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President’s MessageTerry Galanis, Jr.
In This Issue
President’s MessagePages 1 & 2
Future Meeting SchedulePage 2
New Association MembersPage 2
Company ProfilesPages 2 & 4
Meet the New GFA DirectorPage 4
Press Releases Page 5
What’s Going On In The GFA?Pages 6, 8 & 9
Spring 2013 Meeting PhotosPages 10 & 11
Highlights of Past Technical ArticlesPages 13, 14, 15, & 17
Membership AnniversariesPage 17
Benchmarking Report Pages 18 & 19
Volume 32 Number 2 August 2013
I was so pleased with our Spring Meeting in New Orleans.
The attendance was the highest ever at a semi-annual GFA
meeting, but more importantly, the atmosphere was terrific,
and it seemed like everyone was very comfortable and having
a great time.
We all know that a strong brand is important to every
organization. A major focus of the GFA Long Range Planning
Committee is to improve the brand name of our organization.
A few years back, we started working with Lauron Sonnier, a
marketing consultant from Texas. Her task was to redesign all the GFA marketing materials we
currently use to communicate with our members and prospective members. We wanted the
GFA brand to be easily identifiable and a constant reminder that we value your membership
in the GFA. In addition to this, we created a marketing plan to distribute these materials to the
GFA audience in a timely manner. Hopefully, you have all noticed this professional upgrade in
our marketing and branding efforts.
We do not want to lose the momentum we have created in branding and marketing. It was
decided at the last GFA Board meeting to go to the next level and establish a formal Marketing
Committee. We are fortunate to have some very talented members in our organization who will
be appointed to this Committee. This new Committee will work with Lauron Sonnier to further
develop our current marketing strategy. Also, we will need to focus on the ever-changing world
of social media and how it can be useful to both the GFA and our members as an effective
marketing tool.
In New Orleans, I had an opportunity to attend both the CEO Luncheon and the Fabricator
Forum, two of the latest events we have added to our meeting programs. These meetings
were well attended and there was a very honest and open dialogue with the members. I think
everyone is interested in how we are reacting to the current business environment and the
various government mandates, such as the new healthcare act, cut backs in military spending,
etc. Almost everyone at these meetings commented that this year started out to be their best
ever, and the outlook going forward was extremely positive. It is interesting to note that in a
time of little or no growth in our economy, most of our members are doing just fine. I assume
that means some of the best fabricators and suppliers in the industry find attending GFA
meetings very worthwhile.
Before you know it, the summer will be over, and we will be at our Fall Meeting at the Hyatt
Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico, near Albuquerque. We will Continued on page 2
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Fall 2013 Semi-Annual Meeting
October 1-3, 2013
Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa
Santa Ana Pueblo, NM (Near Albuquerque)
Gasketing/Converting Expo ‘14
March 25-27, 2014
Hilton Orlando
Orlando, FL
Fall 2014 Semi-Annual Meeting
September 30 - October 2, 2014
Portola Hotel & Spa
Monterey, CA
Gasketing/Conve
March 25-27, 20
Orlando
FL
Fall 2014 Semi-Annual Me
September 30 - October
Portola Hotel &
l 2013 Semi-Annua
August 2013Page 2
GFA Future Meeting Schedulereturn to a resort style venue for a change of pace. Plan
ahead for October 1-3, I look forward to seeing all of you
there, and Pete and Brian will be ready to put on a bang up
meeting for us.
P.S. At the last meeting in New Orleans, we took a straw poll
regarding a future meeting in Bermuda, possibly in 2015.
The results were a resounding “Yes”. The last time the GFA
went to Bermuda was in October of 2000. Now it is up to us
to see if we can make this happen at an affordable rate for all
our members.
Company Profiles
Apache is widely recognized across the US for the variety
and quality of our hose and belting, custom fabrications,
onsite belt services, and consumer products. The new
Apache | Trico Industrial Products Division offers customers
the best lightweight and heavy-duty belting solution, no
matter the application, along with an extensive assortment
of hose and accessories and custom cut and molded
products.
We have enhanced our product offerings, improved in-
house fabrication capabilities with die-less knife cutting
equipment, and added facilities expanding our geographic
footprint to ensure rapid customer response times.
