How do I select the right rotary seal for my application?

Material compatibility with lubricants and process fluids is essential. Trelleborg’s Rotary Seal Selector tool and engineering support help identify optimal solutions for your specific requirements.

In which industries are rotary seals used?

Rotary seals are widely used across industries where rotating components require reliable sealing to prevent leakage and protect against contamination. Key industries include industrial machinery, automotive, agriculture, construction, mining and energy.

What is the difference between rotary and reciprocating seals?

Unlike a reciprocating application where the seal is riding against the whole length of the rod or bore during the stroke, a rotary seal will be wearing on one point of the hardware for the life of the seal

What are mechanical face seals?

Mechanical face seals, also known as heavy duty seals, use two precision-lapped metal sealing faces to protect rotating equipment in harsh, abrasive environments.

What is the difference between rotary seals, shaft seals and oil seals?

Rotary seals are the overall category. Shaft seals seal the interface between a shaft and housing, while oil seals are a common type of radial shaft seal used primarily to retain lubricants and exclude contamination.

How do V-Rings differ from radial shaft seals?

V-Rings seal axially against a stationary surface, unlike radial shaft seals which seal radially on a rotating shaft. Their flexible lip creates low contact pressure, enabling low-friction operation and often allowing dry running. This makes them ideal for protecting bearings and rotating components from contamination efficiently.

Rotary seals I Trelleborg Sealing Solutions

Name: Rotary seals
Brand: Trelleborg Sealing Solutions

Rotary Sealing in Motion: Join our virtual event

We are hosting a 2.5-hour virtual event dedicated to the science and application of rotary sealing.
Taking place on Tuesday, September 22, the virtual event will be offered at two different times, making it easy to attend for customers in all regions:

Register for Rotary Sealing in Motion: APAC & Europe
3 pm China Standard Time (CST)/9 am Central European Summer Time (CEST)
Register for Rotary Sealing in Motion: Europe and the Americas
4 pm Central European Summer Time (CEST)/10 am Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

Our range of rotary seals

Our rotary seal portfolio includes radial and axial designs for shafts and rotary interfaces. It ranges from conventional oil seals to advanced PTFE rotary seals, V-Rings, cassette seals and mechanical face seals for high speeds, pressures and temperatures, and demanding media. Please note our seals can be fully customized towards your specific requirements.

Stefa® High-Performance Radial Shaft Seals

Stefa® High-Performance Radial Shaft Seals deliver in challenging rotary sealing applications for gearboxes, electric motors, pumps and precision machinery worldwide. Engineered from advanced elastomers including nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), fluoroelastomer (FKM) and additional material options, depending on seal type and application. They operate across a wide temperature range with low friction, virtually zero leakage and extended service life, and are available globally in standard and custom sizes.

Explore our Stefa® High-Performance Radial Shaft Seals

Stefa® Mini Radial Shaft Seals for robotic applications

The Stefa® Mini Radial Shaft Seal family delivers compact rotary sealing in cross-sections as small as 3x3 mm, purpose-built for robotics, servo motors and gearboxes. Low friction, virtually zero leakage and availability in NBR, FKM and hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR) make these miniature radial shaft seals a reliable choice for demanding industrial automation applications worldwide.

Discover our Stefa® Mini Radial Shaft Seals

Radial shaft seals for high-speed electric motors

Our Stefa® HiSpin® EV40 is an advanced elastomer radial shaft seal engineered for the demanding requirements of high-speed electric vehicle traction motors. Rated for shaft surface speeds up to 40 m/s and built on patented Phase-Shifted-Wave (PSW) hydrodynamic technology, it delivers reliable bi-directional sealing across varying lubrication conditions, making it a proven e-mobility sealing solution for high-volume OEM production.

See how the Stefa® HiSpin® EV40 supports high-speed EV applications

PTFE rotary seals for high speeds and low friction

Turcon® Varilip® PDR and HiSpin® PDR RT are high-performance polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) shaft seals engineered for demanding applications in e-mobility, aerospace, automotive and industrial markets. Delivering low friction, stick-slip-free sealing at speeds up to 60 m/s and beyond, across temperatures from -60 °C to +200 °C/-76 °F to +392 °F, these springless, bi-directional seals outperform conventional elastomer alternatives where reliability matters most.

Explore our Turcon® Varilip® PDR rotary seals

Stefa® High-Pressure Radial Shaft Seals

Stefa® High-Pressure Radial Shaft Seals deliver reliable rotary sealing performance in the most demanding hydraulic applications. Engineered for pressures up to 20 MPa/2900 psi, the HP20, HP20S, SPS-HP20, SPV and TRP seal types serve gearboxes, hydraulic motors, pumps and off-highway equipment worldwide. Available in NBR, FKM and HNBR materials, Stefa® seals extend service life and reduce total cost of ownership.

Find Stefa® High-Pressure Radial Shaft Seals for high-pressure applications

Stefa® cassette seals for heavy-duty applications

Our cassette seals are designed as integrated sealing systems that combine oil sealing, wear protection and contamination exclusion in a single unit. Their enclosed design provides reliable performance in demanding environments where extended service life, high functional reliability and reduced maintenance are critical.

Explore our Stefa® cassette seals

Sealing solutions for central tire inflation system (CTIS) applications

The Turcon® SG Seal is a low-friction CTIS rotary seal for off-highway vehicles. Its engineered geometry and Turcon® material outperform standard PTFE lip seals, adjusting tire pressure to ground conditions while minimizing wear. This rotary union seal exceeds CTIS lifetime requirements across agricultural, construction and forestry equipment, extending service life and maximizing up time.

