Foam rubber supplies are used in so many different industries from the automotive industry to foam rubber for upholstery. Because its uses vary so widely, the education materials available to you also vary widely. You should look for educational materials based on your specific industrial use of rubber foam.

Foam rubber suppliers are a great resource when it comes to education as it pertains to the custom foam rubber with which you work. Start by talking to the distributor or manufacturer wth whom you already do business and ask about any training or education materials they may have. If they can't provide you with useful information, consider looking to other manufacturers of the same type of product. To educate your employees, you should:

1. Ask for training materials from rubber foam distributors.

2. Find training materials from news sources and leaders in the industry.

3. Outsource your rubber foam educational needs to a professional training organization.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get training materials from rubber foam manufacturers

When you need product specific information for your organizations, such as training on foam rubber sheets, the latest and most accountable information should come directly from the company who manufacturers the foam rubber. If your manufacturer isn't very helpful, don't fret. Several manufacturers on the web offer reliable training materials.

I recommend: Monmouth Rubber & Plastics Corp. offers a library of educational materials dealing with their industrial foam products. Find a wealth of information at the Rubber-Cal website which covers installation instructions, specification sheets, compatibility information and more.

Find news and training resources from industry-leading foam rubber retailers and more

Get dependable training booklets, materials and other resources from industry-leading organizations or publications that specialize in the rubber foam industry. With the help of a few good online resources, you can provide your workforce with an informative refresher or starter course on rubber foam.

I recommend: RubberNews.com is an online publication that contains information about the rubber industry including foams, sealants and many other topics. They also have a resource link to other industry organizations that can provide you with additional information. The Federation of Societies for Coating Technology is an organization of societies around the world providing information and educational resources to foam and coating users.

Hire a professional rubber foam education and training organization

Find a training seminar or course that fits in your budget and meets your industrial rubber foam training needs. Make sure the course will cover information you need covered such as installation, proper handling and maintenance of any equipment.

I recommend: ToolingU and ITC Learning are two professional training organizations that offer a variety of industrial training. Their courses cover topics such as injection molding, principals of foam products and more.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Because foam rubber products are made up of a complex chemical compound, it's important that anyone who comes in contact with the foam has a good understanding of the proper handling and safety involved with its use.

Whether you're in construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding or upholstering, chances are your business uses rubber foam to make its products. While some foam rubber products are easily recognizable, such as mattress toppers and sofa cushions, others, such as o-rings and gaskets, are less glamorous but just as important to your business' success.

Because they have so many commercial and industrial applications, foam rubber supplies come in every imaginable shape and size. Foam rubber suppliers offer products as simplistic as foam rubber sheets and as technical as machine extrusions and caps. Add in the complexity of chemical compounds, and the buying process can become very challenging. Keep the following guidelines in mind when searching for your ideal foam products:

1. Not all foam rubber compounds are the same.

2. Manufacturers usually specialize in a certain kind of foam product application (i.e., soundproofing, hoses or connectors).

3. Ordering customized industrial foam rubber products makes outfitting your equipment straightforward and easy.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose the best foam rubber compound for your business applications

The varieties of rubber foam are nearly as diverse as their industrial applications. Anti-static, fire-retardant, polyurethane and organic rubber foam are just a few of the materials foam rubber manufacturers use to fabricate their products. Choosing the best foam for your business maximizes your production efficiency and customer satisfaction.

I recommend: Quality Foam Packaging, Inc. creates customized foam molds for shipping and packaging purposes. The company provides a detailed description of each of its 11 different foam compounds. Adams Foam Rubber Company, Inc. also produces custom foam products for packaging and cushioning, and even offers a "green" foam that's starch-based and completely biodegradable.

Buy foam rubber from manufacturers who specialize in your product

The shapes, compounds and densities of commercial foam rubber differ greatly from those of industrial foam rubber. Although some companies produce a wide range of foams appropriate for many different applications, most specialize in one or two product classes. If you know exactly what kind of foam product you need, look for a manufacturer who caters to that specialty.

I recommend: Baxter Rubber Company is a leading producer of technical foam like gaskets, hoses, couplings, tubing and extrusions. If you need a foam rubber product for industrial or commercial equipment, chances are they have it. Catering to a more recreation-oriented clientele, Intelligent Foam offers custom solutions for soundproofing and cushioning applications.

Order custom foam rubber parts to meet your unique business needs

If you can't find the exact part or product you need from a pre-made inventory, then you'll need to place a custom order with a foam rubber supplier. Many companies that supply raw foam materials also cut their products using dies, water cutting or even lasers. You get precisely tooled results at a reasonable price.

I recommend: Elasto Proxy Inc. is a great place to look for customized hoses, bumpers, tubing, insulation and other foam rubber products. Specializing in tapes and weather stripping, Lamatek, Inc. also offers custom fabrication of items in their inventory.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Choose a compound that is rated to withstand any chemicals the foam rubber products will encounter during their application. Compounds have specific characteristics that allow them to repel water, oils, gases and fire.