Corporate Headquarters are in Cedar Rapids, IA. Other
locations include Chicago, IL; Cincinnati, OH; St. Louis,
MO; Des Moines, IA; and Hillsboro, OR. Our products are
available nationwide through our network of distributor and
dealer customers, or sold directly to OEMs.
The employee-owners of Apache, Inc. are committed to
providing quality products and services that meet, or Continued on page 4
President’s Message(Continued from Page 1)
FabricatorsApache | Trico Industrial
www.apachehb.com
Hanna Rubber Co.
www. hannarubber.com
SuppliersChemprene, Inc.
www.chemprene.com
Palziv North America
www.palzivna.com
Specialty Silicone Products
www. sspinc.com
Teadit N.A.
www.teadit-na.com
VIP Rubber and Plastic Co.
www. viprubber.com
New Association Members
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August 2013Page 3
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exceed our customer’s needs. As a 100% employee owned
company, we feel it is our responsibility to do whatever it
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Company Profiles(Continued from Page 2)
Material Sciences Corporation is a publicly held company
listed on NASDAQ under MASC. We were formed in 1951,
and have over 250 employees. MSC is a differentiated
producer of engineered metal products, with facilities in six
countries on five continents. MSC is split into two divisions
of product: Accoustical Applications and Coated Metal.
Our Accoustical Applications include Quiet Steel and
Quiet Aluminum, Magna Damp, and Sound Trap. These are
engineered composites consisting of a viscoelastic core
among layers of metal and various functional coatings.
These are all solutions for noise, vibration, and harshness
(NVH).
The Coated Metal applications include Deco-Steel (a
stainless steel lamination for cost and weight savings),
ElectroBrite and ViviColor (for rich-looking, better
performing, stainless steel like surfaces), Electrogalvanizing,
Film Laminates, and Mat Seal (Rubber Coated Metal for
Gasket Products).
MSC runs multiple thicknesses of steel and rubber for the
gasket industry. The most common core metals are 301 full
hard stainless steel and cold rolled steel. The most common
rubber products are NBR rubber and FKM rubber. We are
currently developing a foam version of the NBR and a HNBR
for use in compressor applications.
For more information, visit www.matsci.com or call
734-207-4439.
Meet the New GFA DirectorGord SirrsBoard Member Gord Sirrs is the President
of Canada Rubber Group
Inc. located in Bowmanville,
ON. He started his career
in 1979 on the production
floor manufacturing rubber,
later transitioning into traffic
management, supervision, and sales at Snowden Rubber. In
1994, Gord followed a great leader and mentor, Clem Foley,
and joined Canada Rubber. This was a game changer for
Gord as he became a partner in 1998 and President in 2008.
Gord has a passion for win-win thinking, and is driven by the
human side of enterprise. Currently, Gord serves the GFA as
Chair of the Communications Committee.
Joining a committee is one of the best ways to take advantage of your GFA
membership. Contact the GFA office at 610-971-4850 or
[email protected] if you would like to join a committee.
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August 2013Page 5
New Gasket Material from Thermoseal for Universal Sealing Including High TemperaturesThermoseal Inc. introduces a unique gasket material
produced with mica and synthetic fibers for use in
high temperature applications. KLINGER®thermica is a
new universal gasket material that can be used when
temperatures exceed the limits of traditional KLINGERSIL®
compressed fiber gasket materials.
The primary reinforcement of KLINGER®thermica is mica.
This layered, plate-like mineral, and the proprietary
Gasko Rhopac Hires Demitri Fardelos As New Business Development ManagerDemitri Fardelos joined Gasko Rhopac Fabricated Products
as its new Business Development Manager in April 2013.
Demitri brings over thirty years of industry sales and
marketing expertise, which he will utilize to promote the
wide variety of capabilities and materials that Gasko Rhopac
offers. For nearly 23 years, he was employed by Amorim
Cork Composites in Trevor, WI, where he served as Vice
President of Sales for the past ten years.
Gasko Fabricated Products located in Medina, OH is an ISO
9001:2008 and TS 16949:2009 certified company that offers
sealing solutions worldwide. Rhopac Fabricated Products is
located in Libertyville, IL and is an ISO 9001:2008 certified
company which has been manufacturing specialty custom-
fabricated parts and gaskets for over 80 years.
