In the rubber and plastics industry, precise heating, cooling, and fluid transfer are essential for safe, efficient, and consistent production. Kadant’s advanced rotary joints and unions ensure reliable transfer of steam, water, thermal oil, and other media into rotating equipment across key applications, including mixing, milling, calendering, extrusion, cooling rolls, and injection molding.
By maintaining accurate temperature control in these processes, rubber and plastic manufacturers achieve improved product quality, greater process efficiency, and reduced energy costs. To support reliability in demanding environments, flexible metal hose assemblies provide durable, leak-free connections that withstand vibration, high pressures, and thermal cycling. Together, these solutions allow rubber and plastics producers to increase throughput, minimize downtime, extend equipment life, and operate more sustainably.
RX® Rotary Union
The RX rotary union is engineered for reliable water and thermal oil service in rubber and plastics processing applications including internal mixing, open milling, calendering, extrusion lines, cooling rolls, and injection molding systems, where precise temperature control and continuous operation are critical. Its balanced mechanical seal, supported by precision ball bearings or optional tapered roller bearings, ensures smooth performance under high loads and elevated temperatures with minimal maintenance. Featuring a stainless-steel nipple and assembly plate for corrosion resistance and extended bearing life, it provides robust sealing in demanding plant environments. Available in single- and dual-flow configurations, including fully stainless-steel versions for specialized applications, the RX rotary union delivers dependable, long-lasting fluid transfer across heavy-duty polymer and elastomer processing operations.
SX® Rotary Joints
Engineered for continuous thermal control in rubber and plastics manufacturing, the SX rotary joint supports heating and cooling systems in mixing mills, calender stacks, extrusion equipment, cooling rolls, and injection molding machines. Its optimized seal geometry, convex seal ring in compression, and widely spaced carbon guides promote long wear life and dependable sealing in steam and thermal oil applications. With through-flow and dual-flow options, plus adjustable syphon clearance and self-aligning seal technology, the SX rotary joint ensures stable operation and reliable condensate management in critical processing environments.
ELSX™ Rotary Joints
The ELSX rotary joint delivers next-generation, extended-life sealing performance for steam and thermal oil systems in rubber and plastics processing applications such as internal mixing, open milling, calendering, extrusion lines, cooling rolls, and injection molding equipment. Built to withstand the high pressures, surface speeds, and vibration common in continuous polymer production, this robust solution features a convex seal design and enhanced durability to increase uptime and reduced maintenance across demanding operations.
Multi-Passage Rotary Unions
Kadant multi-passage (MP) rotary unions deliver precise, reliable fluid control for the demanding thermal and hydraulic requirements of the rubber and plastics processing industry. Designed to manage multiple media flows simultaneously, such as cooling water, thermal oil, air, or hydraulic fluid, MP rotary unions support consistent temperature regulation and process stability in equipment like calenders, extruders, blow molders, and injection molding machines. Their rugged, corrosion-resistant construction ensures long service life in high-temperature, high-pressure, and high-cycle environments, while customizable passage configurations allow integration into complex process lines. By enabling accurate, multi-stream fluid transfer through a single rotating connection, Kadant MP rotary unions enhance product quality, reduce downtime, and improve overall operational efficiency.
Flexible Metal Hoses
Kadant flexible metal hoses are essential components in the steam, condensate, and process piping systems that support the rubber and plastics processing industry. Found in various locations throughout the production process, flexible metal hoses compensate for misalignment and movement between critical equipment. Together, they ensure safe, reliable, and efficient operation of process piping systems, extending equipment life and improving production uptime.
