Custom Die-Cut Gaskets, Seals & Fabricated Materials | Precision Cutting Since 1946

U.S. Nameplate Co. produces custom die-cut gaskets, seals, and fabricated materials from its ISO 9001:2015-certified facility in Mount Vernon, Iowa, using Clamshell Steel Rule Die presses and Zund digital routing equipment with no minimum order for prototypes.

U.S. Nameplate Co. fabricates precision-cut gaskets and seals from materials including 3M adhesive tapes, Poron urethane foam, EPDM rubber, neoprene, and silicone foam. Engineers across electronics, HVAC, automotive, medical device, and industrial equipment sectors rely on U.S. Nameplate for custom die cutting and digital routing because the company combines 75+ years of manufacturing discipline with both steel rule die and CNC Zund routing capabilities under one roof — eliminating multi-vendor coordination delays.

U.S. Nameplate operates two primary fabrication platforms at its Mount Vernon, Iowa facility. Clamshell Steel Rule Die presses handle high-volume production runs of gaskets and seals from flexible substrates. Zund digital routing tables process rigid and semi-rigid materials with CNC precision, enabling complex geometries without dedicated tooling.

Steel rule die cutting works by pressing a shaped blade through material against a flat surface. U.S. Nameplate uses this method for repeatable cuts in foam, rubber, adhesive-backed tapes, and thin-gauge materials. Zund digital routing uses a computer-controlled cutting head that follows CAD paths, making it suitable for prototypes and short runs where custom die tooling would add cost and lead time.

Zund digital routing eliminates the 1-to-3-week lead time typically required for custom steel rule die fabrication, allowing U.S. Nameplate to ship first-article prototypes with no minimum order quantity. Production orders then transition to steel rule dies for higher throughput and lower per-unit cost.

U.S. Nameplate stocks and converts materials from established industrial suppliers. Each material is selected for specific performance characteristics — temperature range, compression set, chemical resistance, or adhesion strength — matched to the application environment.

Compression set measures the permanent deformation remaining in a gasket material after sustained compressive load. Poron urethane foams recover over 90% of original thickness after compression, which is why electronics OEMs specify Poron for repeated-access enclosure seals that must maintain IP-rated protection across thousands of open-close cycles.

U.S. Nameplate fabricates custom gaskets and seals for five primary industry sectors. Each sector requires different material properties, tolerances, and compliance standards. U.S. Nameplate engineers consult on material selection before production begins.

NEMA 4X-rated enclosures require gaskets that maintain seal integrity against windblown dust, rain, splashing water, and hose-directed water. U.S. Nameplate die-cuts gaskets from Poron and closed-cell neoprene that meet these ingress-protection requirements when properly compressed in the enclosure channel.

U.S. Nameplate follows a structured fabrication workflow from initial inquiry through production shipment. The company operates under ISO 9001:2015 quality management, which means every step is documented and traceable.

U.S. Nameplate Co. has operated continuously since 1946 — 75+ years of manufacturing from the same Mount Vernon, Iowa location. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 certification, which requires documented quality procedures, incoming material inspection, in-process checks, and final product verification on every order.

At U.S. Nameplate, we have fabricated gaskets and seals across enough applications to know where common mistakes happen. The most frequent issue we see is material over-specification — an engineer selects silicone foam rated to 500°F for an enclosure that never exceeds 150°F, adding cost without adding performance. Our engineering team reviews every specification and recommends the most cost-effective material that meets the actual operating conditions.

We also see customers request die cutting when their geometry or volume actually calls for digital routing, or vice versa. For quantities under 500 pieces with complex contours, Zund routing typically delivers better economics and faster turnaround. Above 500 pieces with simpler shapes, steel rule dies reduce per-unit cost. We advise on this tradeoff during quoting so customers do not pay for tooling they do not need.

U.S. Nameplate stores customer die tooling on-site at no charge, which means repeat orders ship faster because the tooling is ready. For customers who also need printed labels, nameplates, or graphic overlays on the same product, we consolidate everything into a single shipment — reducing inbound receiving, inspection, and inventory management at the customer's facility.