Resources & Extraction

Agricultural Gaskets & Seals

Sealing for every corner of Australian farming, from irrigation pump flanges to dairy milking lines.

Agricultural equipment faces relentless UV, dust, chemical exposure, and seasonal time pressure. We supply gaskets, O-rings, and seals in EPDM, PTFE, NBR, silicone, and FKM — matched to the actual chemicals, pressures, and temperatures your equipment sees in the field.

AS 4087 Australian waterworks flanges
ISO 6162 Hydraulic connection systems
AS 2628 Sealed grain-storage silos
Documented grade Potable-water contact evidence
Why Agriculture Sealing Matters

What a Season Demands

High UV

Outdoor Exposure

Weathering life depends on the exact compound, strain, ozone exposure, shielding, and maintenance interval

4–8 wk

Harvest Window

A failed seal during the narrow harvest window can delay an entire season's yield

> two-thirds

Australian Irrigation in the Basin

More than two-thirds of Australia's irrigation occurs in the Murray–Darling Basin, making leak control an important water-management task

Where We Work

Sealing Applications Across Agriculture

Irrigation Pump Flanges

Centrifugal pump volute and discharge flanges

Full-face EPDM gaskets for AS 4087 flanges, handling raw bore and dam water with suspended solids and dissolved minerals.

Temperature 5–50 °C
Pressure 100–1000 kPa
Media Raw water, bore water
Material EPDM (AS/NZS 4020 grades)
Gasket Type Full-Face Flat Gasket

Dairy Milking Equipment

Milk line couplings and bulk vat seals

Silicone and EPDM compounds may be considered for milk contact where the manufacturer documentation covers the applicable food-contact provision and the site's clean-in-place cycle.

Temperature 4–85 °C (CIP)
Pressure Vacuum to 300 kPa
Media Raw milk, NaOH, nitric acid
Material Documented Silicone / EPDM Compound
Gasket Type Tri-Clamp Sanitary Gasket

Grain Storage Silos

Access hatches, aeration ducts, discharge gates

Extruded EPDM profiles and flat-cut gaskets that maintain seal integrity during phosphine fumigation and extreme surface temperatures.

Temperature -5 °C to 60 °C (surface)
Pressure < 5 kPa
Media Grain dust, phosphine gas
Material EPDM / Closed-Cell Neoprene
Gasket Type Extruded Profile Seal

Spray Rigs and Boom Sprayers

Pump diaphragms, nozzle O-rings, filter housings

Chemical-resistant seals for equipment that switches between glyphosate, 2,4-D, fungicides, and petroleum-based adjuvants. Material choice is critical.

Temperature 5–45 °C
Pressure 200–1500 kPa
Media Herbicides, surfactants
Material FKM / PTFE
Gasket Type O-Ring and Diaphragm

Hydraulic Systems

Cylinder rod seals, piston seals, SAE flange O-rings

NBR and polyurethane are common hydraulic-seal candidates. Confirm the exact compound, seal profile, connection size and series, pressure-temperature cycle, fluid, contamination, and equipment specification.

Temperature Exact seal data required
Pressure Connection size/series-specific
Media Verified hydraulic fluid and contaminants
Material NBR / Polyurethane / PTFE
Gasket Type Rod, Piston, and Wiper Seals

Farm Fuel Systems

Diesel tank outlets, filter housings, fuel connectors

Diesel, biodiesel, and AUS 32/AdBlue duties need separate checks. Confirm the blend, temperature, motion, and contact duration against data for the exact seal compound; PTFE is a common AUS 32 candidate.

Temperature -10 °C to 80 °C
Pressure Atmospheric to 200 kPa
Media Diesel, biodiesel, AdBlue
Material NBR / FKM / PTFE / EPDM
Gasket Type Flat Gasket and O-Ring

Water Tanks and Stock Troughs

Tank outlets, float valve seals, pipe connections

For regulated drinking-water contact, use a named compound or product with AS/NZS 4020 test evidence that covers the supplied thickness, colour, and conditions of use.

Temperature 0–50 °C
Pressure < 200 kPa
Media Potable/bore water
Material EPDM with Applicable Test Evidence
Gasket Type Flat Gasket / O-Ring

Winery and Olive Press Equipment

Fermentation tank manways, press membranes, pump gaskets

Select the exact EPDM, silicone, or PTFE construction against the wine chemistry and clean-in-place cycle. Food-contact claims need the manufacturer's declaration for the supplied compound and conditions.

