Roxtec is the leading developer and manufacturer of modular-based sealing solutions for pipe and cable transits. The headquarters and main production facilities of the group are found in Sweden, and they have subsidiaries and distributors around the world to ensure service and support for customers in more than 80 markets.
The company’s seals are used in a wide range of industries, including shipbuilding, oil and gas, power generation, telecom, infrastructure, data centers and manufacturing. Roxtec seals ensure safety and operational reliability by providing certified protection against multiple hazards such as fire, water, gas, rodents, electromagnetic interference and the risk of explosion.
Interview with Petr Hudeček, Business Director at Roxtec Group.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Petr Hudeček: Roxtec provides advanced mechanical sealing solutions that are versatile and that can be customized according to specific needs. The seals are very flexible as they are openable and adaptable to cables and pipes of different sizes. We specialize in cable, pipe and conduit seals for walls, floors, decks, bulkheads, cabinets, enclosures and equipment in demanding industries. This includes all types of marine vessels, offshore units, rolling stock, railway, oil and gas, energy, chemical plants, food and beverage, data centers, hospitals, military applications, and many others. We help our customers throughout their projects, from design to onsite inspection. We also offer several software solutions to help designers, builders, owners and operators manage their transits online.
E.E: What’s the news about new products?
P.H: We constantly develop and improve our product line to meet increasing demands and regulations in various areas. We have, for example, strongly improved our offer for rolling stock applications with the Roxtec CRF solutions that offer an openable flexible solution in predefined kits to fulfill the industry needs – including fire protection for plastic pipes. We are also improving our EMC solutions to meet increasing demands regarding electromagnetic compatibility. Besides great environmental protection, these solutions offer electrical safety by bonding and grounding of cables in a transit or by shielding from EMI and EMP.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
P.H: Our range covers sealing solutions for small as well as large scale rectangular openings for cables and pipes passing through structures. The seals can accommodate one or many cables or pipes and thereby help solving high cable density issues. We also offer seals for round openings providing protection on land, at sea and underground. Another area is our compact kits which offer complete cable entry sealing solutions for enclosures, boxes, switchgear and other smaller applications. Our solutions have high IP ratings and can combine environmental protection with protection for EMI, EMP and Ex areas.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
P.H: Despite the uncertainty regarding the global financial situation and the current careful planning regarding investments of many companies and organizations, we are doing well. That is most certainly thanks to the fact that we are active in many markets which in their turn are in different stages. In some markets, we are the well-known premium brand that is specified by owners and designers, in others we are still being discovered as a brilliant “new” safety solution. The more we extend our geographic spread and the more industries we supply to, the better is our ability to manage slowdowns in specific countries or industries. We have for example recently experienced a strong growth in North America.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
P.H: One of our core values since the very start in 1990 states that we are “market creators”. It is inspiring and it really encourages us to keep on exploring new industries and new application areas for our sealing solutions. It means that we will have the courage check out if we can be a perfect fit for any emerging or trending industry. We were, for example, an important cable transit supplier decades ago when offshore wind power started to grow, and we have ever since been the number one in that area. We are now seeing a rapid development within other power sectors, such as green hydrogen, as well as within data centers. It is amazing that our solutions so often help securing groundbreaking projects. There is also an increasing demand for sustainable solutions across all industries. By using our durable seals, companies can increase safety and avoid risks, accidents and leakage of harmful substances.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
P.H: The base of the Roxtec sealing system is our invention Multidiameter™. It is an innovation for flexibility based on sealing modules with removable layers. Multidiameter™ makes the sealing system adaptable to cables and pipes of different sizes. By using it, you can minimize the need for bringing installation material and make sure you always have the right product at hand. The flexibility simplifies planning and logistics and helps speed up the installation work. With only a few parts, you get a strong reliable barrier securing long-term operational performance. There are also our EMC solutions. These seals combine great protection against regular hazards with smart solutions for electrical safety. A Roxtec multi-cable transit can offer electromagnetic shielding as well as bonding and grounding of all passing cables and pipes with excellent performance.
E.E: What estimations do you have for 2023?
P.H: Given the unstable situation around us, we are prepared for a more challenging year. We have, however, been able to keep up the great pace and achieve very good results during the last couple of years. We do believe that we will be able to continue to grow also 2023. We are investing in our production capacity and in our people because we see so much potential going forward.