of sizes, thicknesses and shapes – all you need to do is let us know what it’s going to be used for and we’ll advise on the best type to use.

5. Strip

We have the facilities to make a huge range of strip and cork strip and nitrile rubber. Whatever your application – we have you covered. We find that our EDPM rubber foam tape is particularly popular when an application needs high resistance to water, while neoprene sponge tape is very good at sound proofing.

Whatever types of bespoke rubber or plastic components you’re looking for – we can make. Call us today to see how we can provide the solution you’ve been looking for: 0121 773 8494. v

We have nearly 100 years of experience in the rubber and plastics industry and pride ourselves on our ability to problem solve and create bespoke products for our customers. Our experts will be able to talk you through the best suited materials for your application.

As specialist rubber and plastics manufacturers, as well as supplying a comprehensive range of materials to different industries, using our in-house facilities, we supply a range of bespoke products to meet customer specifications. To ensure that we always at the very least, meet expectations, we work closely with customers to make certain that all their needs are carefully addressed.

In addition to cutting roll stock materials into gaskets and washers, as well as moulding and fabricating simple and complex shapes, CB Frost also offer a practically limitless range (mostly to customer’s designs) of extruded cellular sponge and rubber profiles for use in applications for all sectors. Extrusion is a very common manufacturing process that allows for the creation of products with a consistent cross-sectional profile.

All extrusion production follows these simple processes:

• Rubber sheet material is cut into strip form and fed into the extruder and is heated to the required temperature as it moves through the barrel
• The heated rubber material is forced through a die at the end of the barrel. The die is the element of tooling that determines the cross section of the desired profile
• The extruded profile is then cured, ready for final inspection and shipping

In addition to standard shaped and sized extrusions, we create completely bespoke profiles. Working alongside customers, we develop new dies to suit their exact specifications.

Bespoke rubber extrusions

We commonly manufacture extrusions using materials such as EPDM, Natural rubber, Nitrile rubber, Silicone and Viton, dependent on customer requirements and the intended application of the extrusion. EPDM rubber extrusions are regularly chosen for the outstanding properties provided by this material, for example, it exhibits strong resistance to UV light, ozone and general weathering, as well as extreme temperatures as low as -40°C and as high as 130°C. These properties, combined with a good resistance to a range of water based chemicals and vegetable based hydraulic oils make EPDM rubber extrusions well suited for applications within the automotive industry.

Bespoke rubber extrusions for use in the rail sector

A market leader in the rubber and plastics industry, we regularly supply extruded profiles to a number of sectors, including automotive, lighting and Rail (mass transit). With our knowledge base and experience of cellular sponge, rubber, and silicone materials as well as teaming up with industry leading material manufactures to support us, CB Frost continue to grow as a valued supplier into the mass transit vehicle industry as well as other sectors.

Our rail materials comply with all current rail industry standards, including BS6853:1999 and EN45545-2 fire safety standards. From 2018 onwards, EN45545 fire safety tested materials will be mandatory throughout Europe, so we ensure that all extruded profiles and rail materials are tested rigorously.

To learn more about EN45545 bespoke rubber extrusions, CB Frost should be your first point of call. Simply telephone our knowledgeable team today on +44 (0) 121 773 8494 and we will be happy to help in whichever way we can. If you have an extrusion that you need creating, send us a drawing or sample along with details of quantities and application specifications and we can work alongside you to develop the ideal end-product.

 

As a company, we always strive to provide an ideal solution for customers in all sectors and continually work to develop new products. For over 30 years we have supplied a wide range of materials and finished parts for the rail industry, with our technical knowledge, excellent customer service, attention to detail and extensive product range setting us apart from competitors. In continuing to develop our rail sector product and material range, we are happy to launch the new lightweight rail material, CBF SIL-VO.

Similarly to our extensive range of fire complaint silicone materials, CBF SIL-VO is a highly versatile and adaptable material, suitable for a number of applications within the rail sector, as well as many other industrial sectors. Ideal rail applications include:

• Lighting seal
• HVAC and electrical enclosures
• Gap filler
• LCD display
• Anti-vibration strip/seal

Here’s what you need to know about our new lightweight rail material:

• EN45545-2 compliant – CBF SIL-VO is compliant with European fire safety standard EN45545-2. This standard will be mandatory across Europe for all rolling stock as of 2018, so this is an essential consideration for any rail insulation material.
• Fully closed cell – This material is fully closed cell and specially formulated to improve fire and smoke safety for the rail industry.
• Lightweight – Specially developed as a lightweight material, CBF SIL-VO helps not only to reduce weight on trains, but in turn, helps to improve efficiency.
• Sheet material – We can provide sheet material, or convert material to strips, die-cut seals and fabricated sections in house.
• Extrusion – CBF SIL-VO is suitable to be extruded to form custom sponge extruded profiles.
• Fully skinned – It can be supplied fully skinned (this includes extruded profiles)
• Thickness – We supply CBF SIL-VO rail material in a good range of thickness’s (from 2 to 45mm), so there is no need to laminate.
• UL94 V-0 compliant – Our material complies with UL 94 V-0, the standard for safety of flammability of plastic materials for parts in devices and appliances testing. This makes CBF SIL-VO a suitable material for use on electrical circuit boards.
• Compression set – With excellent compression set, CBF SIL-VO features enhanced sealing properties.

To discuss your rail material requirements, contact us on +44 (0)121 773 8494. If you need a sample, simply let us know the size and finish that you require and we will be happy to put something in the post for you.