Elasto Proxy Supplies EMI Shielding for Military Electronics and Medical Equipment

Elasto Proxy, a supplier of specialty sealing solutions and custom fabricator of rubber and plastic parts, is supplying EMI shielding for military electronics and medical equipment. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) can disrupt sensitive electronic components and endanger the lives of the warfighters and hospital patients who depend on them.

The causes of EMI are numerous, and include everything from radio transmitters and electric motors to fluorescent lights, power lines, and computer circuits. Regulations limit unwanted electronic emissions, but EMI shielding remains mission-critical. Whether aboard a navy frigate or inside a hospital operating room, product designers must consider this important sealing solution. 

Raw Materials and Custom Fabrication

The raw materials for EMI shielding are specialized. Metal is embedded in rubber inserts, which are then custom-fabricated into usable shapes. The required attenuation, or loss of signal strength, determines whether a metal such as stainless steel is used. Because different types of rubber compounds have different properties, designers must also consider factors such as temperature and pressure.

Elasto Proxy also uses sheet stock or rubber strips to make electromagnetic shielding. Some applications require rubber extrusions or tubing instead. Flat gaskets may be needed for military or medical equipment. The amount of EMI shielding that is required varies, and ranges from low-volume custom fabrication of medical seals to the technical design and production of EMI gaskets for a fleet of frigates. 

Military and Medical Applications

Military electronics and medical equipment are expensive, so manufacturers need high-quality sealing solutions to ensure supply chain strength. In the healthcare industry, suppliers use EMI gaskets in hospital dummies. By protecting the sensitive electronics used to monitor heart rate and blood pressure, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) also avoid electromagnetic interference (EMI).

As a supplier of high-quality sealing solutions, Elasto Proxy supports both medical equipment manufacturers and suppliers to the defense industry. The electronics that the company’s partners need to protect are important, and failure is not an option. By outsourcing raw materials and custom fabricating the EMI shielding, Elasto Proxy is able to offer a wide range of high-quality rubber products.