Fluid Sealing News - Volume 2 - 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 was great to see many of our members participating in the Spring Technical Meeting and Strategic Planning Committee Meeting held in April in Atlanta. Advancing our technical presence is an important mission for the Fluid Sealing Association, and I was pleased to see our progress.
The Strategic Planning Committee includes current board members as well as committee chairs, and is intended to review, develop, and implement long-term strategies for the sustainability and growth of our organization. We meet annually at the Spring Technical Meeting. Previously, we have worked to develop a review of our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as an organization. A number of actions and initiatives have emerged from that review. As one priority, we need to continue to recruit new members to the organization. To that end, I’m pleased to share that UTEX Industries, Inc. was recently approved as a new member, with membership in the Compression Packing Division. Please join me in welcoming them and helping them get engaged in our organization.
| | 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.
| | New Member Welcome - UTEX Industries, Inc. | | |
Founded in 1940, UTEX Industries, Inc. is a U.S. based manufacturer of engineered sealing solutions specializing in high performance compression packing systems. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, UTEX supports reciprocating pumps, valves, and rotating equipment across oil and gas, chemical processing, power generation, water, and general industrial markets.
UTEX provides a comprehensive range of compression packing solutions spanning PTFE, graphite, aramid, carbon, and composite constructions, engineered to perform in demanding pressure, temperature, chemical, and abrasive service conditions. The company is widely recognized for its specialization in reciprocating plunger pump sealing, anchored by its legacy JFD packing technology, a non-adjustable system originally patented and established as an industry standard.
Braided compression packings are manufactured using UTEX’s proprietary TexLok® interbraid system, enhancing braid integrity, density control, and sealing performance across diverse applications.
With fully integrated U.S. manufacturing, UTEX delivers consistent, application specific solutions while supporting customers globally, including Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. UTEX partners closely with OEMs, distributors, MRO and service providers, and end users to improve equipment reliability and reduce total cost of ownership.
| | Government and Regulatory Affairs Committee Update -UPDATE | | |
By Phil Mahoney, FSA Government and Regulatory Affairs Committee Chair
Since our last update, the committee met in March and May, with PFAS continuing to represent the primary area of activity as regulatory developments remain active at both the state and international levels. The committee remains engaged in the PFAS issue through coordination with coalition partners and ongoing tracking of regulatory developments.
Continued coordination with industry groups (VMA, HI and ESA) remains a priority, particularly where new reporting or compliance obligations could have significant operational impacts. The committee continues to monitor and engage on these developments through coalition efforts and information sharing with membership. These activities are intended to ensure that member companies remain informed and positioned to respond to evolving requirements in a timely and effective manner. A couple of updates from the U.S. state and federal level as well as the EU side.
| | Updates from the Gasket Division | | |
By Jeffery Wilson, FSA Gasket Division Chair
The Gasket Division has provided the following updates:
- The division is seeking feedback from end-users, including fixed plants, on recurring industry challenges and problem areas. This feedback will help guide monthly LinkedIn content aimed at increasing engagement among FSA sponsors and industry professionals.
- The Gasket Installation Pamphlet is in its final stages and is scheduled for publication in July.
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- The division is currently seeking volunteers for the roles of Division Vice Chair and Technical Committee Chair. Anyone interested can reach out to info@fluidsealing.com.
- A webinar focused on best practices for gasket installation is in development, with the date to be announced.
| | Updates from the Compression Packing Division | | |
By Drew Dixey, FSA Compression Packing Division Chair
The Compression Packing Division continues to make progress across several technical and industry initiatives. The division recently approved the release of updated technical presentation materials to the FSA Knowledgebase and is continuing work on the Compression Packing Standards & Regulations document, expanding coverage of key global standards including ISO, NSF, MSS, and TA Luft. Updates also progressed on the flexible graphite oxidation test standard (FSA-G-604-07), with clarification added regarding its focus on raw flexible graphite materials and scope limitations.
In addition, the division welcomed UTEX Industries, Inc. as its newest member.
Members are also encouraged to watch for the new article in Pump and Systems magazine "When Packing Fails: Emergency Preparedness" highlighting the essential tools and knowledge to better prepare for emergency failure.
| | Updates from the European Sealing Association | | |
The past few months have been a busy period for the European Sealing Association. The PFAS restriction process has remained a major focus, but it has been far from the only one.
Following the publication of the SEAC draft opinion on the proposed PFAS restriction in March, the ESA coordinated its response to the public consultation, focusing on the need to secure exemptions for fluoropolymers used in critical sealing applications. The topic remained high on the agenda throughout the spring and was also discussed during the ESA Annual General Meeting in Seville.
| | Latest Sealing Sense Articles | |
Indirect Food Contact & Material Selection for Mechanical Seals in Food Processing
A U.S. FDA compliance and materials-selection guide. Article by Denise Lee, Fluid Sealing Association member, John Crane.
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Selecting Seals for Indirect Food Contact
A global regulatory and materials selection guide 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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