Window Channels for Heavy Equipment

Window channels for heavy equipment secure window glass, seal out wind and weather, and reduce noise and vibration. They are made of solid rubber and have openings or grooves. These extruded rubber products have a distinctive cross-sectional shape, or profile, and can either slide-on or slide-in. Engineers can choose one-piece or two-piece designs, and some window channels contain metal reinforcements, flocking fibers, or special linings.

Elasto Proxy keeps window channel profiles in stock and supplies the heavy equipment industry with coils, cut lengths, and finished gaskets. We use water jet equipment to cut coils of rubber to size and can also create special features like notches. In addition, Elasto Proxy offers added-value services like warehousing, kitting, and custom packaging. We specialize in low-to-medium volumes but are ready to leverage our strategic sourcing on your behalf.

For example, if you share your production forecast, we can purchase all the window channels that you’ll need. You’ll have the security of knowing you can get what you want when you need it – and without paying for products until you receive them. Contact Elasto Proxy if you’re a heavy equipment manufacturer who’s ready to order window channels or keep reading to learn more about styles and configurations, selection criteria, and best practices for installation.

Window Channel Styles

Window channels can slide-on or slide-in, depending on what you need.

Slide-on channels have multiple openings or grooves. There’s one the glass, one for the body panel, and sometimes a third opening for clips or tabs. As their name suggests, these products are designed to slide over an edge. They provide strong attachment.
Slide-in channels have a single U-shaped opening. They are inserted into a prepared channel and may contain steel or stainless-steel reinforcements. Beaded channels contain metal beads that aid with installation – and without pulling or stretching.

Engineers can also select window channels with one-piece or two-piece designs

One-piece channels are continuous rubber profiles.
Two-piece channels consist of two matched lengths that lock together with a metal strip or key. That’s why they’re sometimes called locking gaskets or keyed gaskets.

How to Select Window Channels

When selecting window channels, there’s more to consider than slide-on vs. slide-in and one-piece vs. two-piece. In addition to material selection, engineers need to consider the thickness of the glass and the required length of the window channel.

Material Selection

Most window channels for heavy equipment are made of EPDM, TPEs, or silicone.

EPDM is affordable and highly weather-resistant. This popular elastomer can resist sunlight, ozone, and moisture; however, it’s not recyclable.
TPEs, or thermoplastic elastomers, are recyclable and available in custom colors. They are comparable to EPDM in terms of durability, but TPEs are more expensive.
Silicone resists a wide range of temperatures and maintains its mechanical properties over time despite temperature changes. Silicone withstand higher and lower temperatures than EPDM, but it’s more expensive and can be difficult to recycle.

Thickness

Thickness refers to the glass edge fit. Custom thicknesses are available upon request, but Elasto Proxy offers these standard thickness sizes.

1/8 in (3.18 mm)
3/16 in (4.76 mm)
1/4 in (6.35 mm)
3/8 in (9.525 mm)
1/2 in (12.7 mm)

How to Install Window Channels

Window channel installation is a five-step process.

Slide the channel on or in. To avoid scratching the body panel, use a plastic tipped tool or one that has a ball end instead of a sharp end.
Join the ends. Overlap and press the ends together to create a loop. Push downward to ensure a tight fit and compensate for stretching.
Lubricate the groove. Use mild soap and water or a silicone-based spray. To avoid contaminating nearby surfaces, put a piece of carboard behind the body panel.
Insert the glass. Start from the body side and not the cabin side. Rest the glass edge and then work the gasket lip. To avoid chipping, use a knife-like tool that’s made of plastic instead of metal. The glass will pop into place when it’s aligned correctly.
Clean residual lubricant. Wipe away any lubricant that’s left on the glass to complete the installation.