How to Prevent Peristaltic Pump Failures with the Right Tubing

Peristaltic pumps are widely used in applications that handle aggressive or sensitive fluids, such as corrosive detergents, chemical solutions, and industrial cleaners. Common industries include commercial laundry, dishwashing, floor care, and laboratory systems.

A frequent and costly problem in these systems is tubing failure. Selecting the wrong tubing material can result in premature wear, pump damage, safety hazards, and system downtime. This guide outlines how to prevent those failures with strategic tubing selection.

Understanding Peristaltic Pumps

How Peristaltic Pumps Work

Peristaltic pumps operate by compressing flexible tubing between a rotor-mounted roller and the pump housing. As the rotor turns, fluid is pushed through the tube without coming into contact with moving parts, making the system ideal for sterile or chemically aggressive environments.

Compared to other pump types, such as diaphragm pumps or gear pumps, peristaltic pumps offer several unique advantages:

• No contamination risk: Because the fluid only contacts the inner wall of the tubing, there’s no risk of cross-contamination, which is crucial in applications involving sensitive or reactive chemicals.
• Self-priming capability: Peristaltic pumps can run dry and self-prime without damage, unlike gear pumps which often require external priming.
• Simplified maintenance: The tubing can be replaced quickly without disassembling the entire pump, unlike diaphragm or gear mechanisms which often require more complex servicing.

These benefits make peristaltic pumps a preferred choice in industries that demand precise, contamination-free fluid delivery with minimal downtime. Peristaltic pumps operate by compressing flexible tubing between a rotor-mounted roller and the pump housing. As the rotor turns, fluid is pushed through the tube without coming into contact with moving parts, making the system ideal for sterile or chemically aggressive environments.

Why Tubing Matters

The tube is the only part of the pump in direct contact with the fluid and is continuously flexed and compressed. The tubing must withstand repeated mechanical stress while remaining chemically compatible with the fluid it transports.

Common Causes of Tubing Failure

Chemical Incompatibility

Many fluids used in peristaltic pump applications—such as bleach, solvents, and surfactants—can degrade tubing not designed for chemical resistance. In industries like commercial cleaning, food processing, and industrial equipment manufacturing, common culprits include sodium hypochlorite (bleach), hydrochloric acid, and isopropyl alcohol. These chemicals can cause swelling, brittleness, or breakdown in materials not engineered to withstand them.

Mechanical Wear

Repeated compression causes tubes to fatigue over time. Inadequate material selection accelerates wear, resulting in:

• Flattening or collapse
• Surface cracking
• Reduced flow consistency
• Shortened pump life

Incorrect Temperature Ratings

Exposure to high or fluctuating temperatures can cause softening, hardening, or cracking, depending on the tubing material.

What to Look for in Peristaltic Pump Tubing

Key Performance Characteristics

To optimize reliability, evaluate tubing based on:

Attribute	Importance
Chemical Compatibility	Prevents material breakdown and swelling
Flex Life	Supports long-term use without cracking or fatigue
Compression Set Resistance	Ensures tubing returns to shape after being squeezed
Temperature Tolerance	Maintains performance in extreme or fluctuating temperatures
Regulatory Compliance	Critical for applications in food, beverage, or medical markets

 

Why Periflex™ EPDM Tubing Is a Reliable Choice

Robinson Rubber’s Periflex™ EPDM tubing is specifically designed for peristaltic pump applications. Its formulation offers a balance of mechanical durability and chemical resistance for demanding environments.

Advantages of Periflex™ EPDM Tubing

• Compatible with many aggressive cleaners and detergents
• High flex life and resistance to compression fatigue; tested to withstand up to 1,000 hours of continuous flexing without loss of integrity
• Low compression set performance with values under 25% in dynamic applications, helping maintain flow rates over time
• Suitable for use in cleaning and sanitation equipment
• Customizable to meet application-specific needs, including tailored durometer, wall thickness, and chemical resistance profiles

Our team can also assist in developing custom tubing configurations to match your pump design and application requirements.

