President’s MessageKen Stober

In This Issue

Gasketing/Converting Expo ‘14Page 1

President’s MessagePages 1 & 3

Future Meeting SchedulePage 4

Membership AnniversariesPage 4

New Association MembersPage 4

Company Profi lesPages 4, 6 & 7

Press Releases Pages 7 & 8

New GFA Director and Offi cersPage 10

2014 Fall Meeting - 35th AnniversaryPage 11

Gasketing/Converting Expo ‘14 PhotosPages 12 & 13

What’s Going On In The GFA?Pages 15, 16 & 18

Fugitive Gases and LiquidsPage 19

Benchmarking Report Pages 22 & 23

Volume 33 Number 2 August 2014

Cost for not attending the Gasketing/Converting Expo ’14:

• $241,500 for Regular Members

• $160,576 for Exhibitor Companies

An interesting question occurred to me after the recent

GFA Expo. The $241,500 question was, “I wonder what the

lost opportunity cost was for those companies that did not

attend the Expo in March?” In the spirit of Billy Riggs, I can

assure you that the following estimate is based 100% on my

observations and opinions with a heavy dose of theoretical calculations.

Follow my “logic” here. There were 252 attendees (non-exhibitor company attendees) at the

Expo event. Let’s say that each person who visited the 104 booths was able to pick up one

Continued on page 3

Gasketing/Converting Expo ‘14 - The Best Yet!

The Gasketing/Converting Expo ‘14,

presented by the Gasket Fabricators

Association (GFA) and held at the Hilton

Orlando, was the 5th Expo, and it was the

largest yet, drawing close to 600 attendees

and over 100 exhibitors to a trade show

devoted exclusively to the gasketing and

converting industries. The event was co-sponsored by the Fluid Sealing Association (FSA),

the International Association of Diecutting and Diemaking (IADD), and the International

Sealing Distribution Association (ISD).

The program featured a full-day Expo with a cost-eff ective table top display format, which

allowed a broad range of exhibitors to have unprecedented exposure to gasket fabricators

and converters without having to arrange for elaborate displays and logistics. A well-

received addition to the program was a series of technical and industry breakout sessions

on topics including adhesives, key performance indicators, gasket materials, equipment,

and social media. The overall feedback on the Expo has been extremely positive from

both attendees and exhibitors alike. Several attendees commented that it was “the most

valuable industry event they ever attended.” The next Gasketing/Converting Expo is already

being planned for the spring of 2016. If you have not yet attended a Gasketing/Converting

Expo, or if you are not currently a GFA Member, please email your contact information to

expo@gasketfab.com to receive information on the Gasketing/Converting Expo ‘16.

August 2014Page 2

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August 2014Page 3

President’s Message(Continued from Page 1)

idea that would lead to $5,000 of new business. If those 252

attendees multiplied by $5,000 were split evenly between

the 104 exhibitors, that would equal $12,115 per exhibitor.

In addition, it is estimated that there were over 100 new

products introduced to the Die Cutting industry at these

booths. The calculated value of being on the ground fl oor for

the introduction of these materials and getting a jump on

the rest of the converting world is another $10,000. Running

total so far is $15,000 per attendee and let’s say that half the

exhibitors had new products, so that is an additional $48,461

per exhibitor who introduced a new product. The total for

the exhibitors is up to $60,576. But wait, there is more.

There were 5 breakout sessions on the following topics: 1)

Social Media – Is it Right For Your Company?; 2) Pressure-

Sensitive Adhesives; 3) Developing KPI’s that Fit Your

Business and Using Them to Drive Your Key Objectives; 4)

Innovative Gasket Materials; and 5) Automated Cutting

of Gaskets. If you attended just one of these sessions

and learned one new idea that either helped make your

company more profi table and effi cient or led to a new

sales opportunity, the conservative estimated value of this

knowledge is $20,000 per attendee. The tally is now up to

$35,000 per attendee, and $80,576 per exhibitor. But wait,

there is more.

There were cocktail receptions, continental breakfasts,

lunches, dinners, networking by the pool, golf, and a Disney

tour. All of these were great opportunities to meet new

people in our industry, talk to that supplier or customer

that you just hadn’t been able to connect with, get an

introduction from a mutual connection, and catch up with

someone who you haven’t seen in a while. Who knows,

one of these conversations could be the connection to that

sale that you have been trying to make happen. Let’s add

another $30,000 to the ledger. The subtotal is now $65,000

per attendee and $110,576 per exhibitor. But wait, there is

more.

