Ward & Kennedy supplies businesses nationwide with traditionally die-cut and high-precision digitally cut butyl. From gaskets to pool liners and everything in between, you can trust Ward & Kennedy’s nearly 100-year history for fast turnaround times and dedicated service and support.
Butyl is a synthetic rubber known for its excellent resistance to gas and moisture permeation, along with strong elasticity and weather resistance. It's widely used across roofing, automotive, and sealing applications, particularly where an airtight or watertight barrier is needed.
Common products made from butyl include:
Butyl's tackiness, thickness, and elasticity directly affect how it performs during cutting, from tool handling to edge precision.
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Tackiness | Naturally sticky surface can cling to blades and cutting tools, requiring anti-stick surfaces or coatings |
| Elasticity | Stretch can distort shapes during cutting if the material isn't held flat and stable |
| Thickness | Thicker butyl sheeting requires more cutting force and sharper blades for clean edges |
| Density | Affects how much pressure is needed to cut through without dragging or tearing the material |
| Heat sensitivity | Can soften or gum up cutting tools under excessive heat or friction |
| Impermeability | Tightly bonded molecular structure that contributes to a smooth, resistant cutting surface |
slices completely through the material, and both digital cutters and traditional dies can perform it depending on thickness and volume.
Digital cutting works well for prototyping butyl products and producing custom, large-format items like pond liners or roofing membranes, since sheet sizes often vary by project and can be cut directly from a digital layout without tooling costs.
For production runs involving smaller, repeated shapes, such as gaskets, seals, or tape patches, die cutting is more cost-effective. The upfront tooling cost of building a die is offset by faster cutting speeds and lower per-unit costs once the design is finalized and quantities increase.
At our facility in Milwaukee, WI, our team of designers and fabricators can help bring your vision to life. Whether you have existing design files or assistance with their creation, we’re here every step of the way.
Along with fabrics, we die cut materials like:
Ward & Kennedy has been designing, fabricating, and supplying industries all over the world since we were founded in 1928. Whether you’re in our Wisconsin backyard or located across the world in Asia, we can supply your die cut materials.
Along with fabricating parts for businesses across America, we supply them with the necessary tools, supplies, and gear to keep them running at full capacity. We stock abrasives, adhesives, PPE, and more from major brands like 3M, Dynablade, Superior Glove, Wendt and Mirka.
