When electrical components operate under voltage or at elevated temperatures, insulation failure isn’t just inconvenient; it’s a liability. Colvin-Friedman manufactures die-cut electrical insulators from high-dielectric materials, including Kapton® polyimide, PET (Mylar®), PVC, Nomex®, and specialty fiber papers. Each part is cut to your exact specifications using rotary or flatbed die-cutting processes that maintain ±0.005″ tolerances, even on thin films as thin as 0.0005″.
Our U.S.-based facility in California delivers prototypes in days and production volumes up to 40,000 units per hour. Whether you’re insulating transformer windings, protecting circuit boards, or creating battery-cell spacers, we translate your CAD file into a precision-cut part that arrives burr-free and ready for assembly.
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Your drawing or sketch is reviewed by a process engineer, who determines the substrate choice, adhesive lamination needs (if required), and press type: rotary for high-speed thin-film work or flatbed for thicker, rigid materials. Specifications are entered into our in-house CAD system to ensure manufacturability.
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High-grade steel tooling is precision-milled, heat-treated for edge retention, and sample-tested. Every cutting edge is verified to stay sharp, whether the run requires a 16-inch rotary press or a 40-inch flatbed.
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Fit-and-function samples ship out for your validation. Any dimensional tweaks or material substitutions happen now, not during full production, keeping lead times predictable.
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CAM-driven presses ramp up to volume: rotary lines reach 40,000 units/hour, while QMS and scrap-reclamation systems maintain the ±0.005″ / ±0.010″ tolerance bands. Inline lamination can bond pressure-sensitive adhesives or protective films in a single pass
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Finished parts are inspected to your specification, then packed as rolls, sheets, or kitted assemblies. Our automated stocking program integrates directly into Kanban or JIT pipelines, delivering 99.99% stock-out avoidance.
Or call Josh at (707) 769-4488
Colvin-Friedman’s electrical insulator production delivers measurable quality and speed advantages:
Zero recorded quality rejections: From OEM clients over the past production cycle
Rotary press capacity: Up to 40,000 units/hour for high-volume transformer tape and motor slot liners
Tolerance consistency: ±0.005″ held across six-cavity rotary tooling on 0.001″ Kapton® film
Lead time advantage: Domestic production eliminates overseas shipping delays, prototypes in 3-5 days, production tooling in 2-7 days
Material expertise: 70+ years cutting polyimide, PET, aramid, and composite insulation substrates
| Electronics & e-Mobility | From EMI/RFI shields and thermal-transfer pads to insulating transformer sleeves and battery-cell spacers, Colvin-Friedman supplies the sub-assemblies that keep power electronics cool and isolated. Polyimide films pair well with PET when heat resistance or dielectric strength is a concern, while rotary lines maintain accuracy within ±0.005″ even on six-cavity tools. |
| Power Generation & Distribution | Transformer manufacturers rely on our Nomex® and Kapton® insulators for phase barriers, slot liners, and winding insulation. Flatbed presses handle thick epoxyglass (G10/FR4) for high-voltage bushings without cracking or delamination. |
| Motor & Generator Manufacturing | Precision-cut slot liners, phase insulators, and wedge stock in polyester film, aramid paper, and DMD (Dacron-Mylar-Dacron) composite materials. Each part arrives burr-free for automated coil insertion. |
| Battery Assembly | Custom battery-cell spacers, electrode masks, and terminal insulators, cut from flame-retardant films and thermally resistant polyimide, are critical for preventing thermal runaway in EV and energy-storage systems. |
You won't navigate three account managers to get your part made. Every client has direct access to Josh Rodman, our Vice President, who oversees production and can answer technical questions in real time.
We've been cutting electrical insulators since the 1950s, from fish paper for vintage motor rebuilds to Kapton tape for satellite electronics. That institutional knowledge translates into fewer trial runs and a faster path to production.
When your production line needs parts in days, not weeks, our California facility responds without waiting on container ships. Domestic tooling and material sourcing keep supply chains resilient.
We don't sell catalog parts. Every job is tailored to your drawing, whether it's a 500-piece prototype run or a multi-million-unit annual contract. Short runs get the same engineering attention as high-volume orders.
We'll tell you what your material and design can realistically achieve, and when you're over-specifying. Our engineers fine-tune durometer, blade geometry, and press dwell based on substrate behavior, rather than relying on generic charts.
| Material | Temperature Range | Key Properties | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kapton® Polyimide | -269°C to +260°C (-452°F to +500°F) | Excellent dielectric strength (7,700 V/mil), chemical resistant | Transformer tape, motor slot liners, flexible heaters, aerospace wiring |
| PET (Mylar®) | -70°C to +150°C | Good electrical insulation, dimensional stability, and cost-effectiveness | Circuit board insulation, battery separators, and capacitor film |
| Nomex® Aramid | Continuous use to +220°C | High dielectric strength, Class B-F insulation | Motor phase barriers, transformer winding insulation |
| PVC Film | -10°C to +105°C | Flame-retardant, flexible, printable | Cable insulation, electrical labels, protective sleeves |
| G10/FR4 Epoxyglass | Continuous use to +130°C | High mechanical strength, flame-retardant (FR4) | High-voltage bushings, circuit board substrates, structural insulators |
| Fish Paper | Up to +105°C | Electrically insulating, heat-resistant | Fuse tubes, motor slot insulation, and electronic device barriers |
On rotary die-cutting, we routinely hold ±0.005″ on Kapton® film as thin as 0.001″. Flatbed processes for thicker materials typically hold ±0.010″. Material behavior and part geometry influence achievable tolerances. We’ll review your drawing and recommend the best press and blade configuration.
We conduct thorough application analysis, including pressure, temperature, chemical compatibility, and cycling requirements. Our material recommendations are based on 75+ years of proven performance data from similar industrial applications.
Prototypes: 3-5 business days after CAD review and material confirmation. Production tooling: 2-7 days for die fabrication, followed by a ramp-up to full volume. Domestic manufacturing means you’re not waiting on overseas freight.
Absolutely. Our rotary presses run up to 40,000 units per hour, and we integrate with your Kanban or JIT system. We also offer automated stocking programs with a 99.99% stock-out avoidance rate.
We work with DXF, DWG, PDF, or hand sketches. Our engineering team will convert your file into a production-ready CAD drawing and send it back for approval before cutting tools are used.
Whether you’re insulating a new transformer design, scaling battery production, or replacing an overseas supplier with U.S.-based manufacturing, Colvin-Friedman delivers precision die-cut electrical insulators that meet your specification, on time and within tolerance.
