Molded rubber products have been in use for centuries. The ancient Mayans dipped their feet in a latex solution to create rubber shoes in order to play a game where a rubber ball was knocked through a hoop anchored in a wall. Nowadays, molded rubber products are a vital part of every aspect of modern life. Molded rubber products have also played an important role in history. During World War II the Allied powers were able to interrupt Germany's supply of rubber. As a result, the Germans were forced to investigate alternative techniques for manufacturing molded rubber products, an effort which ultimately failed.

Rubber is an elastomer which can undergo stress and deformation and return to its original state without permanent damage. Natural rubber (latex) originally comes from the Para rubber tree, which is native to South America. In the 19th century these rubber trees were replanted all over the world by English farmers such as Henry Wickham. Wickham germinated seedlings in England in 1876. Wickham then shipped the plants to the Far East for cultivation in an effort to initiate a worldwide trade in molded rubber products for the British. Developments in the science of rubber compounding and manufacturing molded rubber products contributed to the industrial revolution which occurred in the 19th century.

Molded rubber products include parts used to seal plumbing fixtures, automotive components, hydraulic seals etc. Custom molded rubber parts such as seals and gaskets can be manufactured in a variety of different shapes to fit almost any engineering application.

One of the most common techniques for producing molded rubber products is injection molding. Injection molding is automated, leading to rapid production and consistent quality. Compression molding is another common technique of custom molded rubber products manufacturing. With compression molding, the rubber compound is first flattened and cut into long strips then placed into an open mold. After the mold is closed, heat and pressure is applied causing the rubber to flow into the mold cavities. After the molded rubber products are removed from the mold and cured, the finished parts are then deflashed and inspected.

Custom molded rubber products are appropriate for countless applications, including applications requiring thickness and durability. From hydraulic seals to vibration damping, molded rubber products have a wide variety of uses and applications in a wide variety of industries.