The two organizations offer a variety of materials
and specialty laminations, as well as a wide array of
manufacturing capabilities to meet the requirements of the
automotive, medical, industrial, and packaging markets.
For further information, visit www.gaskorhopac.com.
Press ReleasesCCT Hires Dr. Graeme Roan as Director of Business Development CCT is proud to announce that Dr. Graeme Roan has joined
the company as Director of Business Development, where
he will focus on growing and strengthening CCT’s position
in both new and existing markets. This addition continues
to increase the caliber of the team at CCT, and will help
the company position itself for continued growth and
expansion.
Prior to joining CCT, Dr. Roan was the Business Development
Manager for the Pressure Sensitive Adhesives business of
Henkel. In his career at Henkel, he worked in a range of
technical and commercial positions in the US and Asia, and
has developed a deep understanding of pressure sensitive
tape markets and technologies.
Dr. Roan has also given technical papers and led educational
sessions at various industry events, including the Pressure
Sensitive Tape Council, Adhesion Society, and the Adhesives
and Sealants Council. He has a BSc in Chemistry from the
University of Strathclyde and a PhD from the University of
Nottingham.
For more information, please contact CCT Marketing
Communications at 215-271-0610 ext. 109, email
[email protected], or visit www.CCTtapes.com.
manufacturing process provide improved flexibility and
handling, premium load-bearing characteristics, load
retention, and excellent sealability.
KLINGER®thermica enriches Thermoseal’s product portfolio
available to the market, and based on the experiences
so far, they are confident KLINGER®thermica will
perform well for many of their customers. For additional
information, contact Thermoseal at 800-990-7325, or visit
www.thermosealinc.com.
Visit us online at:www.gasketfab.com
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August 2013Page 6
Membership Committee Ken Stober, Chairman
Well, I know anyone that was at
the last meeting in New Orleans
would agree that the “Big Easy” is
unlike any other location we have
visited, great food and uniquely
entertaining. In spite of all the
possibilities for distraction, we did have a very productive
Membership Committee Meeting. I am pleased to announce
that we have 11 new members: 2 fabricators and 9 suppliers.
Unfortunately, I must also let you know that we had 8
resignations, for a net gain of 3 members. Currently we are at
153 members: 73 suppliers and 80 fabricators.
It seems that most of the resignations were relatively new
members. I think it is important to note that the Membership
Committee puts forth a lot of effort to make sure that we are
receiving feedback from our new members. We contact each
new member about a month before their first GFA meeting
to make sure they know about the committee meetings and
also answer any questions they may have. About a month
after their first meeting, we contact them again to make
sure the GFA met all their expectations. We then contact
them one more time on their one year anniversary, to make
sure we are still meeting their expectations. Hopefully we
find that the GFA is a good match for these companies. If for
some reason a company decides to resign, the Membership
Committee will contact them to find out how the GFA can
improve. This information is communicated back to MMCo,
and if we notice a trend, we address it.
The Membership Committee is constantly following up with
our identified prospects, but please remember that you do
not have to be on the Committee to recruit new members.
The best way to attract new members is by a personal
recommendation. If you know a company that really should
be a member of the GFA, let Pete or Brian know and they will
send an information packet and an application to become a
member. If the company is not sure that the GFA is the right
What’s Going On In The GFA?organization for them, they can “try us out” as a one- time
guest at a Semi-Annual Meeting.
Finally, if you are not on a committee, you are missing out
on an important part of the GFA. You do not have to sign up
in advance, just pick one that is of interest to you and check
it out at our next meeting. I am looking forward to seeing
everyone in New Mexico.
Programs and Locations CommitteeBill Hibner, Chairman
Our 2013 GFA Spring Meeting at
Harrah’s Hotel in New Orleans,
Louisiana was a great success.
A record turnout of almost 200
attendees participated in the committee meetings, the
supplier expo, the golf outing, the Louisiana Plantation
Journey, and the GFA Member presentations. Attendees also
gained valuable information from Bill Bogg’s presentation,
“Success Strategies Will Help You Find the Greatness within
Yourself.” The French Quarter was conveniently located
within walking distance, and proved to be very entertaining.
It was an enjoyable GFA Meeting in a fun-filled town. I want
to thank my Vice Chair, Carol Bowman, for her assistance
during the Program and Locations Committee Meeting.
