Unique Application of Bumper Specialties, Inc.'s Rubber Feet: The Frivolous Engineering Company

With countless applications in multiple industries throughout the world, including everything from cabinet door stops, picture frame corner protectors, and cutting board feet to iPod dock speakers, laptop rubber feet, and other electronics, we here at Bumper Specialties never cease to be amazed by some of the creative and unique uses for our self-adhesive polyurethane bumper feet.

In this blog post, we would like to feature one of our customers who, we believe, has found a very interesting application on which to use our bumpers. From Regina, SK, Canada, The Frivolous Engineering Company builds and sells something they call, “The Most Useless Machine EVER!” As the video for this clever little box has over 8,000,000 YouTube views (WOW!), you may have already seen it, but if not, here it is:

Bumper Specialties, Inc.'s self-adhesive rubber feet can be found on the bottom of this device. The bumper stops serve to stabilize the machine on any type of desk, table, or countertop, preventing skidding or sliding. The best part is that these bumper pads do not contain plasticizers, oils, or fillers, so they won't mar, scratch, or stain any surface.

We can’t wait to get our hands on one of The Ultimate Useless Machines, but don’t expect to hear from us for a while once we do. We’ll be busy trying to keep that box open. Why would someone construct a  contraption whose only function is to turn itself off? We haven’t a clue. It’s maddening, but then again, that’s why it’s such a remarkably successful invention. To purchase or find out more information about The Frivolous Engineering Company’s Ultimate Useless Machine, head on over to http://frivolousengineering.com/. 

Cork Stops and Foam Pads

Cork Pads and Foam Feet

Comparing self-adhesive cork pads and protective foam feet against our polyurethane bumper stops leaves the cork and foam in the dust. Bumper Specialties, Inc.’s polyurethane bumper feet provide a quieter close for cabinet doors than the competition. Our bumpers hold up longer when used underneath glass table tops and will not tear or break down as easily as round cork feet and hexagon shaped foam pads do. Since cork and foam are lower-quality materials than polyurethane, attempting to bond a reliable adhesive to these parts is a difficult task. Typically, the adhesives used on cork bumpers and foam pads are just as cheap and unreliable as the stoppers themselves, preventing these parts from performing properly. Bumper Specialties, Inc.’s self-adhesive polyurethane bumper stops are the clear winner in comparison to cork stoppers or foam bumpers.

Success In Europe

See How a Serious Setback was Solved with a Simple Solution!


Not long ago, we were contacted by a customer of ours; a European manufacturer of high-end espresso machines. They had been buying one of our square black bumper feet for their coffee makers for a while and had never had any problems. Until now. The company was expanding, and with a brand new facility and all new staff on board, the last thing they wanted to have to deal with was a bumper that wouldn’t stick.

After explaining their dilemma to us, we got to work right away to find a solution for their unique problem. We know that our bumper adhesive should never fail, so something had to be wrong with the customer’s process. We tested our parts here in the factory. We checked through our inventory and through all the lots that had been run. Everything was exactly as it should be. It was time for a plane ride and to visit our customer in person.

We were greeted warmly when we arrived and shown around their new manufacturing facility. We watched workers on assembly lines unpack boxes of our bumpers, ready to affix them to the appliances on their way. What happened next made our jaws drop.

Workers picked up the bumper sheets and quickly began removing the stoppers, one after another, not to place them on the coffee machines, but rather on their arms. As the coffee makers came down the line, the workers were pulling the bumpers off their arms and sticking a few of them onto the bottom of each appliance. Finally we knew why the adhesive on our bumpers was failing on their products.  They were being applied incorrectly!

We immediately explained to our customer why this way of applying the bumpers wouldn’t work and instructed them on How to Apply Rubber Bumper Stops the right way. We explained that the bumpers must go directly from their sheet to the application, without touching skin or any other surface. While the bumpers are being stored, we told them, they must be kept at 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit or 21 to 27 degrees Celsius.

Today, this company continues to buy our products and is happier than ever that we were able to help them with their problem. They haven’t had a single issue with using our bumpers since then.

We pride ourselves on our customer service and if you have an issue, we will work with you until a solution is found. If necessary, we will travel and meet you in person to rectify any concerns you may have. This is what sets us apart from the competition. We have the knowledge and expertise from our years in the bumper business and will follow through until you are completely satisfied.

Global Customer Service

How to Apply Rubber Bumper Stops

We often have customers ask us how they should apply our self-adhesive bumper feet to their various applications for maximum performance. We thought the best way to demonstrate the proper application of our polyurethane bumpers would be with a video!

Hope you enjoy