Terms and Conditions

Welcome to Universal Gaskets. These terms govern the supply of gaskets, sheet materials, and related services by Universal Gaskets Pty Ltd (ABN 95 000 543 653) ("Universal Gaskets", "we", "our", "us") to our customers ("you", "the Customer"). By placing an order with us, you agree to these terms.

1. Quotation Validity

Quotations are valid for 7 days from the date of issue unless otherwise stated. All prices are quoted in Australian dollars (AUD) and are exclusive of GST unless expressly stated as GST-inclusive. Universal Gaskets reserves the right to withdraw or amend any quotation prior to acceptance, including to correct any manifest pricing or specification error. Where a later quotation is issued for the same scope, that later quotation supersedes any earlier quotation.

Where raw material prices increase by more than 5% between quotation and commencement of manufacture, we may adjust the price accordingly. The customer will be notified before manufacture begins and may cancel without penalty if the revised price is not acceptable.

2. Freight

Where a freight estimate is included in a quotation or order acknowledgement, it is an estimate only and may be adjusted to reflect the actual cost at the time of dispatch.

3. Payment Terms

For account customers, payment is due at the end of the month following the month of invoice (EOM+1) unless otherwise agreed in writing. Where credit has not been formally extended, goods are supplied on a pro-forma or cash-on-delivery basis at our discretion.

Where an account becomes overdue, we reserve the right to:

• charge interest on overdue amounts at a rate of 1.5% per month (compounding monthly), calculated daily from the due date until payment is received in full;
• suspend further deliveries on any open or outstanding orders until the account is brought current;
• recover reasonable collection costs, including legal costs incurred in recovering the overdue amount, on an indemnity basis;
• apply payments received first to collection costs, then to interest, and then to the oldest outstanding principal.

4. Manufacturing Tolerances

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, all components are manufactured to the following default tolerances:

• Soft & elastic materials (rubber, silicone, foam, cork composites): DIN 7715-5 Class P2 (Medium)
• Rigid materials (metals, PTFE, PEEK, engineering plastics, rigid composites): ISO 2768-1 Class m (Medium)

Any tolerance requirements outside these defaults — whether tighter (e.g. DIN 7715-5 P1, ISO 2768 Fine) or looser — must be raised at enquiry stage.

5. Material Suitability

Our technical team can provide guidance on material selection based on information supplied. However, final responsibility for material suitability — including compatibility with temperature, pressure, and chemical media — rests with the customer. All guidance is advisory only and does not constitute a guarantee of fitness for purpose.

6. Lead Times, Delivery, and Title

Lead times stated in quotations or order acknowledgements are estimates only and are not guaranteed. Expedited manufacture may be available; additional charges may apply.

All goods are supplied ex-works our Blacktown facility. Risk in the goods passes to the customer on the earlier of (a) delivery of the goods to a carrier nominated by the customer, or (b) physical delivery of the goods at the customer's nominated address.

We accept no liability for loss of, or damage to, goods in transit unless we have expressly agreed in writing to arrange insured carriage at the customer's cost. Where we arrange uninsured carriage as a courtesy, we do so as the customer's agent and not as principal.

Where goods are not collected within seven (7) days of our notification that they are ready for collection, we may charge reasonable storage and handling costs. Where goods remain uncollected after a further thirty (30) days, we may treat the order as cancelled and dispose of the goods, applying any net proceeds against the outstanding invoice.

Title in the goods remains with Universal Gaskets until payment in full has been received. Until title passes, the customer holds the goods as bailee and must store them separately and identifiably from the customer's own stock. If payment is overdue, Universal Gaskets may recover or resell the goods without notice.

7. Customer-Supplied Information

Universal Gaskets accepts no liability for goods manufactured from incorrect dimensions, drawings, or specifications supplied by the customer. It is the customer's responsibility to verify all information provided to us before manufacture commences.

8. Tooling and Setup

Where custom tooling, dies, or fixtures are required, tooling charges may apply and will be quoted separately. All tooling manufactured by or for Universal Gaskets remains our property unless otherwise agreed in writing, irrespective of any contribution the customer may have made to the tooling charge.

9. Minimum Order Quantities

Certain products may be subject to minimum order quantities or minimum order values. These will be advised at the time of quotation.

10. Order Acceptance

An order is deemed accepted by Universal Gaskets upon issue of an order acknowledgement, or commencement of manufacture or procurement, whichever occurs first. Universal Gaskets reserves the right to decline any order.