If you missed the Spring Meeting, I hope you will join us for
our next GFA Meeting which is scheduled for October 1-3
at The Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa located in Santa
Ana Pueblo, New Mexico, which is near Albuquerque. This
resort has a fantastic golf course (no worries, no bus ride)
and it is a short commute to Albuquerque and Santa Fe,
where there are a host of local attractions.
In 2014, the GFA will kick off the year in style with the
Gasketing/Converting Expo, which is scheduled for March
25-27, at the Hilton Orlando in Orlando, Florida. During this
Expo, we are planning to reformat the technical sessions
Continued on page 8
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August 2013Page 7
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What’s Going On?(Continued from Page 6)
into smaller “break-out” sessions which will be held during
the Supplier Expo. More information on the Expo will be
made available this fall.
I wish all GFA Member’s an enjoyable summer with safe
travels during family vacations.
Technical CommitteeJim Ward, Chairman
With the recent completion of the
latest webinar series, there are
now three technical webinar series
available through the GFA website.
They are:
1) The Estimator’s Guide to Basic Gasketing
2) Guide to Material Selection
3) ABCs of PSA
These webinars are ideal for educating the newest
employees of your organization, for cross-training some of
the veterans of your company, or just as a refresher course
for those with background in our industry.
In addition to the webinars, there are more than one dozen
previously published GFA newsletter articles written by
GFA members available for your use. The combination of
these articles and the webinars provide a nice library of
information for the industry.
The Technical Committee is in the process of preparing
guidelines for submitting technical presentations to
be considered for future GFA meetings. The thought
process associated with these guidelines is to allow
member companies to make presentations on the newest
technologies, services, or materials without taking away
from the products and services offered by their competition.
Any information, ideas, or input that you or your company
may have in this process will be greatly appreciated. These
guidelines will be presented to the Board of Directors
during the Fall Meeting in anticipation of the technical
presentations during the Gasketing/Converting Expo ‘14.
The Technical Committee is also in the process of reviewing
and updating the Technical Handbook. It has been a number
of years since the last update and it is due for a refreshing.
A Task Group has been formed and the group is working on
updating several sections of the Handbook. If you would like
to submit your input or expertise, please contact Matt Weiss
As a volunteer service of the GFA, the Technical Committee
welcomes all members to participate and join in the process
of informing and educating the future leadership of our
industry. Please invest an hour during the next GFA Meeting
to see what the Technical Committee is all about.
Communications CommitteeGord Sirrs, Chairman
During the Sprng Meeting, most of
the Communications Committee
Meeting was focused on social
media. Over the past year, the
Social Media Subcommittee has focused on social media
and how the GFA may use these tools advantageously to
promote the association, increase awareness, and facilitate
member communication and interaction. Below you will find
an update on some of the topics which were discussed.
I hope to see you all in New Mexico for the Fall Meeting.
If you have any questions regarding the Communications
Committee, please let me know.
Results of the Social Media SurveySocial media is becoming increasingly used as a means of
communication in the corporate world. The GFA conducted
a survey in February 2013, which was designed to identify
Continued on page 9
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August 2013Page 9
the social media usage patterns and preferences of GFA
members. From the survey responses, the Committee
agreed that conducting a social media campaign with
LinkedIn would be beneficial to the GFA.
Social Media PolicyThe GFA Social Media Policy has been approved by the
Board of Directors and is now available in the Members Only
Area of the GFA website.
Content GenerationSocial media requires content, and lots of it. Before
developing a LinkedIn page, the Committee felt that
it would be advantageous to put a process in place for
creating, managing, and maintaining content. In addition, a
social media plan will be created to determine who would
have responsibility for posting content.
Social Media StrategyThe social media strategy will contain a set of policies,
actions, and procedures which will guide the GFA and its
members in using social media. This strategy is now under
development by Christine Brouder and Shirley Monte. Once
approved, the Social Media Strategy will be distributed to all
members.
Potential Risks Associated with Social Media Use and CountermeasuresUsing social media is not risk free. A list of risks, myths,
and appropriate countermeasures has been developed
by Christine Brouder and Steve Hanson, and reviewed by
the Committee. To increase the awareness, the Committee
recommended that the list be used to create an article
which will appear in a future issue of the GFA newsletter.
LinkedInA GFA group, Gasket Fabricators Association (GFA), has been
set up on LinkedIn to which users may join upon request.
