Fluid Sealing News - Volume 1 - 2025 | |
Welcome to the latest issue of Fluid Sealing News, the electronic newsletter of the Fluid Sealing Association. Stay informed with member news, industry updates, meeting highlights, technical articles, and much more! | |
A Message from the President - Amy Hammarstrom | |
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Last year was a busy year that concluded with our Annual Meeting in Denver. We had a full agenda and a productive couple of days. We continued our mentorship program to match new members with existing members. This program is meant to provide support and encourage new members to participate in activities and committees. The Program Committee also put together a robust agenda that included two guest speakers, a hands-on AI workshop and an off-site social activity.
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Updated KnowledgeBase
The KnowledgeBase Resources section of the Fluid Sealing Association's website is now live! KnowledgeBase content is developed and maintained by the members of the association as a service to manufacturers and users of fluid sealing devices. It is intended to be a vital source of highly reliable technical information regarding fluid sealing devices, and is separated into four different subject repositories:
- Mechanical Seals
- Gaskets
- Expansion Joints
- Pump and Valve Packings
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Video of Essential Sealing Components
Explore the intricate journey of raw materials transforming into finished products, where critical processes rely on precise ingredient transfer, efficient mixing, and thermal treatments.
At the heart of these systems are pumps, valves, pipes, and sensors, designed to handle flammable or toxic compounds with utmost reliability. However, modern demands for higher efficiency, increased throughput, and stringent environmental compliance create challenges for both equipment and designers. In the video, the Fluid Sealing Association demonstrates how essential sealing components - such as compression packing, mechanical seals, and expansion joints - work together to ensure safe and efficient system operations.
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The Fluid Sealing Association's Spring 2025 Technical Meeting will be held on April 23-24, 2025 at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott.
- The Compression Packing, Gasket, and Mechanical Seals Division Technical Committees will meet on Wednesday, April 23rd.
- The Strategic Planning Committee, which includes the Board of Directors and Operational Committee Chairs, will meet on Thursday, April 24th.
Click here for more information, as well as links to register and reserve hotel accommodations. The deadline to register is Friday, March 28th.
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2024 Annual Meeting Highlights | |
The Fluid Sealing Association held its Annual Meeting on October 21-23, 2024 at The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa in Denver, Colorado. The program included expert speakers on topics such as artificial intelligence and leadership, an interactive workshop on leveraging AI for content generation, committee and division meetings, the annual business meeting, and an offsite reception and tour at the Wynkoop Brewing Company. | |
Amy Hammarstrom, President, presented Phil Mahoney with the Committee Excellence Award for his outstanding contributions to the Government and Regulatory Affairs Committee and the Fluid Sealing Association. | |
Amy Hammarstrom awarded Rob Coffee with a plaque for his dedicated service on the Fluid Sealing Association Board of Directors from 2014 to 2024. | |
Professor W. Keith Robinson delivered a well-received presentation on Artificial Intelligence and the Fluid Sealing Industry: Opportunities and Challenges. | |
Rob Kalwarowsky gave a presentation on How to Become a High-Performing Leader - Secrets of Olympic Gold Medalists and Top Executives. | |
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John Crane celebrated its 35th Anniversary as a member of the Fluid Sealing Association. In attendance for John Crane were:
Left to right: Mark Savage, David Gustaferro, and Kathy Johnson
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Proco Products celebrated its 40th Anniversary as a member of the Fluid Sealing Association.
Left to right: Rob Coffee, Amy Hammarstrom (FSA President, General Rubber LLC), Mike Lassas , Miquel Williams-Bullen, and James Gannatal
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Texcel
4444 Homestead Rd.
Houston, Texas 77028
800-231-7116
www.texcelrubber.com
From Texcel: Headquarters in Houston, Texas, TEXCEL supplies top-quality fluid sealing, conveying, industrial hose and hydraulic products across the USA. With warehouses in Texas, Illinois, Delaware, Alabama, and Colorado, we ensure low freight costs and same-day shipments. Our "circle T" symbol stands for quality, reliability, honesty, and integrity. As a founding member of the National Association for Hose and Accessories Distribution (NAHAD), we set the standard for excellence. We maintain over 5,000 SKUs in stock. Our password-protected website allows distributors to search for products, check prices, place, and track orders.
