Sioux Rubber & Urethane Blog

Behind the Scenes: The Making of HawkPadⓇ

Written by Sioux Rubber & Urethane Team | Jul 7, 2021 5:53:28 PM

Sioux Rubber & Urethane’s HawkPadⓇ is the premier press pad for commercial die-cutting products. One of our most popular products since its introduction, this cutting-edge pad allows for consistently deep and precise cuts, time after time. Curious how we are able to create a product that so far outperforms the competition? Let’s take a look at the five steps of HawkPad production, and see why we are the go-to press pad provider for customers in the cardboard packaging industry.

Prepare

Failing to prepare = preparing to fail! Each step of our process is carefully laid out by our team of experts so that we can get the timing and the application perfect. Each of our HawkPads is built to the custom dimensions requested by our clients, so we double and triple-check our plan before diving in.

Pour

Precisely and diligently, we pour the urethane onto multilayered hardwood and into the premade forms, both of which have been sized perfectly to our customer’s specifications. This process must be handled with extreme care by our team of experts, ensuring that there are no bumps, bubbles, or interruptions in the rubber application. Fortunately, we’re the best at what we do, and the human eye and touch ensure that each piece is poured with great care.

Cure & Harden

After the urethane is poured, we apply heat directly to the urethane. This process smooths and removes imperfections that could compromise the integrity of the press pad. After our team has reviewed each pad with an expert hand and eye, we’re ready to move on to the curing process. The pad is placed in a batch oven, where it is cured for a long time. This process requires a lot of time, effort, and expertise- and this is part of what sets us apart from the competition. 

Press

After being prepped, poured, cured, and hardened, the HawkPadⓇ is ready to take the die-cutting industry by storm! Compared to its gum rubber-based peers, this HawkPadⓇ will last up to 3 times as long. Sioux Rubber’s proprietary EndurawearⓇ urethane barrier allows for deep, clean cuts through multiple materials, multiple times. 

Each HawkPad is produced with a long life in mind. It is common for them to make 562,000 cuts before needing repair or replacement. By creating a cutting-edge product that works for over half a million cuts, we are helping our customers to cut their costs, labor, and material waste. Give us a call to learn how the HawkPadⓇ can transform your die-cutting business!