Currently, the organization description for the GFA is limited,
pending the implementation of the content management
procedures noted above. The group will only be available to
current GFA members.
TwitterThe strategy of the GFA will be to use Twitter to promote
GFA meetings, webinars, and other events, and to encourage
followers to visit the GFA website. While the @Gasketfab
Twitter handle has been secured, the GFA Twitter account
will not be activated until the content management
procedures are developed and implemented.
Tools to Raise Awareness It is felt that there is an opportunity for the GFA to develop
a white paper which would provide guidance on social
media use for associations. This white paper would increase
the awareness of GFA and could also be used to create an
informational webinar.
What’s Going On?(Continued from Page 8)
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August 2013Page 10
Spring 2013 Meeting PhotosHarrah’s Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana
President Terry Galanis, Jr. addresses the
audience during the General Session
Bill Boggs presenting during the General Session
GFA Meeting First Time Attendees
GFA Meeting New Members and First Time Attendees GFA Meeting New Members and First Time Attendees
Joe Hillman, of Universal Laser Systems, Inc.,presenting his company profile
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August 2013Page 11
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August 2013Page 12
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August 2013Page 13
Highlights of Past Technical Articles By: Larry Pyle, President, LFPtechnologies
ForewordThis is the 28th issue of the Gasket Fabricator for which I
have written articles of a technical nature. I have tried to
select subjects in the past which I felt would have general
interest to the membership. I have taken great effort not
to tackle specific, narrow subjects that would be beneficial
to only one member; that is what consultants are for. I
have covered a wide array of topics which relate to gaskets
including design and development, manufacturing, failure
analysis, testing, performance, critical issues, and processes.
Principles for a Successful GasketTo sum up some of the basic principles that make a gasket
function as a seal is to remember that whatever the type of
gasket, it takes compressive load to seal. We have covered
subjects about:
It Takes Load to Seal Establishing the proper load to seal the application.
This includes the description of the bolt tension/torque
relationship. The amount of compressive stress placed on
the gasket is directly related to the tension clamp load,
which does the sealing of all gaskets. Most joints use bolts
or other fasteners to achieve this clamp load, usually by
tightening to a certain torque. The consistency of the
resulting clamp load for any torque and fastener is critical.
Every gasketed joint is unique. Often, the gasket is the
compromising component that has to make up for the
deficiencies of the rest of the system. It has to perform its
principal function of establishing and maintaining a seal,
whether it is gaseous, or fluid. The principle failure of a
joint results from the loss of the tension, or the initial load,
imparted on the assembly by the fasteners. The design
objective is to establish an effective and durable seal and to
maintain it throughout its service life.
Continued on page 14
Fastening SystemThe success of any gasket is highly dependent on the
other components that make up the joint. The key is the
fastening system, and its ability to establish adequate and
predictable compressive loads on the gasket is probably
the most important factor. In its simplest form, it takes load
to seal. Not only does the joint have to provide sufficient
initial load at installation, but it must also maintain sufficient
load throughout the life cycle of the gasketed joint. There
are many factors that go into the equation. This article
will attempt to explain the contributing factors and the
importance of each:
Establishing initial sealing load: What makes the gasket
seal? Establishing a minimum recommended compressive
stress on the material. This compressive stress allows the
gasket material to conform to the surface finish and flatness
conditions of the flanges. During this compression process,
the inherent porosity of most gasket materials is reduced to
impede the minute flow of gases or liquids being sealed. The
source of this compressive load is the fastening system; bolts
or screws in most cases. This load is a linear function related
to the stretch of the bolt or screw.
