Gallagher Fluid Seals Celebrates Its 60th Anniversary!

Gallagher Fluid Seals began life in a small house in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania on Jan. 16, 1956. Back then, the business was known as The Walter B. Gallagher Company,  a mechanical packings, gaskets, and seals distributor that generated $48,000 in sales in its first year.

Gallagher found an initial stronghold supporting the maintenance and repair needs of large manufacturing firms in the Philadelphia area.  Accounts like Philadelphia Electric, and Rohm & Haas supported the company as it began to grow and find its footing. In order to handle the rapidly increasing business, the company moved to larger quarters in Conshohocken, PA in August of 1959.

The company was incorporated in July of 1961. With 20 employees, in June of 1973, the company surpassed its first $1,000,000 in sales.  The company’s original product lines were Belmont Packing and Rubber Company, U.S. Gasket Company, and Precision Rubber Products, an organization that Gallagher is proud to still be partnered with today under the Parker Hannifin umbrella.

Growth and Diversification

By 1975 Walter Gallagher’s sons Walter Jr., Joseph, and Brian had joined the business.  What had begun as a company focused on maintenance and repair was now focused almost entirely on OEM accounts and solutions.  When Precision Rubber Products Corp decided to close its Kenilworth, NJ office, Gallagher was successful in acquiring the facility.  In 1976 the company moved into a newly constructed 20,000 square foot warehouse and office facility.

In 1983 Joseph Gallagher was elected president and CEO.  Walter B. Gallagher Sr. continued as chairman of the board and CEO.  The following year Gallagher acquired Kim Gasket & Seal of Windham, New Hampshire; these operations were relocated to Lowell, Massachusetts.  By this time the company had expanded its sales reach across the entire Eastern seaboard.  In 1995 Gallagher acquired the sealing division of Beemer Precision, Inc. of Fort Washington, PA.  This was a critical moment in the history of Gallagher, and many current top customers today came from that acquisition.

Over the following years Gallagher continued to grow organically and establish itself as one of the largest and most technically proficient sealing experts in the United States.  A strategy of strong suppliers, Engineering expertise backed by a streamlined logistics program and fierce customer service is why Gallagher continues to retain its loyal customer base developed during its adolescent years.  Changes in the global marketplace and technological disruption have changed the way Gallagher operates, but not its core mission or value.

The Future is Now

In June of 2014 Gallagher acquired Johnson Packings, of East Longmeadow, MA.  Tracing its roots back over 75 years, Johnson Packings was one of the largest seal distributors in New England, and its 28 employees were the largest acquisition in the history of Gallagher Fluid Seals. It has elevated the organization to one of the largest sealing distributors in the United States.  The gasket fabrication operation, and a strong focus on maintenance and repair operations has diversified the Gallagher organization within the OEM & MRO markets.  As of January 1st, 2016 Johnson Packings has been formally integrated into the Gallagher organization and its brand.

Continuing the Gallagher family legacy was one of Walter Gallagher's founding goals.  The third generation of Gallaghers are entrenched in the business.  Christopher Gallagher, son of Brian and grandson of Walter, is the company’s current chief operating officer and future CEO.  His brother Kerry is also involved in the business.

On January 16th, 2016 Gallagher marked its 60th year in business.  We would not have made it this far without our customers. Period.  We thank you for your business in the past, present, and future.  Here’s to our continued growth together, and to another 60 years!