Best Practices for Maximizing Tubing and Pump Life

Select the Right Material Early

Engage with your tubing supplier during the design phase to ensure proper material selection based on:

• Fluid chemistry
• Expected operating conditions
• Mechanical stress and duty cycles

Monitor for Wear Indicators

Inspect tubing regularly for signs of:

• Surface degradation
• Swelling
• Flow reduction
• Loss of elasticity

Schedule Preventative Replacements

Implement a replacement schedule based on test data or manufacturer recommendations, not just visual inspection. For EPDM-based tubing like Periflex™, a general guideline is to replace the tubing every 500 to 1,000 operating hours depending on chemical exposure and mechanical stress. High-frequency or high-pressure applications may require more frequent intervals.

Establishing a proactive replacement plan helps avoid unexpected downtime and ensures consistent fluid delivery performance. Implement a replacement schedule based on test data or manufacturer recommendations, not just visual inspection.

Get Expert Help from Robinson Rubber

Choosing the right peristaltic tubing can prevent costly failures and keep your system operating efficiently. Robinson Rubber brings over 85 years of expertise in custom elastomer formulation, precision molding, and in-house material testing—ensuring each tubing solution is tailored to meet demanding application requirements.

To learn more or request a quote

Call: 763-535-6737
Email: sales@robinsonrubber.com

Learn if rubber might be your best solution for components in critical applications.

Minneapolis, Minn.—Robinson Rubber Products, a designer, developer and manufacturer of custom-molded rubber products, extruded rubber products and precision rollers, announces it will add four new rubber molding presses to the two it already has.

The six new up-acting compression presses will have faster throughput, greater capacity and deliver more consistent parts. This means better molded rubber parts, faster for less money. Bonding a rubber component to your part can also eliminate secondary operations and extra components, plus reduce weight and costs.

These new presses have three advantages. One, they are large-scale presses so parts can be larger or they can hold additional cavities for greater production capability. Two, with compression clamping forces up to 700 tons, they have tremendous throughput. Three, they have vacuum chambers that drop around the mold. Encasing the mold and pulling a vacuum eliminates the defect potential from air entrapment. The vacuum chamber also creates a stable insulator. Keeping the temperature consistent in the mold during curing adds to a part’s consistency and reduces waste. New automated mold handling rigs on the presses speed up production and improve worker safety. Also, more sophisticated computer control and programs deliver complete repeatability.

Using up to 20 engineering grade polymers and more than 1,500 unique formulations, Robinson Rubber works with you to deliver the best rubber solution possible. Let us develop a proprietary custom formula for you using our in-house compound formulation and mixing capabilities.

“Providing sophisticated bonded assemblies of high quality is our specialty, with over 70% of our rubber being bonded to substrates,” says Jay Beck, President of Robinson Rubber. “This process delivers high performing components to our customers with virtually zero returns,” says Beck.

Substrate parts include but are not limited to chain pads, conveyor pads, diaphragm assemblies, electrical insulators, ground spool valves, impellers, inflatable butterfly valve seats, motor mounts, non-invasive medical devices, power drive assemblies, sanding disks, special wheels, valve assemblies, vibration isolators and vibration mounts.

If you are an engineer struggling with trying to come up with components that will perform multiple functions in challenging conditions, check out rubber’s capability to bond to a variety of substrates, eliminate parts and lower assembly costs. A Polymer and Material Selection Guide is also available.

To learn more, email sales@robinsonrubber.com, visit www.robinsonrubber.com, or call toll free 1-877-619-5825 or 763-535-6737 for more information.

Learn if rubber might be your best solution for components in critical applications.

Minneapolis, Minn.—Robinson Rubber Products, a designer, developer and manufacturer of custom-molded rubber products, extruded rubber products and precision rollers, has a new prototyping service. This service provides a quick, economical way to test designs and ideas in actual working environments—before investing in production molds and tooling.

Prototypes can be completed in 5 to 25 working days depending on part complexity. This unique service is designed to assist customers with product development and selection of appropriate polymers, materials and rubber formulation. Prototyping allows for easy, quick and inexpensive modification of molds and tooling to ensure rubber component design is optimized and production ready.

