NEWS
In addition to exceptional adhesion, the
product’s colour retention and ability to endure
long-term weathering eliminate costly call backs
for repairs and ensure the application lasts and
looks good for a long time.
‘MasterSeal NP 100 sealant is the latest prod-
uct innovation in a premier line of sealant tech-
nology from BASF. It is the most versatile in
the industry, with strong, primerless adhesion
to the broadest range of substrates, commented
Jason Pitcole, Regional Business Segment
Manager, Sealants and Waterproofing, BASF.
‘This enables contractors to use one sealant
for their entire project without the need to
switch between sealants or remember which
substrates require a primer application.’
MasterSeal NP 100 will be available in 13
colours to match the most common shades of
building materials.
Contacts:
BASF Corp, 100 Park Avenue, Florham Park,
NJ 07932, USA. Tel: +1 973 245 6000,
Web: www.master-builders-solutions.basf.us
BASF Se, Carl-Bosch-Strasse 38, 67056 Ludwigshafen,
Germany. Tel: +49 621 60 0, www.basf.com
Fugitive emission
monitoring system
detects valve
packing leakage
G ermany’s Foxboro Eckardt GmbH
has developed a fugitive emission
monitoring system. Designed to be
applied to existing bellows seal valves,
without additional cabling, it reduces
exposure of personnel to potentially
deadly chemicals.
A metallic bellows seal is used to maintain
constant maximum tightness of the valve over
time. However, these seals have a tendency
– after a certain number of cycles – to crack,
which can cause brutal rupture, says the firm. It
happens with no warning and the consequences
can be extremely damaging.
The system developed by Foxboro Eckardt is
based on a valve positioner and a pressure switch
gauge – measuring the pressure directly in the
bonnet. As soon as the pressure in the bonnet
increases, because the bellows has failed, the gauge
switches a binary input in the positioner to indi-
cate an alarm. The positioner sends an alert to the
control room and, if configured, can automati-
cally drive the valve to a fail-safe position.
The positioner, available as an intrinsically
safe version – the SRD991 – and certified as
March 2014
flameproof or explosion proof – the SRD960 –
is capable of detecting any damaging leakage.
Contact:
Foxboro Eckardt GmbH, Pragstrasse 82, D-70376
Stuttgart, Germany. Tel: +49 711 5020,
Fax: +49 711 502597,
Web: www.foxboro-eckardt.com/en-gb
Victrex PEEK exceeds
NORSOK M-710
qualification
I n response to standardisation
requirements of the oil and gas
industry, Victrex Polymer Solutions has
evaluated the compliance of Victrex
polyetheretherketone (PEEK) with the
NORSOK M-710 standard for sour gas
(H2S) ageing.
The company contracted the UK’s Materials
Engineering Research Laboratory Ltd (MERL)
– part of Element Materials Technology Hitchin
Ltd – to evaluate the compliance of the material
for sour ageing at 10 MPa (1450 psi) and test
temperatures of 175°C (347°F), 195°C (383°F)
and 210°C (410°F) for up to five weeks.
The firm says that the results showed no
measurable chemical deterioration for Victrex
PEEK 450G in this time period of testing. This
lack of any change, a testament to the H2S
resistance of the material, exceeded the standard
requirements of NORSOK qualification and
prohibited any extrapolation or interpolation of
results for predictive modelling.
Recognising that the data generated may not
go far enough to offer the level of confidence in
performance that is required, Victrex has under-
taken further testing to understand and model
how its PEEK polymers will perform in even the
most demanding oil and gas environments.
To date, Victrex PEEK polymer has been
tested in three-phase sour environments, where
the gas phase is 100% H2S, corresponding to
more than 1% at 207 MPa (30 000 psi) and
at temperatures of 220°C (428°F). Even under
such unforgiving conditions – some 15 times the
concentration to be tested in the new draft of
NORSOK M-710 revision 3 – the mechanical
properties of Victrex PEEK 450G are retained in
the aqueous and hydrocarbon phases.
This work is the beginning of additional
fluid analysis testing that is being done in
response to direct requests by industry material
specifiers and end-users to ensure operations are
safe and efficient for long service life.
