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

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

August 2013Page 3

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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

info@gasketfab.com if you would like to join a committee.

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

info@ccttapes.com, 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

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

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

at mweiss@jbc-tech.com.

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

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)

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

August 2013Page 11

August 2013Page 12

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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

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”

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: info@gasketfab.com.

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%

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Mar10(32/63)

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Dec10(25/59)

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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

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Mar10(25/66)

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Dec10(28/68)

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Aug11(29/66)

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UP DOWN SAME

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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

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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)

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Dec12(40/71)

Mar13(45/73)

Aug13(33/73)

UP DOWN SAME

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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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