Explore the Turcon® SG Seal for demanding rotary applications

Mechanical face seals for heavy-duty environments

Mechanical face seals provide reliable sealing in harsh operating environments where contamination, wear and heavy loads prevail. Their robust metal-to-metal sealing design supports maximum equipment protection and uptime in demanding applications in the agriculture, construction & mining, and industrial sectors.

Learn about mechanical face seals for heavy-duty equipment

PTFE & PU seals for rotary and oscillating applications

Our Turcon® and Zurcon® Roto Seals are engineered for low-friction in rotary and oscillating applications. Designed for shafts, bores and rotary unions, they combine reliable dynamic sealing with excellent wear resistance to help improve efficiency, reduce energy losses and extend service life in demanding industrial systems.

Get more information about the Turcon® Roto Glyd Ring® rotary seal

Forsheda® V-Rings for contamination protection

Forsheda® V-Rings are flexible all-rubber seals that rotate with the shaft and seal axially against a stationary counterface. Their unique design provides effective protection against dirt, dust and water ingress while retaining grease, making them ideal as both primary and secondary seals in demanding rotary applications.

Explore our Forsheda® V-Ring axial shaft seal

GAMMA seals for moisture and contamination exclusion

Our GAMMA seals are designed to provide reliable protection against contamination, moisture and grease loss in rotary applications. Combining an elastomer sealing lip with a robust metal carrier, they offer an effective and compact sealing solution for both static and dynamic operating conditions.

Discover our GAMMA seals for shaft and bearing protection

Material selection for rotary seals

Material selection is critical to rotary seal performance. The seal must resist chemicals, withstand temperature extremes and maintain elasticity throughout its service life. Choosing the right rotary seal requires careful evaluation of application conditions and operating parameters. Our engineers can help you select the optimal material based on your specific operating environment.

Operating speed: Higher shaft speeds increase heat generation and seal wear
Temperature range: Material selection depends on operating conditions, with options from elastomers to high-performance PTFE seals
Contamination exposure: Dirt, water and abrasive media require enhanced sealing solutions such as V-rings or mechanical face seals
Pressure conditions: While most seals operate at low pressure, some applications require higher pressure resistance
Media compatibility: Lubricants, chemicals, and process media must be considered
Surface conditions: Shaft quality and surface finish directly impact sealing performance and service life

Material	Temperature Range	Media
Nitrilebutadiene rubber (NBR)	-30to +100 °C/-22 °F to 212 °F	Mineral oil, water, hydraulic fluids
Hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR)	-30°C to +150 °C/-22 °F to 302 °F	Oil, synthetic lubricants
Fluorocarbon (FKM)	-25°C to +200 °C/-13 °F to 392 °F	Fuels, oils, chemicals, aggressive fluids
Perfluoroelastomer (FFKM)	-20°C to +260 °C/-4 °F to 500 °F	Almost all chemicals, aggressive media, acids, solvents, high‑purity applications
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)	-100°C to +250 °C/-148 °F to +482 °F	Almost all chemicals, aggressive process media
Polyacrylate (ACM)	-20°C to +150 °C/-4 °F to +302 °F	Oil, automatic transmission fluid
Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM)	-40°C to +150 °C/-40 °F to +302 °F	Hot water, steam, polar solvents, water-glycol

Applications of rotary seals

We help you improve equipment reliability, prevent lubricant leakage and protect critical rotating components from contamination. Our rotary seals are engineered to deliver long-lasting sealing performance across demanding industrial and automotive applications.

Typical equipment & applications include:

Manufacturing & Automation: Motors, pumps, gearboxes, compressors
Automotive: Transmissions, differentials, wheel hubs
Agriculture: Tractors, harvesters, irrigation equipment
Construction & Mining: Excavators, loaders, conveyors
Energy & Renewables: Turbines, generators, renewable energy systems
Semiconductor Manufacturing: Vacuum pumps, process equipment
Aerospace: Jet engines, fuel pumps, landing gear systems

Watch our rotary sealing application videos

Depending on the application requirements, rotary seals can:

Prevent oil and lubricant leakage
Protect against external contamination
Act as scrapers in systems with helical movement

Explore our rotary sealing solutions

Discover our full range of rotary sealing solutions and supporting tools:

Browse our rotary seals e-Catalog (metric)
Use our CAD Service
Enhance your technical knowledge with our dedicated rotary seals e-learning portfolio
Find the right rotary seal for your application with our Rotary Seal Selector

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Technical questions and answers

How do I select the right rotary seal for my application?
Material compatibility with lubricants and process fluids is essential. Trelleborg’s Rotary Seal Selector tool and engineering support help identify optimal solutions for your specific requirements.
In which industries are rotary seals used?
Rotary seals are widely used across industries where rotating components require reliable sealing to prevent leakage and protect against contamination. Key industries include industrial machinery, automotive, agriculture, construction, mining and energy.
What is the difference between rotary and reciprocating seals?
Unlike a reciprocating application where the seal is riding against the whole length of the rod or bore during the stroke, a rotary seal will be wearing on one point of the hardware for the life of the seal
What are mechanical face seals?
Mechanical face seals, also known as heavy duty seals, use two precision-lapped metal sealing faces to protect rotating equipment in harsh, abrasive environments.
What is the difference between rotary seals, shaft seals and oil seals?
Rotary seals are the overall category. Shaft seals seal the interface between a shaft and housing, while oil seals are a common type of radial shaft seal used primarily to retain lubricants and exclude contamination.
How do V-Rings differ from radial shaft seals?
V-Rings seal axially against a stationary surface, unlike radial shaft seals which seal radially on a rotating shaft. Their flexible lip creates low contact pressure, enabling low-friction operation and often allowing dry running. This makes them ideal for protecting bearings and rotating components from contamination efficiently.