Fluid Sealing News - Volume 1 - 2026 | | 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 - Jason Ferris | | |
It feels like the New Year just happened yesterday, yet it has already been a busy couple of months to start 2026. I’ve participated in a number of committee and board meetings over the recent few weeks, and I’m pleased with the progress our organization is making.
Recently at our January Board of Directors meeting, we reviewed detailed feedback from our Annual Meeting survey. The meeting was received very positively. Division meetings were ranked as the most highly valued agenda item, followed closely by our guest speakers and Government and Regulatory Affairs Committee updates.
| | Spring 2026 Technical Meeting - There's Still Time to Register! | | |
The Fluid Sealing Association's Spring 2026 Technical Meeting will be held on April 22-23, 2026 at The Westin Atlanta Airport.
- The Compression Packing, Gasket, and Mechanical Seals Division Technical Committees will meet on Wednesday, April 22nd.
- The Strategic Planning Committee, which includes the Board of Directors and Operational Committee Chairs, will meet on Thursday, April 23rd.
Click here for more information, as well as links to register and reserve hotel accommodations. The deadline to register is Friday, March 27th.
| | Government and Regulatory Affairs Committee Update | | |
By Phil Mahoney, FSA Government and Regulatory Affairs Committee Chair
Since our last newsletter update, the Committee has met in January and February. The main activity for these past 2 months continues to be PFAS as state legislatures are back in session.
As noted in our last session, proposed changes to the U.S. EPA TSCA 8(a)(7) PFAS reporting rule are still pending. The proposed rule includes exemptions for imported articles and sets a de minimis level on reportable PFAS, etc. but it also reduces the actual reporting window to 3 months. FSA and other trade associations signed onto a U.S. CoC that recommended keeping or expanding the 6-month reporting window, noting that the amount of data that must be analyzed by companies is unchanged - even if the updated requirements reduce the amount of data that must be reported.
| | Updates from the Gasket Division | | |
By Jeffery Wilson, FSA Gasket Division Chair
The Gasket Division is currently working on the following key items:
- Updating the FSA-G-604-7 division standard with the Compression Packing Division
- Updating the FSA Gasket Handbook
If you would like more information or to get involved in these projects, please contact info@fluidsealing.com.
| | | Updates from the Compression Packing Division | | |
By Drew Dixey, FSA Compression Packing Division Chair
The Compression Packing and Gasket Divisions are nearing scope definition for an update to Standard FSA-G-604. This effort has evolved into a joint divisional initiative as the industry continues shifting toward weight-loss and oxidation testing methods for packing yarns.
In addition, new KnowledgeBase content is in development. Planned materials include presentations on pump and valve packing materials, installation and adjustment best practices, and technical references covering troubleshooting failures, packing fundamentals, and terminology and applications.
Members are also encouraged to watch for the March issue of Pumping & Sealing (P&S), which will feature an article by Denise Lee titled “The Future of Mechanical Compression Packing & Regulatory Compliance.” The article explores how continued innovation in compression packing technology will be essential to meeting evolving industry standards.
| | Save the Date - FSA 2026 Annual Meeting | |
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Mark Your Calendars!
Fluid Sealing Association 2026 Annual Meeting
October 28-30, 2026
Pan Pacific Vancouver
Vancouver, British Columbia
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The FSA Annual Meeting provides opportunities to engage with FSA members and to discuss the latest issues impacting the industry. The program includes expert speakers, interactive discussion forums, division meetings, and the annual business meeting which includes member presentations, committee updates, and director elections.
Don’t miss this chance to network, learn, and contribute to the future of the industry. We encourage you to bring a colleague from your company to join us!
Additional information on the meeting will be sent to members soon.
| | FSA Members Receive Registration Discount for VMA's Valve Forum | | |
The Valve Manufacturers Association's Valve Forum: Conference & Exhibits is being held April 13-15, 2026, in The Woodlands, TX, outside of Houston. Some of the highlights of the Valve Manufacturers Association's Valve Forum most relevant for FSA members include sessions like: Sealing the Future: PFAS-Free Graphite Solutions for Valves & Fittings; Validating Computational Models with CFD and FEA Analysis; API & ASME + AWWA Standards Updates; ISO & MSS Standards Updates; AI-Driven Design Optimization; and key end-market segments outlooks for water & wastewater, oil & gas, power and chemical markets. The opening session will feature a panel of industry executives discussing opportunities and challenges to the industry including workforce, geopolitics and tariffs, AI and more.
The exhibit area will feature a number of companies that are both suppliers and service providers for sealing product companies. FSA members receive $100 off registration with the code: FSAVF26. To register, click here.
Before the Valve Forum, join VMA for its Valve Basics course. Industry experts present on valves and actuators, followed by the Petting Zoo where small group roundtables offer hands-on interaction with valves, actuators and accessories, hosted by the speakers and other experts. VMA extends $100 off this course, also, but only one discount can be applied if both events are attended.
The events are being held at The Westin Hotel in The Woodlands. Click here to book directly with the hotel to get the conference rate of $259/night.
| | Fugitive Emissions Summit Americas 2026 Returns to Pasadena, Texas | | |
The Fugitive Emissions Summit Americas (FESAM) will be held April 15–16, 2026 at San Jacinto College’s LyondellBasell Center for Petrochemical, Energy & Technology (CPET) in Pasadena, Texas. This event offers numerous opportunities to connect, engage, and learn. FESAM’s conference program features industry experts who will share their knowledge and provide valuable insights relevant to today’s fugitive emissions community. The conference includes presentations on regulations and compliance; technology updates; seals, gaskets, and flanges; monitoring; LDAR and BWON; as well as panel discussions and more. Attendees will also have opportunities to connect with peers, discuss current challenges, and explore practical solutions shaping the future of emissions management.
FSA members receive 20% off when they purchase a ticket and apply discount code XXWH4PPP.
Click Here to Register
| | Latest Sealing Sense Articles | |
Carbon-Graphite Blistering in Mechanical Seal Faces
Is it possible to significantly reduce the risk of carbon-graphite blistering? Article by Mike Clevenger, Fluid Sealing Association member, Metallized Carbon Corporation.
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The Future of Mechanical Compression Packing & Regulatory Compliance
Innovation in compression packing technology will be necessary to meet evolving standards. Article by Denise Lee, Fluid Sealing Association member, John Crane.
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Selecting Materials for Mechanical Seals in Indirect Food Contact Applications
Engineering performance, migration control and global regulatory alignment for mechanical seals. Article by Denise Lee, Fluid Sealing Association member, John Crane.
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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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