Flat gasket

The flat seal has a seal plate of a metal plate layer (26) and a sealing element (50). The element is formed from a material, applied to a main surface of the metal layer and hardened in situ. In this area, the layer has an aperture (56) for the passage of the sealing element material. At operational temperature of seal and machine components, the material is initially plastically deformable, so that when fitted, the seal extends through the aperture to a component sealing surface (51) located next to the second main surface of the metal layer. Sealing plate and element are formed so that when not fitted, the flat seal extends to at most max. level.