Using up to 20 engineering grade polymers and more than 1,500 unique formulations, Robinson Rubber works with you to deliver the best rubber solution possible. Let us develop a proprietary custom formula for you using our in-house compound formulation and mixing capabilities.

If you are an engineer struggling with trying to come up with components that will perform multiple functions in challenging conditions, check out rubber’s capability to bond to a variety of substrates, eliminate parts and lower assembly costs. A Polymer and Material Selection Guide is also available.

To learn more, email sales@robinsonrubber.com, visit www.robinsonrubber.com, or call toll free 1-877-619-5825 or 763-535-6737 for more information.

Learn if rubber might be your best solution for components in critical applications.

Minneapolis, Minn.—Robinson Rubber Products, a designer, developer and manufacturer of custom-molded rubber products, extruded rubber products and precision rollers, has several new capabilities to bond molded rubber components to your parts to deliver superior performance. Bonding rubber to your part can also eliminate secondary operations and extra components, plus reduce weight and costs.

Using up to 20 engineering grade polymers and more than 1,500 unique formulations, Robinson Rubber works with you to deliver the best rubber solution possible. Let us develop a proprietary custom formula for you using our in-house compound formulation and mixing capabilities.

Substrate materials include acetal, aluminum, brass, bronze, carbon steel, copper, ductile iron, fabric reinforcement, glass-filled composites, mineral-filled composites, nylon, PEEK, PES, phenolics, PTFE, PVDF and stainless steel. Molding an appropriate rubber gasket, support, seal, o-ring, mount, bushing, cover, wheel or other part directly to your part delivers a integral part that is less likely leak, crack or otherwise fail in the field. Bondable substrates include single or multiple component substrates that are die cast, injection molded, stamped, waterjet cut, CNC machined or wire formed. We can also bond rubber-to-metal-to-plastic-to-fabric combinations. “Providing sophisticated bonded assemblies of high quality is our specialty, with over 70% of our rubber being bonded to substrates,” says Jay Beck, President of Robinson Rubber. “This process delivers high performing components to our customers with virtually zero returns,” says Beck.

Substrate parts include but are not limited to chain pads, conveyor pads, diaphragm assemblies, electrical insulators, ground spool valves, impellers, inflatable butterfly valve seats, motor mounts, non-invasive medical devices, power drive assemblies, sanding disks, special wheels, valve assemblies, vibration isolators and vibration mounts.

If you are an engineer struggling with trying to come up with components that will perform multiple functions in challenging conditions, check out rubber’s capability to bond to a variety of substrates, eliminate parts and lower assembly costs. A Polymer and Material Selection Guide is also available.

To learn more, email sales@robinsonrubber.com, visit www.robinsonrubber.com, or call toll free 1-877-619-5825 or 763-535-6737 for more information.

Learn if rubber might be your best solution for components in critical applications.

Minneapolis, Minn.—Robinson Rubber Products, a designer, developer and manufacturer of custom-molded rubber products, extruded rubber products and precision rollers, has a new tool called the Molded Rubber Component Design Specification Checklist.

You simply fill in the online checklist and a Robinson Rubber Engineer will evaluate your part’s requirements. Chances are a molded rubber, extruded rubber, or rubber bonded assembly will deliver performance benefits over the component construction you are currently using. You have nothing to lose by evaluating your current materials to the capabilities of rubber!

Using this checklist is a free, no-obligation way to investigate potential new methods to improve your product’s performance, warranty, life, weight, size, specifications, features and assembly costs.

If you are an engineer struggling with trying to come up with components that will perform multiple functions in challenging conditions, check out rubber’s capability to bond to a variety of substrates, eliminate parts and lower assembly costs. A Polymer and Material Selection Guide is also available.

To learn more, email sales@robinsonrubber.com, visit www.robinsonrubber.com, or call toll free 1-877-619-5825 or 763-535-6737 for more information.

Learn how rubber might be the answer for components in critical applications.

Minneapolis, Minn.—Robinson Rubber Products, a designer, developer and manufacturer of custom-molded rubber products, extruded rubber products and precision rollers, has a new 10-page rubber booklet titled Designing with Rubber.