These terms, together with the accepted quotation and the order, constitute the agreement between us. To the extent of any inconsistency between these terms and any conditions printed on or referenced in the customer's purchase order, these terms prevail unless we have agreed in writing, signed by an authorised representative of Universal Gaskets, to be bound by the customer's conditions.

11. Changes to Order

Any changes to an order after acceptance — including quantity, dimensions, material, or delivery requirements — must be agreed in writing. Changes may affect price and lead time, and Universal Gaskets reserves the right to requote.

12. Cancellations and Returns

Custom-manufactured goods are non-cancellable once production has commenced and cannot be returned, except where they are demonstrably defective in workmanship or do not conform to the agreed specifications.

Standard catalogue items in their original, unused, unopened packaging may be returned within 14 days of delivery, subject to prior written authorisation from Universal Gaskets (a Returns Authorisation). A restocking fee of up to 25% of the invoice value may apply to opened or used items where the return is at the customer's request rather than due to a defect on our part. Return freight is at the customer's cost where the return is not due to a defect on our part.

We will not accept return notifications while a customer's account is in arrears. The remedies available where goods are demonstrably defective or non-conforming are set out in clause 13 (Inspection, Claims, and Warranty).

13. Inspection, Claims, and Warranty

The Customer must inspect all goods promptly upon delivery.

Manufacturing defects. Claims for manufacturing defects (e.g. contamination, incorrect material, visible production faults) must be notified to Universal Gaskets in writing within 12 months of delivery. Product failure due to material unsuitability, operating conditions, incorrect storage, or installation is not a manufacturing defect — see clause 5 (Material Suitability).

Cosmetic and non-functional variations. Differences in colour, shade, surface finish, texture, or minor visual appearance variations arising from normal manufacturing processes, raw material batch variation, or processing conditions do not constitute a defect or non-conformance, provided the goods meet the agreed technical specifications and performance requirements.

Dimensional claims. Claims for dimensional non-conformance must be notified in writing within 30 days of delivery, with measurement data taken at standard reference conditions (23 ± 2 °C per ISO 23529 for elastomeric materials; 20 °C per ISO 1 for rigid materials). Gasket materials are subject to dimensional change from storage, temperature, and moisture — claims notified after 30 days cannot account for these variables.

Deemed acceptance. Where no notice is received within the applicable period, the goods are deemed accepted by the Customer in accordance with the order.

Warranty scope. Goods are manufactured in accordance with the specifications confirmed in writing at the time of order. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Universal Gaskets makes no express or implied warranty of merchantability, fitness for any particular purpose, or suitability for any specific operating environment beyond conformance to those agreed specifications.

Technical advice. Any technical advice, recommendation, selection-tool output, or guidance provided by Universal Gaskets — whether on our website, via interactive tools, in correspondence, or by sales personnel — is provided in good faith for the customer's consideration only and does not form part of any warranty given for the goods supplied. The customer remains responsible for confirming the suitability of any selected material or product for the customer's specific application.

14. Quality and Inspection Requirements

Any inspection, testing, certification, or documentation requirements must be specified at enquiry stage. Examples include:

• Certificates of Conformance (CoC) or Certificates of Analysis (CoA);
• material certificates (EN 10204 or equivalent);
• traceability records and batch or lot identification;
• test reports or inspection reports;
• compliance declarations or specific acceptance criteria.

Where none are specified, goods will be subject to our standard visual and dimensional check only. Requirements notified after manufacture has commenced may incur additional charges and lead time.

15. Limitation of Liability

Our maximum liability for any claim arising out of or in connection with the supply of goods or services is limited, at our election, to the replacement of the affected goods or a refund of the purchase price paid for those goods.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Universal Gaskets is not liable to the customer for any of the following types of loss arising out of or in connection with the supply of goods or services, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), under statute, or otherwise:

• special, indirect, incidental, consequential, or economic loss;
• loss of profits, revenue, anticipated savings, business opportunity, goodwill, or reputation;
• loss of production, plant or facility shutdown costs, or loss of use;
• loss of, or corruption to, data;
• third-party claims arising from the customer's use of the goods.

Nothing in these conditions excludes or modifies any right or remedy that applies under the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)) where it cannot lawfully be excluded. Where a guarantee is implied by law and may not be excluded, our liability for breach is limited, at our election, to the remedies set out above.