Friction: It is the tension in the fastener that is the important
factor, not the torque used to produce it. Torque is simply
related to tension by the following equation: T = μFD (T =
torque (lb-ft), μ = coefficient of friction, F = force (lbs), D =
fastener diameter in inches). The big “if” in this equation
is the coefficient of friction. It is not very reliable since so
many factors can change the relationship between Torque
and Tension (some sources say that there are some 30 or 40
factors). Here are some of the more important ones:
• Hardness of the parts
• Surface finishes, condition of the threads, cleanliness
• Types of materials
• Thickness, condition and type of plating, if present
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August 2013Page 14
Highlights of Past Technical Articles (Continued from Page 13)
Continued on page 15
• The amount, condition, method of application,
contamination, and temperature of any lubricants
involved
• The speed with which the fastener is tightened
• The fit between the threads
• Hole clearance
• Surface pressures
And the list goes on. Many of these factors can be
controlled to some degree it can be afforded, but
complete control is probably impossible
Alternative tension control: As an alternative to friction
control, manufacturers have attempted to eliminate friction
as a factor altogether by going to other tension control
systems. Torque-to-yield and Torque-angle techniques are
commonly utilized. Torque-to-yield operates on the principle
that the metallurgy of the fasteners is precisely controlled
so that the yield point is predictable and consistent. This is
most commonly used in automated assembly operations
that are performed with sophisticated machines.
Torque-angle method assumes that the initial torque
eliminates most of the non-linear portion of the stress-stain
curve. This is commonly used in hand assembly operations
where sophisticated equipment is not required. The
procedure is developed in a controlled setting.
Stress relaxation (Creep relaxation): The objective of any
gasket joint is maintenance of the initial assembly load.
This is rarely possible, but can be controlled to acceptable
limits. Remember that load is established by stretching
the fastener, and load loss is as a result of stretch loss. The
formula for this is:
Stress relaxation (%) = Tension (load) loss (%) =
100 (ΔLinitial - ΔLfinal) / ΔLinitial
ΔLinitial = initial fastener stretch
ΔLfinal = residual fastener stretch
In general, the following statements apply:
• The thickness of the gasket will contribute to creep (the
thicker the gasket the more creep).
• Stress relaxation, as a percentage of the initial load, is
greatly influenced by the length of the fasteners.
• Fasteners have elongations that are directly proportional
to their relative lengths.
• Smaller diameter fasteners stretch more than fasteners of
the same length and larger diameters.
• Some creep will occur in a joint even in the absence of a
gasket.
Joint Flanges: This comprises the metal structure on either
side of the gasket. They can also be made from engineered
plastic. Structural stiffness is another key to the gasket’s
success. This stiffness is a function of: flange thickness,
reinforcing ribs or other third dimensional attribute, modulus,
and fastener spacing among other factors. Dissimilar metals
can create gasket scrubbing due to thermal cycling. This can
be destructive.
Gasket: Gasket materials are engineered to reduce the
effects of their environment on their load bearing properties.
Gaskets are not the sole contributor to creep relaxation.
Temperature and chemical attacks are catalysts to creep.
Vibration is another catalyst that can affect creep and gasket
performance. Internal pressures can rupture a gasket often
with messy and sometimes catastrophic consequences.
Important physical properties include:
• Creep relaxation properties
• Fluid resistance/compatibility
• Compressibility/recovery
• Tensile strength
Gasket Enhancements for Improved PerformanceQuite often, the sealing of the joint is not satisfied with
a simple clean-cut solution. It may require performance
enhancers which tackle specific issues. Most of these “aids”
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August 2013Page 15
have been covered in a variety of articles. Here is a list of
established enhancements:
• Coatings: release, saturating, and surface sealing
• Metal cores, solid and perforated
• Screen printing of selected areas with silicone or other
elastomers
• Grommets for redistributing loads to critical areas
• Armors and wire rings for sealing high pressures
• Contouring armor widths for load redistribution
• Metal shims
• Embossing of gaskets and metals
Processes Various processes for making gasket materials and gasket
manufacturing process were discussed via numerous
articles:
• The processes for making compressed sheet packing and
beater-addition gasket paper were discussed along
with their advantages and limitations.
• Process for making cork and cork-rubber products (Cork-
From Tree to Gasket)
• Gasket coating methods: roll coating (2 and 4 roll
methods), reverse roll coating, curtain, knife
coating, spray, and others
• Laser cutting
• Water jet cutting
• Making of laminated products
• Ultra-violet curing
• Perforated core and laminating
• Cutting thin metals
Gasket Testing Tools and Procedures Definitions of standardized ASTM tests and investigative
tools were detailed:
• Origins of ASTM Committee FO3 on Gaskets
• ASTM Specification F36-00: Standard Test Method for
Compressibility and Recovery of Gasket Materials
• ASTM Specification F38-00: Standard Test Methods for
Creep Relaxation of a Gasket Material
• Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA): a valuable tool for
estimating temperature limits
• Measuring gasket load by various means: carbon paper,
NCR (no carbon required) paper, calibrated films
(Fuji Film for example), and active sensors
• Design of Experiments: A proven method for determining
the optimum running conditions of a process. Used
widely for continuous processes with several
variables
• Surface conditions: Measurement and typical conditions
that gaskets must seal
Definitions Many terms specific to certain segments of the gasket world
were disclosed:
• Gasket m, y factors is widely used in the design of boiler
and pressure vessels. These parameters are used to
define minimum gasket stress to seal, and the ratio
of gasket stress to the pressures to be sealed.