We all got to see the amazing, the insightful, and the

thoroughly entertaining Billy Riggs. Maybe one of his ideas

such as how customers are 97% likely to buy from you again

if you have a problem and it is quickly and properly resolved,

compared to the 75% who are likely to buy from you again

after being satisfi ed with your product and not experiencing

any problems. Or maybe it was the benefi t of having a

proactive approach, a redemptive heart, and an optimistic

outlook. These can be life changing both from a personal

and business perspective. That is a hard one to put a value

on but of course that will not stop me from trying. How

about $50,000? The totals are now $115,000 per attendee

and $160,576 per exhibitor. But wait, there is more.

The average regular member had 2.1 people attend per

company so we can take the $115,000 per attendee and

multiply by 2.1. The grand total for the regular member

companies that attended the GFA Expo is $241,500 per

company.

Now, I know there may be some doubters out there who

would argue that my estimates are high, but I also know that

there are attendees and exhibitors that attended the Expo

that will tell you that, for them, my numbers are too low.

That being said, for me the dollars are not the real value that

the GFA provides. The real value is the many connections

and lifelong friendships that I have made over the years, and

one cannot put a price tag on those.

I hope everyone got everything they hoped for and more

from attending the Expo. I look forward to serving as your

President for the next two years. Terry has set the bar high

for those of us who follow.

Don’t spend all that money you made at the Expo in one

place.

Fall 2014 Semi-Annual Meeting

September 30 - October 2, 2014

Portola Hotel & Spa

Monterey, CA

Spring 2015 Semi-Annual Meeting

March 17 - 19, 2015

Fairmont Southampton

Bermuda

Fall 2015 Semi-Annual Meeting

September 29 - October 1, 2015

Hyatt Regency San Antonio

San Antonio, TX

Spring 2015 Semi-Annua

- 19, 2015

ampto

Fall 2015 Semi-Annual M

September 29 - Octo

Hyatt

S

August 2014Page 4

GFA Future Meeting Schedule

Company Profi les

Founded in 2003, Cima NanoTech is a smart materials

company delivering high performance, next-generation,

transparent conductors. The company developed

the proprietary SANTE® self-assembling nanoparticle

technology, a conductive coating that forms a random

mesh-like network when coated on a substrate, enabling

Continued on page 6

FabricatorsAll Seals, Inc.

www.allsealsinc.com

CGS Technologies

www.cgstech.com

All Products Mfg. & Supply, Inc.

www.apgasket.com

SuppliersBaumer of America Inc.

www.baeumer.com

Goodyear Rubber

www.goodyearrubber.com

Green Textile Associates, Inc.

www.greentextile.com

Highland

www.highlandindustries.com

OPFLEX Environmental Technologies

www.opfl ex.com

RotoMetrics

www.rotometrics.com

Scapa North America

www.scapa.com

SDM Die-Cutting Equipment, Inc.

www.sdmdiecuttingequipment.com

New Association Members

Membership Anniversaries

In 2014, the following companies are celebrating their

anniversaries as members of the GFA. We would like to

thank them for their ongoing support.

20 Years

Wagner Die Supply

10 Years

Monmouth Rubber & Plastics Corp.

PGC

Pres-On Tape & Gasket Corp.

Relco, Inc.

Target Marketing, Inc.

5 Years

Associated Pacifi c Machine Corp.

Convert Solutions

DayStrong Rubber Products LLC

United Seal and Rubber Co., Inc.

August 2014Page 5

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Providing Solutions in Pressure-Sensitive Films and Adhesives

August 2014Page 6

Founded in 1938, Green Textile has been producing custom

knit fabrics in the United States for over 75 years. With

headquarters in Spartanburg, SC, Green Textile provides

both circular knit and warp knit fabrics to the automotive,

aerospace, medical, industrial, military, home textile, and

apparel markets.

Working with both synthetic and natural fi bers, Green Textile

has the ability to produce a wide range of fabrics, from

lightweight scrim to heavyweight fl eece. Our production

capabilities include sueding, napping, sheering, tubular

fabrics, and wide-width fabrics. We also provide the benefi t

of dyeing custom colors and applying special fi nishes, such

as wicking, anti-microbial, and durable water repellent.

Green Textile also boasts a complete in-house physical

testing laboratory. Our equipment allows us to test fabric to

a wide range of AATCC and ASTM standards and protocols.

With a commitment to quality, we test every lot of fabric we

produce to a variety of client-specifi c test requirements.

For more information about Green Textile, and how we

can help you with your fabric needs, please contact us at

864-595-9900, or visit us at www.greentextile.com.

OPFLEX Technologies, LLC dba OPFLEX Environmental

Technologies is an Indiana Limited Liability Company

headquartered in Indianapolis, IN. We formally commenced

business at the St. Johnsville, NY facility on October 1, 2013.

