Blog
- November 20, 2025
Fluid Power Seals for Pneumatic Cylinder Systems
Fluid power seals used in pneumatic cylinder systems represent some of the most overlooked, yet vital components in its construction and operation. Without these rubber seals – or if using inferior seals – the friction and leakage created by the process of using a pneumatic cylinder application could cause the equipment to catastrophically fail, risking severe damage and injury, and requiring great cost to repair or replace.
Gallagher Fluid Seals' partner, Precision Associates, has innovated to create our own unique and patented compounds for rubber pneumatic piston seals—suitable for all sorts of pneumatic applications. These U-Cups are designed to function with vastly lower breakaway and operating friction than any similar product in the marketplace.
What Are Pneumatic Cylinder Systems?
Utilizing compressed gas as a power source, mechanical pneumatic cylinders produce a reciprocating linear motion force. Like hydraulic cylinders, this force drives a piston in the required direction and the piston is usually a disc or cylinder. The corresponding rod transfers the force it creates to the object requiring movement. Engineers often choose pneumatic cylinders over other methods due to pneumatics being quieter, producing less waste, and requiring significantly less amounts of space for fluid storage.
Pneumatic cylinders can vary in configuration, but generally fit into one of three specific categories:
- November 18, 2025
Process Stability: Extrusion Line Vulcanizing With Molten Salt
The core of the 36-meter extrusion line is a 19-meter salt bath. At the start of the production line, two mobile extruders run on specially installed rails as needed. This allows for a quick conversion of the production environment – from delicate millimeter-scale geometries to large-format sealing cross-sections. The extruded profile is vulcanized
- November 14, 2025
Canned Lip Seals vs. Spring-Energized Seals: Choosing the Right Sealing Solution
In demanding industrial environments, selecting the right seal design can determine whether equipment operates efficiently or fails prematurely. Among the many sealing options available, canned lip seals and spring-energized seals are two high-performance designs frequently used in
- November 11, 2025
Understanding Secondary Sealing Elements in Mechanical Seals
- November 06, 2025
Vesconite Bearings confirms PFAS-free status of long-standing standard material
Vesconite Bearings is pleased to confirm that its long-established Standard Vesconite bearing material is completely free of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and has been since its development in 1969.
This includes the absence of PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), a commonly used fluoropolymer that is now increasingly targeted under international environmental legislation due to its persistence in the - November 04, 2025
Gallagher’s Conroe, TX Facility Achieves ISO 9001:2015 Certification
We’re proud to announce that Gallagher’s Conroe, Texas facility is now officially ISO 9001:2015 certified! This week, we received the updated certification adding Conroe under the Gallagher ISO 9001 Quality Management System, further demonstrating our ongoing commitment to quality, consistency, and continuous improvement across all operations.
- October 30, 2025
Holiday Notice: Year-End Shutdown at Gallagher Fluid Seals
Gallagher Fluid Seals will observe a company-wide shutdown from Wednesday, December 24, 2025, through Friday, January 2, 2026.
During this time, no orders will be shipped. Any orders placed during the shutdown will
- October 27, 2025
White Paper Available!
Check out our Resources Page for dozens of free downloadable content, including Perfluoroelastomers for the Semiconductor Industry, written by Russ Schnell. Below is an excerpt from the white paper discussing thermal process manufacturing. Learn more and download this white paper by following the link below.
The term “thermal process” covers a fairly wide range of applications. Per the name, these application temperatures are generally higher than plasma processes, ranging up to 300°C. This general term can cover processes including: Sub Atmospheric Chemical Vapor Deposition (SACVD), Metal CVD, Low Pressure CVD (LPCVD), Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP), and Oxidation or Diffusion furnaces. In these applications the wafers and the equipment that surrounds them, are heated to extremely high temperatures. In the case of thermal deposition, the high temperatures aid in the uniformity of the coating thickness.
Rapid Thermal Processing is used to very rapidly heat a wafer up to temperatures of 1000°C or greater for short periods of time. “Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP) can be used to reduce the thermal redistribution of impurities at high temperature…. RTP was originally developed for ion implant anneal, but has broadened its application to oxide growth, chemical vapor deposition, and silicidation.” For oxidation or diffusion furnaces, the applications are different, but still involve high temperatures. For oxidation applications, the procedure involves formation of a thin oxide film on the wafer surface. For diffusion applications, the furnace may assist in silicon dioxide formation on the wafer surface or it may be used to diffuse dopants in the wafer. For these applications, temperatures may range up to 1200°C.
- October 23, 2025
Designing the Perfect Rotary Shaft Seal
When it comes to maintaining a high-functioning rotary shaft, you need to select the appropriate lip seal.
The shaft seal protects the rotary shaft from contaminants such as dust and dirt, and it keeps water out and lubricant in.
A rotary seal, also known as a radial shaft seal, typically sits between a rotary shaft and a fixed housing — such as a cylinder wall — to stop fluid leaking along the shaft. The rotary seal’s outside surface is fixed to the housing, while the seal’s inner lip presses against the rotating shaft.
Common applications for shaft seals include motors, gear boxes, pumps and axles. They’re also increasingly used for food and chemical processing, as well in pressurized gas applications.
Three of the most important considerations when the choosing the best lip seal for a rotary shaft are:
- The material the seal is made of,
- the hardness of the shaft’s surface, and
- the roughness of the shaft’s surface.
Did you know that Gallagher Fluid Seals manufactures Rotary Seals in-house?
At Gallagher Fluid Seals, we’ve invested in state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies and processes to produce high-performance rotary seals tailored to our customers’ exact specifications. Whether you need a standard rotary seal or a fully customized solution, our engineering and production teams work closely to deliver seals that meet and exceed industry standards. Learn more about our Rotary Seal manufacturing capabilities here.
Here’s your quick go-to guide on how to achieve optimum performance and longevity for your seals and shafts, ultimately minimizing the risk of seal failure.
- October 20, 2025
Understanding Linear Motor Technology and Parker’s Innovative Solutions
Understanding Linear Motor Technology and Parker’s Innovative Solutions
In today’s fast-paced manufacturing and automation landscape, precision, speed,
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