Rubber manufacturing is a precise, technical process that demands expertise, patience, and a deep understanding of chemistry. For Fogutek, a small but innovative Swedish manufacturer, this complexity is part of the daily challenge. With just eight employees, Fogutek specializes in producing custom rubber parts for industries ranging from food and medical to extreme industrial applications, using everything from natural rubber to high-performance fluorocarbons (FKM).
Filip Säfsten is Fogutek’s compounding and production expert who has been with the company for 16 years. He oversees production and compounding.
Our team works closely with Filip, and today he takes us through the journey of creating a rubber compound. It starts with selecting the right polymer, for example natural rubber, NBR, or FKM, then meticulously blending it with fillers like carbon black or silica, curing agents such as sulphur or peroxides, and stabilizers to achieve the desired properties: flexibility, durability, chemical resistance, or compression set.
Each ingredient plays a critical role. Fillers reinforce the material, curing agents create the cross-linked network that gives rubber its elasticity and strength, and antioxidants ensure stability over time. The process itself is hands-on: polymers are mixed on a rubber mill, where chemicals are gradually incorporated until the compound is uniform.
Filip explains: “Even at industrial level open two-roll mills need a human operator to be present at the machine. You need to cut the rubber sheet, roll it, and feed it back in between the rolls to ensure uniform blending of additives.”
Every batch is then tested for hardness, cross-linking behaviour, and other mechanical properties, creating a unique “fingerprint” for each recipe. For Filip, the process remains creative and stimulating. “It’s about understanding how each component interacts—how a change in curing time or temperature can transform a sticky, under-cured sheet into a usable, high-performance rubber.”
Despite its technical sophistication, the rubber industry is notoriously slow to adopt new materials. The stakes are high and a single misstep in formulation or processing can compromise an entire production run. For many manufacturers, the risk of experimenting with unproven materials is simply too great.
Filip has seen this firsthand. “People in this business are hesitant to try new things. They can be quite scared to deviate from what they know works.” This caution is understandable as rubber parts often end up in critical applications where failure isn’t an option. Yet, it also means that innovation can be painfully slow, even when the potential benefits are clear.
Amid this conservative landscape, there are exceptions—companies and individuals willing to take the leap. Fogutek is one of them. When Reselo first approached Filip and his team with a new, sustainable polymer, the response was immediate curiosity. “We were interested from the start. Not because we saw an immediate application, but because we wanted to test, to learn, to see what was possible.”
The journey wasn’t easy. Early trials revealed some challenges and required careful adjustment of polymerization and curing processes. But through persistent experimentation, Fogutek and Reselo began to unlock the material’s potential. They discovered its compatibility with a range of rubbers, its ability to be cured, and its influence on mechanical properties.
“At first, we were just trying to see if it could work. Now, we’re pushing the limits and exploring how much of the Reselo polymer we can incorporate.” Sais Filip.
For Filip, the motivation goes beyond technical curiosity. “From an environmental perspective, I’m totally into this. I hope this will work in the long run and be something good.” His enthusiasm reflects a growing, if still cautious, interest in sustainable alternatives across the industry. While many clients remain risk-averse, the collaboration between Reselo and Fogutek has already sparked conversations among peers. “People in the industry know that we’ve been working with innovative biobased rubber for some time now, and at conferences people often come up to ask me if it works, even saying they’re envious that I get to explore the material. There’s definitely curiosity out there.”
The partnership has also demonstrated the power of collaboration in driving innovation. By combining Reselo’s groundbreaking material with Fogutek’s compounding expertise, we’re challenges but also paving the way for a more sustainable future in rubber manufacturing.
