In the late 1990s, a large tanker sustained hull and machinery damage after running aground near the entrance to a South American port channel. Following the recovery of the vessel and the removal of remaining cargo, it was taken to a nearby yard for extensive repairs.
As is common in salvage and repair operations of this nature, the ship’s stern tube and rudder assemblies were subject to
Measuring an O-Ring is quite simple when you have the right tools at your disposal. All that is required is a clean, level surface; an o-ring; and a measuring device such as a caliper or other measuring tools such as cones, gauges, and size charts.
To measure an O-Ring, following the directions below:
When it comes to crankshaft sealing, performance and reliability are non‑negotiable. A failed crankshaft seal can lead to oil leaks, contamination, downtime, and costly repairs, especially in demanding industrial and heavy‑duty applications.
For years, the Fel‑Pro 2912 and 2918 crankshaft seals have been the commonly used option. However, advancements in materials,
Medical ventilators are mechanical devices that essentially breathe for a patient with damaged lungs. They force air into the lungs and draw it out, augmenting or even replacing the natural functions provided by the movement of the diaphragm and the inflation/deflation of the lungs themselves. These devices can supply room air, pure oxygen, or nearly any ratio of the two to the patient, depending on health needs.
First, seals within the device must be compatible with air and pure oxygen. They should not harden or crack, nor should they contain a significant amount of volatile matter that can evaporate out of the seal where it could be inhaled by the patient or potentially catch fire in a concentrated oxygen environment. Further, it should be assumed that any air that contacts the seals will likely end up in the patient’s lungs. As a result, it's strongly recommended using seal materials that have passed USP <87> Class VI testing for any seals used in a medical ventilator.
Parker O-Ring & Engineered Seals Division has already helped several customers ramp up production of critical medical equipment with supplying the right materials and O-rings for the application.
These application requirements limit the recommended compounds to only a small handful.
On January 16, 2026, Gallagher Fluid Seals proudly marks 70 years in business—a milestone made possible by generations of leadership, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to our customers.
Watch the video below to hear directly from our leadership and learn more about the 70- year journey of Gallagher Fluid Seals.
The seals and the hydraulic systems of any piece of mining, construction, agricultural or other heavy industry equipment operate under extreme conditions. Variable temperatures, aggressive hydraulic oils, dust and extended periods of operation place seals and their tribological systems under continuous duress. A new generation of material, 94 AU 30000, expands the boundaries for polyurethane use. This innovative compound can be used in standard cylinder applications where higher pressures, larger extrusion gaps, reduced internal friction, improved hydrolysis resistance and compatibility with bio fluids, among other factors, are important. DMRW2 hydraulic wipers made from 94 AU 30000 and sheet metal and the availability of this polyurethane as part of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies’ Xpress rapid replacement part service are applications discussed in the following article.
Today’s extreme environmental climates place extreme demands on the material and structure of the hydraulic seals used to maintain the performance and operation of heavy-duty equipment. The excavators, tractors, backhoes and tunnel boring machines that grind through the earth every day must work harder, longer, cleaner and more cost efficiently than ever to feed the plant, build its infrastructure and harvest its natural resources.
Sealing requirements for these machines must now include high values for tensile strength and elongation at break, resistance to oils and ozone, high elasticity and abrasion resistance. Polyurethane materials (PU) have traditionally met these industrial requirements. In comparison with elastomers, PU has a four times greater capacity for mechanical resistance, as well as outstanding resistance to ozone. At the same time, it stands up well to the stresses of mineral-based fluids.
