Flow control2Ă— diaphragm life-cycle for a German control-valve manufacturer
The client's incumbent supplier delivered slower than valves could be built, causing lost production. Harkesh developed a replacement diaphragm and te…

Case study · Aerospace & Defense
A specialist in engineered thermal solutions for Aerospace & Defense needed a qualified Joint Strike Fighter diaphragm re-sourced fast — from incomplete data.
The client had a qualified diaphragm for the Joint Strike Fighter program but could no longer source it from their existing supplier. They needed a new qualified manufacturer to replicate the development in a short lead time.
Working from incomplete formulation details, Harkesh developed a special high-elongation NBR diaphragm and qualified it in the very first attempt — helping the client secure a high-value government contract.
Key outcome:
Despite an incomplete technical package on a flight-critical defence part, the Harkesh diaphragm was tested and qualified in the very first attempt.
The challenge
The client had a qualified diaphragm for the Joint Strike Fighter program but were unable to source the parts from their existing supplier. They needed a new qualified diaphragm manufacturer to step in and replicate the development in a short lead time.
Because it was part of a government program, requalification had to meet exacting standards — and any delay risked stalling downstream production commitments.
Our approach
As the development was part of a government program, we obtained the formulation details from the client's vendor. The information, however, was incomplete.
Drawing on our previous expertise with critical developments, we successfully developed a special high-elongation NBR diaphragm for this demanding requirement — carried out with the discipline expected of a flight-critical, defence-grade component.
The results
First time right
Qualified first attempt
The parts were tested and qualified in the very first attempt, with no rework cycles.
Trusted partner
High-value contract won
A critical development with high stakes — our quick turnaround helped the client secure the government fighter-jet contract.
Our successful development in a short lead time helped our client secure this high-value government contract for the fighter jets, and positioned Harkesh as a dependable partner for future critical defence work.
Materials & application
Questions, answered
We obtained the partial formulation details available from the client's vendor and, drawing on our experience with critical developments, reverse-engineered the missing parameters to create a special high-elongation NBR compound that met the diaphragm's requirements.
The diaphragm has to flex repeatedly without cracking. A special high-elongation nitrile (NBR) formulation gives the stretch and fatigue resistance the flight-critical application demands.
Yes. We have delivered qualified parts for critical defence developments, including Joint Strike Fighter program work, with the confidentiality and discipline such programs require.

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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