• Tightness factor, a more modern measure used by the
boiler and pressure vessel industry.
• “Z” strength, same idea as X and Y tensile strengths, but
a measure of the internal strength of the gasket
material.
• Torque vs. Preload is not a simple relationship.
• Liquid vs. Gas leakage, the molecule of a gas particle is
significantly smaller than that of a liquid particle.
Design Numerous articles discussing design issue were issued:
• Reverse engineering. The art of making a comparable
performing “copy” of a gasket. Often, the exact
material replacements are not available. This article
described an approach method for this process.
• Designing for gaskets in elevated temperature service.
• Gasket Design and Development Guide, is a common
sense approach to designing gaskets.
• The design and manufacture of Rubber Coated Metal
gaskets.
Highlights of Past Technical Articles (Continued from Page 14)
Continued on page 17
-
August 2013Page 16
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August 2013Page 17
“Is the Design of Gaskets Serendipity or Science?”That is a question that Dan Czernik, my old boss at Fel-
Pro, used to ask. Although the science has improved
substantially over the years, there is still an element
of Serendipity and Art to the design of gaskets. There
are still elements of the design process which have not
been modeled and analyzed. In reality, the gasket is the
compromising element which must make up for the
deficiencies of all of the other joint elements.
Highlights of Past Technical Articles (Continued from Page 15)
Membership Anniversaries In 2013, the following companies are celebrating
anniversaries. We would like to thank them
for their ongoing support.
20 Years
CGR Products, Inc.
Ilene Industries, Inc.
Plastomer Corporation
10 Years
Armacell, LLC
Insul-Fab
5 Years
AIF Inc.
FLEXcon Industrial LLC (formerly Arlon ECP)
Gasko & Rhopac Fabricated Products Co.
Gerber Technology-Virtek Vision International
K-Flex USA LLC
Marian, Inc.
PACE Converting Equipment Co., Inc.
PSC Industries, Inc.
Repuestos Auto-Industriales, SA de CV
Web Seal, Inc.
NewsletterThe Gasket Fabricator is published by the GFA and is
distributed to all members and prospective members.
President .............................................................Terry S. Galanis, Jr.
Vice President .................................................................Ken Stober
Secretary/Treasurer...........................................................Ken Eaton
Executive Director..............................................................Peter Lance
Administrative Director/Newsletter Editor...........Brian Schaaf
Communications Committee Chair..............................Gord Sirrs
Long Range Planning Committee Chair...................Steve Hanson
Membership Committee Chair....................................Ken Stober
Progam & Locations Committee Chair............................Bill Hibner
Technical Committee Chair...................................................Jim Ward
Members are encouraged to contribute articles and items of
interest to the Gasket Fabricator. All contributions should be
addressed to: Executive Director, GFA, 994 Old Eagle School
Road, Suite 1019, Wayne, PA 19087-1866, 610-971-4850,
Fax 610-971-4859, E-mail: [email protected].
Articles appearing in this publication may not be
reproduced without written consent from the Association.
Articles appearing in the Gasket Fabricator are the
views of the authors and not necessarily those of the
Association.
© Copyright 2013 Gasket Fabricators Association
-
August 2013Page 18
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Mar10(32/63)
Aug10(30/61)
Dec10(25/59)
Mar11(29/61)
Aug11(33/63)
Dec11(31/63)
Mar12(35/70)
Aug12(42/77)
Dec12(35/79)
Mar13(41/78)
Aug13(31/80)
UP DOWN SAME
0%
20%
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100%
Aug12 (42/77) Dec12 (35/79) Mar13 (41/78) Aug13 (31/80)
UP DOWN SAME
0%
20%
40%
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80%
100%
Mar10(32/63)
Aug10(30/61)
Dec10(25/59)
Mar11(33/63)
Aug11(33/63)
Dec11(31/63)
Mar12(35/70)
Aug12(42/77)
Dec12(35/79)
Mar13(41/78)
Aug13(31/80)
UP DOWN SAME
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Aug12 (42/77) Dec12 (35/79) Mar13 (41/78) Aug13 (31/80)
UP DOWN SAME
Below are the results from the Benchmarking Survey, which was completed to give GFA members a thumbnail sketch of how other members are fairing at this time. The following results were recorded from July 1 - 23, 2013.
