In 1933, 36 American and Canadian companies attended the inaugural meeting of the Mechanical Packing Association in New York. After changing its name to the Fluid Sealing Association (FSA) in 1970, the organization has grown to represent more than 85 percent of the manufacturing capacity for North America.
The FSA has six divisions with a specific product technology focus: Mechanical Seal, Gasket, Compression Packing, Piping Systems Non-Metallic Expansion Joint, Ducting Systems Non-Metallic Expansion Joint and the Heavy Industry Process Damper Division.
The initiatives of the Mechanical Seal Division include Sealing Systems Matter, which is based on an energy-driven total life cycle cost approach to sealing systems. The Life Cycle Cost Estimator software tool, part of Sealing Systems Matter, is a web-based tool for calculating and comparing pump seal life cycle costs. The software is available for download from the FSA's website (www.fluidsealing.com) or under the Seals topic on this site. Publications from the Mechanical Seal Division include the Mechanical Seal Handbook, which served as the basis for the Hydraulic Institute's publication and Mechanical Seals for Pumps: Application Guidelines. Joint FSA/European Sealing Association (ESA) publications from the Mechanical Seal Division include the Seal Forum, a series of case studies in pump seal performance.
Publications from the FSA's other divisions include the joint ESA/FSA Guidelines for Safe Seal Usage – Flanges and Gaskets and the popular pamphlet Gasket Installation Procedures from the Gasket Division, the new Compression Packing Technical Manual from the Compression Packing Division and the recently updated Non-Metallic Expansion Joints and Flexible Piping Connectors Technical Handbook from the Piping Division. The new Ducting Systems Non-Metallic Expansion Joints Technical Handbook, 4th edition, will be available soon. All these publications are available to purchase on the FSA's website. FSA standards are also available for free download.
The FSA collaborates with several other organizations to fulfill its mission. Since 1999, the FSA has collaborated with the ESA on several technical documents and recently completed a joint strategic planning session that calls for additional joint ventures. The FSA has also partnered with the Hydraulic Institute since 2007. The collaboration has included seminars, short course and joint work on publications. In 2011, it will also include a series of webinars on mechanical seals.
For more information, please contact the Fluid Sealing Association, 994 Old Eagle School Road, Suite 1019, Wayne, PA 19087, 610-971-4850.
FSA Member List
3M Dyneon
A.W. Chesterton Co.
Advanced Flexible Systems, Inc.
Advanced Sealing International (ASI)
Alpha Associates, Inc.
American Falcon, Inc.
Applied Technology Publications, Inc.
Ashbridge & Roseburgh, Inc.
Bachmann Dampjoint, Inc.
Daikin America, Inc.
Dinatecnica Ind. e Com.
Donit Tesnit d.d.
DuPont Performance Elastomers LLC
EagleBurgmann Mechanical Seals
Effox, Inc.
Empak Spirotallic Mexicana SA de CV
Flex-A-Seal, Inc.
Flowserve Flow Solutions Div. - Seal Group
Garlock Sealing Technologies
General Rubber Corp.
GrafTech International Holdings Inc.
H.C. Starck Ceramics GmbH & Co. KG
Hydro-Ergoseal, Inc.
Industrial Air Flow Dynamics - Expansion Div.
Industrias Vago de Mexico SA de CV
John Crane Mechanical Seals
KE-Burgmann A/S
Lamons Gasket Co.
Latty International S.A.
Lenzing Plastics GmbH
Lortz Manufacturing Company
McAllister Mills, Inc.
Meccom Industrial Products Co.
Mech-Well Industries Ltd.
Mercer Rubber Company
Metallized Carbon Corp.
Morgan AM&T
Nippon Pillar Corporation of America
Palmetto, Inc.
PAPCO Industries, Inc.
Proco Products, Inc.
Pumps & Systems Magazine
Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics
Scenic Precise Element Inc.
SEPCO - Sealing Equipment Products Co.
SGL Technic Polycarbon Division
Slade, Inc.
Solvay Solexis, Inc.
Teadit International
Textiles Coated International
The Flexitallic Group
The Metraflex Co.
Thermodyn Corp.
Thermoseal Inc.
Thorburn Flex, Inc.
Triangle Fluid Controls, Ltd.
Trostel Ltd.
Unaflex Incorporated
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
WahlcoMetroflex, Inc.
YMT/Inertech, Inc.
Pumps & Systems, April 2011