Temperature 5–80 °C
Pressure Atmospheric to 200 kPa
Media Wine, must, CIP chemicals
Material Documented EPDM / PTFE Construction
Gasket Type Manway Gasket / Wine Union Seal

Fertiliser Handling Equipment

Liquid fertiliser tanks, injection pumps, NH₃ connections

Treat anhydrous ammonia, UAN solution, and dry fertiliser as separate services. Confirm concentration, temperature, pressure, flange material, and the exact gasket grade before selection.

Temperature Service-specific
Pressure Equipment-specific
Media Separate NH₃, UAN, and dry fertiliser duties
Material Service-Specific Gasket Material
Gasket Type PTFE Envelope Gasket

Chemical Compatibility

Material response varies by compound, chemical concentration, temperature, pressure, and exposure time. Check the specific chemical SDS and the gasket manufacturer's data before selection. The chemical compatibility database provides an initial screening reference; it does not replace application review.

Compliance

Standards & Certifications

The required evidence depends on the product, water or food-contact pathway, customer specification, and jurisdiction. Confirm the exact compound, report or declaration, limitations, and current status before treating a gasket as compliant or certified.

AS/NZS 4020:2018 (Amd 1:2022)

AS/NZS 4020 test evidence applies to the named material or product and its stated conditions and limitations. Amendment 1 includes defined NDMA test provisions for elastomeric products in monochloraminated water; it does not qualify every EPDM compound.

AS 4087:2011

Metallic flanges for waterworks. Current standard for irrigation infrastructure flanges. Pressure ratings: PN 14/16, PN 21, PN 35.

AS 2129:2000

Flanges for pipes, valves, and fittings. Common in older irrigation and processing plants. Tables A, D, E flanges suit soft gasket materials.

FDA 21 CFR 177.2600

Where a customer specification calls for 21 CFR 177.2600, check the manufacturer's declaration for the exact rubber formulation, extraction limits, food type, temperature, and conditions of repeated use. US requirements are not automatically Australian legal requirements.

3-A Sanitary Standards

A gasket may be cut to customer-supplied dimensions for equipment designed to a 3-A standard, but geometry alone does not confer 3-A certification. Claim certification only when the supplied replacement part is within a current certificate or RP Mark scope.

SAE J518 / ISO 6162

Four-screw hydraulic flange connection-system ratings are series- and size-dependent. Working pressure is limited by the lowest-rated flange, fastener, fitting, tube or hose, and seal component.

ASTM D2000

Standard classification for rubber products by heat ageing resistance and oil swell. Used to specify gasket material grades for agricultural equipment.

AS 2628:2010

Sealed grain-storage silos — sealing requirements for insect control. The standard covers sealed silos used for fumigation or controlled-atmosphere insect control and uses a specified pressure half-life, or pressure-decay, test to demonstrate gas-tightness.

AS 1210:2010

AS 1210 covers pressure-vessel design and construction. In-service inspection scope and interval depend on the applicable WHS jurisdiction, equipment classification, manufacturer information, competent-person assessment, and AS/NZS 3788.

IEC 60529 (IP Ratings)

Ingress Protection code. Agricultural equipment increasingly specified to IP67+ for dust-tight and water-immersion protection.

When a Seal Goes Mid-Harvest

A failed O-ring or pump gasket during harvest can hold up a production task. Send the equipment details, verified dimensions, fluid, pressure, and temperature so we can confirm the material, supply route, documentation, and lead time at quotation.

  • Application conditions checked before material selection
  • Dimensions verified against a drawing or suitable sample
  • Available manufacturer documentation confirmed at quotation

Disclaimer

This page is provided for general engineering reference only and does not constitute professional advice, specification, or guarantee of performance. Actual results depend on specific application conditions. Universal Gaskets Pty Ltd accepts no responsibility or liability for decisions made based on this information. For full terms, see our Terms & Conditions.

Temperature ranges, chemical resistance ratings, and mechanical properties cited on this page are typical values for standard grades. Actual performance varies with compound formulation, filler package, and service conditions — contact us to confirm suitability for your specific application.