A Practical, Proven Solution from Jurblami
Rivet encapsulation plays a critical role in the protection and durability of aerospace structures. By fully sealing fasteners, this process prevents moisture ingress, corrosion, and fluid leaks, ensuring the long-term integrity of pressurized areas, structural assemblies, and aerodynamic surfaces. It is a step that directly impacts both safety and the lifecycle of the aircraft — and one that must be performed to exacting standards, repeatedly, across thousands of fasteners.
At ASA Group, through our dedicated consumables division Jurblami, we have developed and continuously refined a set of patented encapsulation tools that have been in use across several major aerospace programs for over a decade. Our solutions aim to improve efficiency and consistency in the encapsulation process, while reducing costs and simplifying logistics for production teams.
A Look at Traditional Methods
The most common method for rivet encapsulation continues to rely on conical nozzles to deposit a ring of sealant around each fastener. A second manual step — shaping the bead with a spatula — is required to achieve a uniform dome.
While this method is widely accepted, it presents known challenges:
- High dependency on operator skill and consistency
- Risk of over-application and variability in sealant thickness
- Time-intensive for large-scale assemblies
- Difficult to standardize across shifts and locations
Sealant Caps: A Molded Finish at a High Cost
Sealcaps, which are pre-formed solid caps made from cured sealant, offer a cleaner finish by design. However, they also come with trade-offs:
- High unit cost — typically five times that of Jurblami’s reusable cap solution
- Cold storage requirements
- Long lead times, often requiring advanced planning and large inventory buffers
- Non-reusable, increasing waste and overall material spend
For specific applications where the highest visual standard is needed, Sealcaps provide a solution — but at a cost that limits their feasibility in high-volume production.
Jurblami’s Approach: Simple, Repeatable, and Cost-Conscious
Jurblami offers two complementary solutions tailored to real-world production needs:
1. Bell-Shaped Encapsulation Nozzles
These patented nozzles feature a bell-shaped tip desined to encapsulate the fastener head in a single, vertical operation. The nozzle is positioned over the rivet, sealant is dispensed until a controlled overflow is achieved, and the nozzle is removed with a quick twist, leaving behind a clean and consistent encapsulation.
Key advantages:
- Repeatable encapsulation regardless of operator skill
- Cycle time reduction of up to 90% (as documented in operational use)
- Reliable achievement of minimum sealant thickness, validated over years in production
- Compatible with standard sealant cartridges and equipment
- Cost effective
2. Reusable Bell Caps for Visual Finish
For applications requiring high cosmetic quality, our reusable plastic caps are manually filled with sealant and placed over the fasteners. Once the sealant cures, the caps are removed, leaving a mold-quality finish.
- No special storage required
- Reusable across multiple cycles
- Available on-demand with short lead times
- Lower overall cost than disposable molded options
Side-by-Side Technical Comparison
| Feature | Traditional Method | Sealcaps | Jurblami |
| Application Consistency | Variable | High | High |
| Visual Finish | Operator-dependent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Application Time | Long | Medium | Short |
| Operator Dependency | High | Low | Low |
| Sealant Usage | High | Moderate | Optimized |
| Storage Requirements | None | Controlled (cold) | None |
| Lead Time | Immediate | Long | Immediate |
| Reusability | No | No | Yes |
| Cost per Unit | High | Very High | Low |
Conclusion
At Jurblami, we recognize that no single solution fits all production environments. Our goal has never been to replace established processes for the sake of change, but rather to offer a practical, proven alternative that simplifies work on the line, improves repeatability, and lowers total cost of ownership.
We believe that our tools — already in use by leading OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers such as Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Embraer, ITP Aero, Premium AEROTEC, Aernnova, Aciturri… — represent an opportunity for other manufacturers to explore a more efficient way of working.
We invite you to evaluate our encapsulation solutions objectively. In a field where performance, consistency, and cost matter, Jurblami offers a quietly effective answer.
📩 Learn more at www.asa-ss.com or request samples to info@asa-ss.com