16. Performance Data and Website Tools

Technical data, performance ratings, chemical compatibility classifications, temperature and pressure limits, dimensional specifications, and material recommendations published on our website (including in interactive tools, technical data sheets, selection guides, and reference tables) are general engineering estimates provided for the customer's consideration only. They are based on standard test conditions and typical service environments, and they do not constitute warranties of performance for any specific application. Material performance in service depends on factors outside our knowledge, including compounding variations between production batches, installation quality, system dynamics, and operational deviation from specified parameters. This clause operates in addition to clauses 5 (Material Suitability), 13 (Inspection, Claims, and Warranty), and 15 (Limitation of Liability).

17. Customer Specifications, Intellectual Property, and Confidentiality

Universal Gaskets retains all intellectual property rights in our own designs, production methods, manufacturing processes, jigs, tooling, and any process improvements developed during, or as a result of, fulfilling an order. The customer retains all intellectual property rights in drawings, specifications, samples, and technical information that the customer supplies to us.

The customer grants Universal Gaskets a non-exclusive, royalty-free, fully-paid licence to reproduce, modify, and use customer-supplied material to the extent reasonably necessary to fulfil the order, including communicating that material to our subcontractors under equivalent confidentiality obligations.

The customer warrants that any drawing, specification, sample, or other material the customer supplies to us does not infringe any third party's intellectual property rights, and indemnifies Universal Gaskets against any claim, loss, or cost arising from such infringement.

Each party will treat as confidential any drawings, specifications, technical data, or commercial information received from the other in connection with an order, and will use such information only for the purposes of the supply, except where disclosure is required by law or to subcontractors and professional advisers under equivalent confidentiality obligations.

18. Storage and Handling

Universal Gaskets accepts no liability for material degradation, dimensional change, or performance issues attributable to storage or handling conditions after delivery.

19. Termination

Custom-fabricated orders are non-cancellable once production has commenced, except with our written consent. Where we consent to cancellation of an order in production, the customer is liable for a cancellation fee covering the cost of materials consumed or committed, direct labour expended to date, and any irrecoverable third-party costs incurred for the order.

Stock catalogue items may be cancelled at no charge prior to dispatch.

We may suspend supply or cancel any open order, without liability, where the customer becomes insolvent, has an administrator, receiver, or liquidator appointed, enters into a scheme of arrangement with creditors, or fails to pay an undisputed invoice that has been overdue for 30 days or more. Nothing in this clause limits any rights either party may have on insolvency under Part 5.3A of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).

20. Force Majeure

Neither party is liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations (other than an obligation to pay money) where that failure or delay is caused by an event beyond its reasonable control, including natural disaster, fire, flood, severe weather, pandemic or epidemic, government action or restriction, industrial action, civil unrest, war, act of terrorism, raw material unavailability, or significant disruption to supply chains, transport, or utilities.

The affected party must notify the other party promptly upon becoming aware of the event and its likely effect, and must use reasonable efforts to mitigate that effect. Where the event continues for more than 60 days, either party may cancel the affected order on written notice without liability, other than for goods already delivered.

21. Privacy and Personal Information

We collect, use, store, and disclose personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the Australian Privacy Principles set out in Schedule 1 to the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). The Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, who we disclose it to, and how to exercise your access and correction rights.

22. General

Entire agreement. These terms, together with the accepted quotation and the order, constitute the entire agreement between the parties in respect of the supply, and supersede any prior representations, negotiations, or arrangements (whether oral or written) on the same subject matter.

Severability. If any provision of these terms is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of these terms continues in full force and effect, and the invalid provision is to be read down to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable.

Variation. No variation of these terms binds Universal Gaskets unless agreed in writing and signed by an authorised representative. Oral statements, email correspondence, and statements by sales personnel do not vary these terms unless confirmed in a signed writing. Universal Gaskets reserves the right to update these terms; updates apply prospectively to orders placed after the updated version is published.

Assignment. The customer may not assign or novate its rights or obligations under these terms without our prior written consent. We may assign or novate our rights and obligations to any successor entity or related body corporate without consent.

Time. Time is not of the essence in respect of any delivery date or other obligation unless expressly agreed in writing.

Waiver. A failure or delay by either party to enforce any provision of these terms is not a waiver of that provision or of any other provision.

Electronic communication. The agreement may be formed, varied (subject to the variation clause above), or evidenced by exchange of electronic communications.

23. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of New South Wales, Australia. The parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New South Wales and the courts competent to hear appeals from those courts in respect of any dispute arising out of or in connection with these terms.