Jim Goodson, Senior Technical Advisor, Baker
Hughes Completions and Productions, com-
mented: ‘Victrex provides the industry with an
BOB’S BIT
I trust that you all are now enjoying
rather more equable weather than
most have experienced over the last
two to three months.
As I write, we have a very public and
unfortunately tragic example that technology
is fallible. Currently not only is it unknown
why the Malaysian 777 was lost, but even
the location appears very uncertain. With all
the modern technology on board modern
aircraft I have heard mentioned several times
that there should at least be some idea of the
location. Our thoughts must be with all those
waiting for news.
In our high technology world so much is
taken for granted, and small disturbances can
bring whole businesses to a grinding halt, as
we have witnessed on a few recent occasions
in the UK with customers unable to access
bank accounts.
Our recent bad weather highlighted the
reliance on electrical power, and how very
little can function without it. Not so many
years ago I would have hand written this
column and given it to a typist who would
have passed it on to a printer. Only the print-
ing would have required power. Now, as I
compose it on my computer, ready to send to
Simon via Email, nothing at all would func-
tion if we lose power. This makes our feature
this month very topical.
With news bulletins showing pictures
of the frantic building of barriers around
electrical installations we have been
reminded that protection of electrical
supplies is a critical and ongoing require-
ment. The high voltages involved in the
supply network also mean that a high
degree of sealing is required as in addition to
water the presence of dust may also
cause arcing to occur.
Elsewhere this month we have our usual
interesting selection of new products and
corporate movements. However, one item
has particularly attracted my interest – the
enforcement of patent rights over a seal
chamber design – and see the claims that
this chamber will permit reliable operation
without flush to the mechanical seal. Having
been involved in a lot of work to investigate
seal chamber design it is quite rewarding to
see that such ideas are now considered to be
valuable and worth protecting. It can take a
long time for ideas to actually get as far as
industrial practice.
Bob Flitney
3
Sealing Technology
 NEWS
excellent service with quality data both through
the standardised testing practices and its own
extended product analysis efforts. When mate-
rial manufacturers or intermediate processors use
those same standards and techniques to produce
data on their own materials, we have more confi-
dence that the data produced are consistent and
accurate, saving us time and effort in evaluation of
those materials.’
To further demonstrate the outstanding per-
formance of PEEK polymers and benefits to
customers in the energy sector, Victrex Technical
Manager Geoff Small is leading a team to test
and predictively model Victrex PEEK polymers
in even more aggressive environments.
The advanced testing, involving higher H2S
concentrations and additional oil and gas flu-
ids, is highlighted in a whitepaper that can be
downloaded from the ‘victrexenergy’ Web-site
at the address given below.
Contacts:
Victrex Plc, Victrex Technology Centre, Hillhouse
International, Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire FY5 4QD,
UK. Tel: +44 1253 897700, Fax: +44 1253 897701,
Web: www.victrex.com, Web: www.victrexenergy.com
Victrex USA Inc, 300 Conshohocken State Road,
Suite 120, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, USA.
Tel: +1 484 342 6001, Fax: +1 484 342 6002
Element Materials Technology Hitchin Ltd, Wilbury Way,
Hitchin SG4 0TW, UK. Tel: +44 1462 427 850,
Email: info.hitchin@element.com,
Web: www.merl-ltd.co.uk, Web: www.element.com
Company News
Systems Integrators
acquires gasket
manufacturer
CGS Technologies
I n the USA, Generational Equity, a
mergers and acquisitions advisor for
privately-held, middle-market businesses,
has announced that its client gasket man-
ufacturer CGS Technologies Inc (CGS) has
been acquired by Systems Integrators Llc.
Founded 29 years ago, CGS Technologies
focuses on various gasket production method-
ologies and vacuum outgassing services. It pro-
vides products for all applications dealing with
liquids, gasses, shock and vibration. Certified
to ISO 9001:2000/AS9100 standards the
company fabricates custom designed “die-cut”
4
Sealing Technology
components and makes parts mainly from non-
metallic materials.
Stephen Crisham and Mike Meredith,
Managing Director, Mergers & Acquisitions,
and Assistant Vice President, respectively,
Generational Equity, along with their affiliate
Jerry Glover, led the team that advised CGS on
the transaction.