The TEXCEL team is dedicated to delivering quality products when and where you need them. In 2023, we joined the Harbour Group family, operating alongside Stainless Hose Fittings (SHF) and OmegaOne. Count on TEXCEL to be your partner under pressure.
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Meccanotecnica USA, Inc.
41650 Gardenbrook Rd. Suite 110
Novi, MI 48375
248-347-0606
www.meccanotecnicaumbra.com
From Meccanotecnica USA, Inc: Meccanotecnica Umbra S.p.A. was established in 1966 and today it is a world-leading manufacturer of mechanical sealing systems that globally covers about 35% of the automotive sector, more than 50% of the global dishwasher market and many specialized applications. The Headquarters is based in Campello sul Clitunno, a small town in Umbria between Assisi and Spoleto, 185 miles north of Rome. Meccanotecnica Umbra S.p.A. operations and sales networks are in Europe, Asia, and the Americas (North and South America).
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In 2025, the following companies are celebrating their anniversaries
as members of the Fluid Sealing Association. We would like to thank them for their ongoing support!
45 Year Anniversary
Empak Spriotallic Mexicana SA de CV
25 Year Anniversary
Thorburn Flex, Inc.
10 Year Anniversary
Garlock Sealing Technologies
Flextech Industries
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Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are constantly referenced in the media as substances that will lead to the next industrial disaster.
The Fluid Sealing Association is actively trying to give concrete, fact-based, knowledge about this subject to counter some of the more hysterical reactions to these issues.
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Join the Government and Regulatory Affairs Committee | |
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The Government and Regulatory Affairs Committee actively engages the Fluid Sealing Association in advocacy on key issues that directly and positively impact the process industries in support of its member companies, drives awareness of the FSA through visible engagement on public policy issues that create market access opportunities for the sealing and containment device industry, and generates value for the industry, leveraging resources to influence regulations, legislation, and industry standards.
Membership in the committee is open to all members. For more information, email info@fluidsealing.com.
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Become a Fluid Sealing Association Author! | |
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There are many benefits to becoming a Fluid Sealing Association author, including having something new to add to your resume. Young engineers and those new to the industry are encouraged to check out this one-hour online Article Writing Workshop and see how easy it is.
There are a multitude of industrial publications in need of good content. Click below to access this workshop and help the Fluid Sealing Association fulfill their mission of educating end users in the fluid sealing industry.
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Would you like to see your company's press release here?
Let us know, send it our way and we can share it in the next issue!
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Latest Sealing Sense Articles | |
Rethinking Water Hammer Solutions: Why Expansion Joints Are Not Enough
How to address jumping pipes without causing further damage. Article by Marty Rogin, Fluid Sealing Association member, The Metraflex Company.
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Friction's Hidden Impact: Lessons From Valves & Submarines
Reducing friction while maintaining effective sealing is often critical. Article by Ron Frisard, Fluid Sealing Association member, A.W. Chesterton.
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The Critical Role of Gasket Installation Procedures & Communication
Lessons to be learned from the 1988 Piper Alpha disaster. Article by Ron Frisard, Fluid Sealing Association member, A.W. Chesterton.
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Fluid Sealing Association | www.fluidsealing.com
Fluid Sealing News is published by the Fluid Sealing Association. Founded in 1933, the Fluid Sealing Association is an international trade association. Member companies are involved in the production and marketing of a wide range of fluid sealing devices primarily targeted to the industrial market.
Fluid Sealing Association membership includes a number of companies in Europe and Central and South America, but is most heavily concentrated in North America. Fluid Sealing Association members account for a majority of the manufacturing capacity for fluid sealing and containment devices in the Americas market.
Articles appearing in Fluid Sealing News are the views of the authors and not necessarily those of the Fluid Sealing Association.
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