Blog
- July 14, 2025
How the raised surface profile of PTFE sheet gasket helped a midstream oil and gas processor address leaky pipes
Bolted flange-gasket connections in process piping systems are common and given little thought – unless they start to leak.
Chronic leakage proved to be an issue for one of Garlock's clients, a midstream oil and gas processor and services provider. The site processes, stores, and transports natural gas, liquefied natural gas and petroleum products. Garlock was brought in to
- July 10, 2025
What is a PTFE Rotary Lip Seal?
PTFE resin was discovered in 1938, but it wasn’t until the 1950s that it gained notice as a possible rotary lip seal material. However, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) seals fell out of favor in the 1950s and 1960s, as they were shown to be unreliable performers in a number of applications.
In more recent decades, there has been significant progress in the areas of PTFE lip seal design and material processing.
- July 10, 2025
Vesconite Throttle Bushings Extend Pump Seal Life
An Australian company that supplies a comprehensive selection of mechanical seals as well as engineered sealing solutions to various Australian industries has found that a Vesconite throttle bushing can extend the life of seals.
A typical single-stage pump includes a throttle bushing that is located below the sealing mechanism.
The throttle bushing supports the shaft as well as being a close-clearance bushing and creating a stuffing
- July 03, 2025
Gallagher Fluid Seals Expands Machining Capabilities to Better Serve a Growing Market
At Gallagher Fluid Seals, we’ve built our reputation over the past 70 years by engineering high-performance sealing solutions that meet the evolving demands of today’s industrial markets. From servicing top-tier OEMs and MROs to supporting distributors across the U.S. and Europe, our mission has remained constant: deliver quality seals, on time, and at a competitive price.
- July 01, 2025
What is a Spring Energized PTFE Seal?
Spring energized PTFE seals perform reliably in a variety of applications where conventional elastomeric seals may fail.
PTFE
- June 26, 2025
Behind the Seal: Key Factors That Drive Selection and Performance
Seals might not grab headlines, but they’re indispensable to the smooth operation of industrial systems. These unsung components are quietly at work inside countless machines and processes, making everyday functions more reliable—and often even possible.
Despite their modest appearance, seals, gaskets, and O-rings are incredibly specialized. Selecting the wrong type can lead to early failure, system contamination, or costly
- June 25, 2025
FlangeGuards is the Leading Manufacturer and Supplier of Pipe Safety Shields
Pipe safety shields, also known as flange guards or "flange diapers," are used in a variety of industries. Their primary application is the prevention of harmful spray-outs and mist formation from failing pipe joints. Oftentimes, these mists are composed of toxic, corrosive, and dangerous liquids such as acid, oil or steam.
- June 20, 2025
Choosing the Right Seal for Your Industrial Application
In the world of industrial engineering and manufacturing, seals might not get the spotlight—but they do the heavy lifting when it comes to performance, reliability, and safety. With countless seal types and material options on the market, selecting the right one for your project can feel overwhelming.
So how do you know which sealing solution is best for your application?
- June 17, 2025
An important measure of hose flexibility is the Minimum Bend Radius (MBR). While most everyone understands that this is the smallest radius to which a hose can be bent, the method of measuring this radius is often misunderstood. Additionally, while most hose constructions list a single MBR, corrugated metal hose lists two: a static and a dynamic MBR. Let’s take a minute to review the differences between static and dynamic MBR’s and when they should (or should not) be used.
- June 12, 2025
If you want to drastically improve the efficiency of your pump and reduce maintenance, the first thing to do is change your approach to maintaining your pump. Focus not just on the specialized equipment your plant uses, but focus on valves, pipes, and other crucial operational equipment.
Did you know that the most common source of wasted energy in pumping systems has to do with seals that weren’t properly sized for their applications? This causes throttling of the pump’s flow, and reduces efficiency.