‘The seller and buyer worked together as a
team to get this deal closed in a very short time
frame,’ said Glover.
Systems Integrators was established in 1995
as an engineering and manufacturing operation.
It provides high-quality contract manufactur-
ing services, compliant with ISO-AS9100 (B)
& ISO-9001:2008, from its Arizona facility –
serving a global customer-base.
Contacts:
CGS Technologies, 1801 West Parkside Lane, Phoenix,
AZ 85027, USA. Tel: +1 623 869 0600,
Fax: +1 623 582 4813, Web: www.cgstech.com
Systems Integrators Llc, 23630 N. 35 Dr, Glendale,
AZ 85310, USA. Tel: +1 623 434 3136,
Fax: +1 623 434 3204, Web: www.syintegrators.com
Generational Equity, 14241 Dallas Parkway, Suite 700,
Dallas, TX 75254, USA. Tel: +1 972 232 1100,
Fax: +1 972 232 1193, Web: www.genequityco.com
Lamons awarded
contract by
BP North America
L amons has been awarded a frame-
work agreement by BP North America
– recognising the firm as a preferred
partner and supplier of gaskets and stud
bolts to all US downstream refining,
chemical and USPL midstream operations.
Lamons says this agreement enables it to contin-
ue a valuable and strategic partnership with BP and
extend an already mutually beneficial relationship.
The firm was selected as a manufacturing and
supply partner in part because of its local manu-
facturing and stocking locations, which operate
in close proximity to BP’s assets. This local man-
ufacturing base enables commodity and special-
ity gaskets and fasteners to be delivered quickly.
Lamons says that it also provides BP with a
“Best Cost Country Sourcing” opportunity by
having commodity gasket production capabili-
ties in other countries.
‘BP maintains an extensive and progressive
quality demand on its supply base, and these
demands have helped shape Lamons into the
organisation it is today,’ said Kris Kolb, Vice
President, Sales and Marketing, Lamons.
‘Lamons is extremely pleased that BP has
chosen to extend this relationship and enable our
two organisations to develop further together.’
Contacts:
Lamons, 7300 Airport Boulevard, Houston, TX 77061,
USA. Tel: +1 713 222 0284, Fax: +1 713 547 9502,
Web: www.lamons.com
Bp Corp North America Inc, 501 Westlake Park
Boulevard, Houston, TX 77079, USA.
Tel: +1 281 366 2000, http://www.bp.com
ITT successfully
enforces patent rights
I n the USA, ITT Corp’s subsidiary Goulds
Pumps Inc of Seneca Falls, New York,
has settled a patent dispute with Summit
Pump Inc of Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Pursuant to the settlement agreement,
Summit Pump and ITT resolved a patent
infringement dispute relating to Goulds Pumps’
TaperBore Plus vaned seal chamber patent and
i-Frame bearing frame patent.
With the consummation of this settlement
agreement, the company has agreed to pay undis-
closed compensation to ITT, all patent infringe-
ment litigation against Summit Pump will be ter-
minated, and ITT’s Goulds Pumps business will
remain the sole supplier of the patented i-Frame.
‘We are pleased with this outcome, and our
actions demonstrate that we are fully committed
to take any and all actions necessary to protect one
of ITT’s most valuable assets – our innovations,’
said the president of ITT’s industrial process busi-
ness and Goulds Pumps, Robert Pagano Jr.
Contacts:
ITT Goulds Pumps, 240 Fall Street, Seneca Falls,
NY 13148, USA. Tel: +1 315 568 2811,
Fax: +1 315 568 2418, Web: www.gouldspumps.com
Summit Pump Inc, PO Box 12145, Green Bay,
WI 54307, USA. Tel: +1 920 869 4800,
Fax: +1 920 869 4700, Web: www.summitpump.com
Acquisition strengthens
Federal-Mogul’s
position in Russia
U S-based Federal-Mogul Corp reports
that its foreign subsidiary Federal-
Mogul Investments Bv has entered into
a definitive agreement to purchase DZV
Bearings Co, a privately owned business
located in Dimitrovgrad, Russia.
March 2014