Bottling and packaging lines rely on rubber parts that wear and need replacing: bottle grippers on rinsers and inverters, base plates on labellers, moulded seals and spreaders on fillers, and extruded wear strips and guides on conveyors.
Walker Rubber makes these to order in Norwich, compression moulding rubber onto stainless steel and extruding profiles in the compounds of your choice.
We work from drawings or can reverse-engineer/reproduce parts for older or discontinued machines from a sample.
Line down because of a worn part?
Send us a drawing and we’ll quote the same day
Which rubber parts wear out on a bottling line?
Part | Where it’s used | What it does | Typical material |
Bottle grippers (rubber jaws) | Rinsers and inverters | Hold bottles while they are lifted, turned upside down and rinsed | Nitrile, compression moulded onto stainless steel |
Base plates (base pads) | Labellers | Grip the bottle base so it rotates without slipping while labels are applied | Natural rubber, compression moulded, fitted in stainless housings |
Grippit pads | High-speed labellers, PET bottles | A chemically milled stainless steel grip surface | Stainless steel |
Filler seals and spreaders | Filling and processing equipment | Seal between machine parts to stop leaks and contamination | FDA nitrile, EPDM, silicone |
Wear strips, guides and bumpers | Conveyors, guide rails, starwheels | Protect bottles and machine parts from contact and wear | Extruded rubber or rubber-faced profiles |
Anti-vibration pads | Machine feet and mounts | Reduce vibration and noise | Natural rubber, neoprene |
Why do rubber bottle grippers and base plates wear out?
They grip, rotate and release thousands of bottles an hour, so the rubber surface slowly wears smooth. Cleaning chemicals, hot water and lubricants also attack the compound over time. Worn grippers slip, which leads to dropped bottles, misaligned labels and stoppages.
Signs a part needs replacing:
- Bottles slipping or rotating during rinsing or labelling
- Labels going on crooked or creased
- Visible glazing, cracking or chunks missing from the rubber
- More stoppages and rejects than usual
Which material is better for bottling-line rubber parts?
- Nitrile for grippers and seals that touch the bottle or product: good friction and wear resistance, resists oils and fats.
- EPDM for seals exposed to hot water, steam and CIP chemicals.
- Natural rubber for labeller base plates: the highest friction and good wear resistance on glass.
- Silicone for high-temperature or medical-grade seals.
Can you replace parts for old or discontinued machines
Yes. Many lines run machines whose original manufacturer no longer supplies parts. Send us a worn part, a good spare or a drawing. We measure it, make the mould tool or die in-house, and mould the rubber onto your existing steel plates or new ones.
How do I order replacement parts?
- Send a sample or drawing of the part, plus the machine make and model if you know it.
- Tell us the bottle type: glass or PET, size and line speed.
- List cleaning chemicals and temperatures.
- Give the quantity you fit per changeover and how often you change them.
- We quote, usually the same day, and make tooling in-house if needed.
Ordering a stock of spares for each planned changeover avoids emergency downtime.
How does Walker Rubber compare?
| Walker Rubber | OEM spare parts |
Discontinued machines | Parts reproduced from a sample | Often no longer supplied |
Quote speed | 90% of enquiries quoted the same day | Varies, often days |
Tooling | Made in-house | Held by the OEM |
Minimum order | Low volumes welcome | Set pack quantities |
Location | UK, Norwich | Often imported |
Frequently asked questions
What are bottle grippers?
Bottle grippers, also called rubber jaws, are rubber pads bonded to stainless steel plates that hold bottles while they are inverted and rinsed. Walker Rubber compression moulds them in nitrile.
What rubber is used for labeller base plates?
Natural rubber is most common, because it grips glass well and resists wear. PET bottles often use textured milled stainless steel gripper pads instead.
Can you re-rubber our existing gripper plates?
Yes. Send the plates and we’ll remove the worn rubber and mould new rubber onto them.
Are your bottling parts food safe?
Parts can be made in nitrile, EPDM and silicone for food and drink contact. Ask for the declaration of compliance with your quote.
How quickly can you supply replacement parts?
Quotes are usually same day. Lead time depends on whether tooling already exists and material stock.
Do you make changeparts?
Yes, we can make a wide variety of changeparts. Get in touch wiht out team to discuss exactly what you need.
Keep your line running
Send us a worn part or drawing and get a same-day quote for replacements.