This booklet has guidelines for selecting and identifying rubber compounds; a comprehensive glossary of terms; and a primer on compression, transfer and injection molding processes. It also explains the various molding feed operations, parting lines, edges, ribs and other geometric design considerations.

If you are an engineer struggling with trying to come up with components that will perform multiple functions in challenging conditions, check out rubber’s capability to bond to a variety of substrates, eliminate parts and lower assembly costs. This booklet must be in your library! Simply visit the Robinson Rubber website to download the PDF file.

To learn more, email sales@robinsonrubber.com, visit www.robinsonrubber.com, or call toll free 1-877-619-5825 or 763-535-6737 for more information.

Learn how rubber might be the answer for components in critical applications.

Minneapolis, Minn.—Robinson Rubber Products, a designer, developer and manufacturer of custom-molded rubber products, extruded rubber products and precision rollers, has a new 10-page guide titled Rubber Polymer Material Selection Guide.

This guide is chock-full of technical information on over 15 categories of rubber polymers and materials. Information includes hardness and temperature ranges, as well as the performance advantages and limitations for each category. This guide will quickly allow you to create a “short list” of potential polymers for your application.

If you are an engineer struggling with trying to come up with components that will perform multiple functions in challenging conditions, check out rubber’s capability to bond to a variety of substrates, eliminate parts and lower assembly costs. This guide must be in your library! Simply visit the Robinson Rubber website to download the PDF file.

To learn more, email sales@robinsonrubber.com, visit www.robinsonrubber.com, or call toll free 1-877-619-5825 or 763-535-6737 for more information.

Summary
Robinson Rubber Products Co., Inc, a Minnesota based company that designs, develops and manufactures custom-molded rubber products and extruded rubber products for original equipment manufacturers and industrial companies worldwide, has received the Manufacturer of the Year 2009 award from the Manufacturers Alliance.

Press Release
Minneapolis, MN – Robinson Rubber Products Co., Inc, a company that specializes in the design, development and manufacturing of custom rubber formulations and rubber products for industrial companies worldwide, announced that they have been named the Manufacturer of the Year 2009, in the small size company category, by the Manufacturers Alliance.

Manufacturers Alliance is an organization that provides peer-to-peer training, education, and resources which allow Minnesota-based member manufacturers to continuously grow, improve, and stay competitive.  This prestigious award is presented to Minnesota manufacturing companies that demonstrate exemplary efforts in continuous improvement and their willingness to share learning experiences.

Robinson Rubber has been a member of Manufacturers Alliance since 2006 and has been very active in the learning, implementation, and the sharing of best manufacturing practices.  Such practices include adoption of lean manufacturing principles, use of design of experiments, and statistical process control to reduce manufacturing variance and improve product quality.

“This award is a nice reflection on the quality of our team and our efforts.”  Said Jay Beck, President of Robinson Rubber.  “Over the past 5 years, we have worked extensively to improve our manufacturing processes, with a particular emphasis in lean manufacturing principles.  I could not be happier with the speed of our improvements, nor prouder of our team.  Some of our efforts and results have even received national attention from statistical process control experts.”

Robinson Rubber is not an ordinary company when it comes to rubber manufacturing.  Their ability to custom formulate rubber to meet exact requirements for even the most challenging applications makes them a leader in the rubber material industry.  Their expertise of rubber formulation, combined with their knowledge of statistical techniques, helps create innovative and robust solutions for their customers across a wide variety of industries.

The award was presented on Thursday, April 9th at the annual Award Ceremony of the Manufacturers Alliance, held in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.  An engraved crystal award trophy, as well as a certificate of recognition from the office of Tim Pawlenty, Governor of Minnesota, were presented by Art Sneen, President of the Manufacturers Alliance, and by Diane Knutson, from the Department of Employment and Economic Development of the State of Minnesota.

Robinson Rubber is a privately owned company located in Minneapolis Minnesota.  Robinson Rubber specializes in custom rubber formulation, custom molded rubber products and extruded rubber products used by OEM’s and industrial companies.  Their websitewww.robinsonrubber.com contains valuable technical information on designing and material selection to meet specified rubber performance characteristics.