When do we use a silicone suction cup in industry?
Silicone Suction Cups: Applications, Benefits and Selection
Silicone suction cups are commonly used in vacuum handling applications where flexibility, temperature resistance, ozone resistance or specific material properties are required.
Compared with general-purpose NBR suction cups, silicone can remain flexible across a wider temperature range and is often considered for hot workpieces, food-handling applications, packaging, engineered wood and selected glass-processing applications.
However, silicone is not automatically the best choice for every vacuum application. Oil exposure, abrasion, workpiece surface, Shore hardness, suction cup geometry and cycle frequency should also be considered.
For a broader material comparison, see our vacuum suction cup material guide.
Why Choose Silicone Suction Cups?
Silicone is selected for industrial suction cups primarily because of its flexibility and resistance to temperature, ozone and weathering.
Typical advantages include:
- Good flexibility across a wide temperature range
- Good ozone and weather resistance
- Ability to conform to uneven or curved surfaces
- Availability in specific food-contact compliant grades
- Suitability for selected hot-workpiece applications
| Property | Silicone | NBR | PU |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature resistance | Excellent | Moderate | Moderate* |
| Flexibility | Excellent | Good | Good* |
| Oil resistance | Limited | Excellent | Good* |
| Wear resistance | Moderate | Good | Excellent |
| Ozone / weather resistance | Excellent | Moderate | Good* |
| Food-contact grades | Available | Application-specific | Application-specific |
| Typical use | Hot workpieces, flexible sealing, food / packaging | General industrial handling, oily workpieces | High-wear, high-cycle applications |
Silicone Suction Cups for Wood and Engineered Panels
Silicone suction cups can be useful in wood-processing applications where the workpiece surface is uneven, curved or warm from a production process.
Typical workpieces include:
- MDF and HDF panels
- Laminated flooring
- Veneered boards
- Plywood
- Particle board
- Furniture components
The flexibility of silicone can help the sealing lip adapt to surface variation. For workpieces with varying heights or uneven surfaces, a bellows suction cup may provide additional height compensation.
Food-Contact Silicone Suction Cups
Silicone is widely used in food and packaging applications because certain silicone compounds are available in food-contact compliant grades.
Typical applications include handling:
- Baked goods
- Confectionery
- Fruit and vegetables
- Packaged food
- Flexible packaging
Where the suction cup may come into direct contact with food, the specific material grade and its applicable food-contact documentation should be verified for the intended market and application.
Limitations of Silicone Suction Cups
Silicone offers important advantages, but it is not ideal for every application.
Potential limitations include:
- Lower resistance to oils than NBR
- Different wear characteristics in abrasive applications
- Potentially higher cost than general-purpose rubber
- Performance differences between compounds and hardness levels
For oily sheet metal or general industrial handling, NBR suction cups may be more suitable. For high-abrasion applications, polyurethane suction cups may be considered.
For a broader comparison of material properties and application suitability, see our vacuum suction cup material guide.