Case study · Flow control
A leading control-valve manufacturer from Germany was losing production time to an unreliable diaphragm supplier — so we re-engineered the part and proved it outlasted the incumbent in head-to-head testing.
The client's incumbent supplier delivered slower than valves could be built, causing lost production. Harkesh developed a replacement diaphragm and tested it side by side with the existing part.
After two weeks the incumbent's diaphragm had already failed; ours was still in good condition past 1.2 million cycles. The client moved its full diaphragm range to Harkesh — cutting delivery time 25% and cost 20%.
Key outcome:
In a simultaneous, like-for-like test, the Harkesh diaphragm was still performing past 1.2 million cycles after the incumbent's part had already failed — evidence enough for the client to switch its entire range.
The challenge
The client — a leading control-valve manufacturer based in Germany — was not happy with its existing diaphragm supplier because of consistent delays in supply. The supplier's delivery cycle time was longer than the valve manufacturing cycle time itself.
The mismatch made diaphragms the bottleneck: production stalled waiting for parts, and the delays translated directly into lost output. The client needed a dependable partner who could match both the quality and the pace of its manufacturing line.
Our approach
Harkesh Rubber offered to develop one of the diaphragms and put it through life-cycle testing. The client's team was initially sceptical, but agreed to the trial.
We produced the first batch of diaphragms and ran them simultaneously against the diaphragms from the existing supplier — the same conditions, the same test, side by side — so the comparison would be objective rather than a claim on paper.
The results
Head-to-head
Incumbent failed first
After two weeks of testing, the existing supplier's diaphragm had to be replaced while ours was still in perfect working shape.
Endurance
1.2M+ cycles
Our first diaphragm was still in good condition past 1.2 million cycles, by which point the incumbent's second part had also worn out.
Commercial
25% / 20% saved
The switch cut diaphragm delivery cycle time by 25% and purchase cost by 20%, on top of ending the production delays.
On the strength of the test, the client switched its entire range of diaphragms to Harkesh Rubber — turning a one-part trial into a full-program supply relationship.
Materials & application
Questions, answered
In simultaneous testing, the Harkesh diaphragm was still in good working condition past 1.2 million cycles — roughly twice the life of the incumbent supplier's part, which had already needed replacement after two weeks.
Alongside ending the production delays, the client saw a 25% reduction in diaphragm delivery cycle time and a 20% reduction in purchase cost, and moved its entire diaphragm range to Harkesh Rubber.
Yes. We routinely develop drop-in replacement diaphragms and validate them against incumbent parts in life-cycle testing before a client commits — so the switch is proven, not assumed.
Address
Mumbai Office: Harkesh Rubber LLP, 108, Adarsh Industrial Estate, Sahar Road, Chakala, Andheri (East), Mumbai 400099
General Enquiries
contact@harkeshrubber.com
Business Phone
+91-22-40060400
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