We had 31 out of 80 Fabricators respond.
1. Were sales for the second quarter of 2013 UP, DOWN, or the SAME compared to the first quarter of 2013? UP DOWN SAME 23 (74%) 1 (3%) 7 (23%) 2. Were sales for the second quarter of 2013 UP, DOWN, or the SAME compared to the second quarter of 2012? UP DOWN SAME 20 (67%) 4 (13%) 6 (20%)
3. Is your projection for the third quarter of 2013 UP, DOWN, or the SAME compared to the second quarter of 2013? UP DOWN SAME 19 (61%) 3 (10%) 9 (29%)
4. Is your projection for the third quarter of 2013 UP, DOWN, or the SAME compared to the third quarter of 2012? UP DOWN SAME 25 (80%) 3 (10%) 3 (10%)
Benchmarking Report: Fabricators
-
August 2013Page 19
100%
40%
60%
80%
0%
20%
Mar10(25/66)
Aug10(27/70)
Dec10(28/68)
Mar11(26/68)
Aug11(29/66)
Dec11(29/66)
Mar12(39/69)
Aug12(45/69)
Dec12(40/71)
Mar13(45/73)
Aug13(33/73)
Mar10(25/66)
Aug10(27/70)
Dec10(28/68)
Mar11(26/68)
Aug11(29/66)
Dec11(29/66)
Mar12(39/69)
Aug12(45/69)
Dec12(40/71)
Mar13(45/73)
Aug13(33/73)
UP DOWN SAME
80%
40%
60%
0%
20%
Aug12 (45/69) Dec12 (40/71) Mar13 (45/73) Aug13 (33/73)Aug12 (45/69) Dec12 (40/71) Mar13 (45/73) Aug13 (33/73)
UP DOWN SAME
80%
40%
60%
0%
20%
Mar10(25/66)
Aug10(27/70)
Dec10(28/68)
Mar11(26/68)
Aug11(29/66)
Dec11(29/66)
Mar12(39/69)
Aug12(45/69)
Dec12(40/71)
Mar13(45/73)
Aug13(33/73)
Mar10(25/66)
Aug10(27/70)
Dec10(28/68)
Mar11(26/68)
Aug11(29/66)
Dec11(29/66)
Mar12(39/69)
Aug12(45/69)
Dec12(40/71)
Mar13(45/73)
Aug13(33/73)
UP DOWN SAME
80%
40%
60%
0%
20%
Aug12 (45/69) Dec12 (40/71) Mar13 (45/73) Aug13 (33/73)Aug12 (45/69) Dec12 (40/71) Mar13 (45/73) Aug13 (33/73)
UP DOWN SAME
Below are the results from the Benchmarking Survey, which was completed to give GFA members a thumbnail sketch of how other members are fairing at this time. The following results were recorded from July 1 - 23, 2013.
We had 33 out of 73 Suppliers respond.
1. Were sales for the second quarter of 2013 UP, DOWN, or the SAME compared to the first quarter of 2013? UP DOWN SAME 17 (52%) 7 (21%) 9 (27%) 2. Were sales for the second quarter of 2013 UP, DOWN, or the SAME compared to the second quarter of 2012? UP DOWN SAME 14 (43%) 7 (21%) 12 (36%)
3. Is your projection for the third quarter of 2013 UP, DOWN, or the SAME compared to the second quarter of 2013? UP DOWN SAME 15 (45%) 4 (12%) 14 (43%)
4. Is your projection for the third quarter of 2013 UP, DOWN, or the SAME compared to the third quarter of 2012? UP DOWN SAME 21 (64%) 5 (15%) 7 (21%)
Benchmarking Report: Suppliers
-
August 2013Page 20
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Meets GMW15473 Spec.
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