Nothing but seals since 1988
VR Dichtungen develops and manufactures radial shaft seals in Übach-Palenberg, Germany. The whole value chain is in house — apart from compounding the materials.
From spin-off to patent holder
- 1988Company founded
- 1992Spun off from Vredestein
- 1999First certification to ISO 9001
- 2001First patent on the SOA high-pressure seal
- 2021VR Low Friction sealing lip patented
- 2023Start of major investment in the machine park
- 2026First certification to ISO 14001
- 2026Swiss sales subsidiary opened
- 2027Move to the new site in Aachen planned
Three things that make the difference
Preloaded diaphragm
Diaphragm sealing concepts on reusable support bodies — for low friction and long service life. The design is at the same time the basis of our circular economy: materials separable by type, easy dismantling.
In-house manufacture
The whole value chain in our own plant, apart from compounding. Modern machines for precision and repeatability — and the freedom to manufacture from a batch size of one.
Direct and through distribution
Direct sales for customer-specific sealing solutions, selective distribution for standard applications. You talk to someone who does the seal design himself.
A tour through VR Dichtungen
Four minutes through design, toolmaking, production and testing — and through the question of why we build seals you cannot buy off the shelf.
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Better to see it once
What this page states in figures — in-house production, batch size from one, testing in house — is quicker to grasp in the film than in the text. Filmed in Übach-Palenberg, with the people named further down this page.
More films, including the installation instructions for SOA and DOA, are on our YouTube channel.
Eight pledges that follow from the design
For us sustainability is not a department but a consequence of the design.
- CO₂ saved through lower friction power
- One third of the friction power of a standard shaft seal
- Extended maintenance intervals
- Less heat put into the medium and the component
- Higher permissible circumferential speeds
- Tested rubbers for the food industry and medical technology
- Narrow seal designs for confined installation spaces
- Double lip seals in a small installation space
Add to that a circular economy across the products: materials separable by type and reusable support bodies that are easy to dismantle.
“If we are copied, we have got a lot of things right”
Managing Director Patrick Keulers on energy efficiency, PFAS and why customers should sit in on development.
“Radial shaft seals — a key component for progress in industrial sustainability.”
Why does sustainability matter so much to your company?
For our company sustainability is not a fashionable topic that will be irrelevant in a year. Rather, sustainability is a fundamental part of our corporate philosophy. A key element in this is the energy efficiency of our products. We are firmly convinced that even the smallest energy-saving measures can make a significant difference.
How do you deal with the subject of PFAS?
We recognise the need to reduce the use of these so-called “forever chemicals”, particularly where sensible alternatives exist. We are, however, critical of a blanket ban on these chemicals, since they also offer significant advantages. In our product development process we adhere to strict guidelines and standards. These ensure that the proportion of PFAS-free radial shaft seals keeps rising.
Where are the limits in developing sustainable products?
Technically it is a challenge to find materials that are both environmentally friendly and high-performing. Commercially we have to keep an eye on the cost of such innovations, to make sure they stay affordable for our customers. It calls for a careful balance between durability, efficiency and cost.
What part do your customers play in this?
By involving our customers in the development process we get direct feedback on the specific requirements and challenges they face. That allows us to develop tailored solutions that genuinely add value. We regard our customers as partners in a continuing process of improvement and innovation.
Abridged extract from the interview in the VR Catalogue 2024/25.
Your contacts
Jacqueline Seidel
Assistant to the management · Finance, marketing, sales+49 2451 48208-0info@vr-dichtungen.com
Is your sealing point anything but standard?
Send us the installation situation as a drawing or a model and we will tell you what is feasible. From a batch size of one.