Opfl ex Environmental Technologies manufactures cross-

linked polyolefi n and elastomeric foams in both closed cell

and open cell.

Our closed celled foams are characterized by a fi ne cell

structure exhibiting excellent fl exibility and water resistance.

These foams are easily fabricated, die cut, and heat molded,

and are used in automotive, construction, car wash,

athletics, packaging, and recreation applications. The foams

also have the ability to protect class “A” surfaces.

Our open celled foams can be produced in either small or

large cell structure. These foams exhibit excellent fl exibility,

durability, and ability to absorb.

OPFLEX ® is an Elastomeric Foam produced in 1.7 pound

density, 3 inch thick in a 48” x 72” bun, with either small or

large cells. This lightweight product is primarily used in the

removal of oil and other non-polar pollutants from water.

OPFLEX is fabricated into Belts, Eel Grass, Booms, Mops,

Pads, and Mitts to absorb oil and pollutants. The products

can be wrung out and reused. Further, the foam contains an

additive that speeds biodegradation in landfi lls.

For more information, visit www.opfl ex.com, or contact

Russell Chandley, VP of Sales and Marketing by phone at

407-688-2671, or by email at rchandley@opfl ex.com.

Continued on page 7

Company Profi les(Continued from Page 4)

high performance transparent conductors in both existing

and emerging markets, from ultra-responsive large format

touch screens to capacitive sensors, transparent and

moldable EMI shielding, transparent heaters, transparent

antennas, OLED lighting, fl exible displays, electrochromic,

wearables, and more. Cima NanoTech has business

development centers in the United States, Singapore, Israel,

Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and China.

For more information, visit www.cimananotech.com, call

651-646-6266, or email tchang@cimananotech.com.

August 2014Page 7

Company Profi les(Continued from Page 6)

For over 57 years, RotoMetrics’ rotary tooling has been

developed to tackle the challenges of high speed rotary

crush cut converting. With high tolerance part control,

RotoMetrics dies are utilized in both rotary and fl exible fl at-

bed applications.

RotoMetrics is not a “one size fi ts all” company, but rather an

“exact fi t” to your distinct needs. Every day, our products are

used to convert everything from automotive gaskets and

medical electrodes, to paint masks and Velcro straps. We

off er the tooling you can depend on to capitalize on current

markets and enter new ones.

For example, RotoMetrics’ new RD300 is an eff ective solid

rotary tool used in cutting disposable medical substrates,

dust-sensitive labels and tags, in-mold labels, synthetic

gasket materials, Velcro, Tyvek, and electronic components.

The RD300 provides rotary converters with maximum tool

life and exact cutting quality and control in a class of its own.

RotoMetrics backs every product it sells with a full scope

of technical assistance to address your specifi c projects.

With manufacturing operations on four continents, and

strong sales and technical support teams, RotoMetrics is

working harder than ever to be your preferred source for

all cutting tooling needs. For more information, please visit

www.rotometrics.com.

Since 1958, Synafl ex Rubber in Talladega, AL, has been

creating specialty rubber products used nationally and

globally. Currently, Synafl ex is one of the largest and most

diverse specialty rubber manufacturers in the United States

with a workforce of 75 and growing.

The company’s diverse manufacturing capabilities have

allowed them to provide parts that are ultimately used in

both OEM and MRO applications.

Synafl ex’s broad range of manufacturing capabilities

include compounding (or mixing) material, tool and die

manufacturing, molding, extrusions, rubber covered rolls

and wheels, lathe cut gaskets, and silicone parts.

Currently Synafl ex sells products to customers based

in all 50 states, as well as 15 foreign countries. Some

examples of customers are Dow Chemical, Caterpillar,

Bush Hog, Proctor and Gamble, Cargill, BASF, Tyson, and

many diff erent government entities including the Army,

Navy, and the United States Army Corp. of Engineers.

Synafl ex makes products that are currently in use at

Disney World, the Panama Canal, and on various military

machinery and transports. For more information, please visit

www.synafl ex.com.

American Biltrite is pleased to announce the appointment of

Glenn Orn to the position of Regional Manager.

Glenn brings an extensive background in industrial sales

to American Biltrite having spent a good portion of his

career with companies such as GenFlex, Cooley Group, and

Griswold Corp. Glenn’s responsibilities ranged from Technical

Representative to Regional Sales Manager and Product

Manager.

He will be responsible for managing sales while working

with our sales agent in your area. Introductions will be made

and he is looking forward to meeting with you.

For more information about American Biltrite Inc., please

visit their website at www.american-biltrite.com.

Press Releases

American Biltrite Inc. Appoints New

Regional Manager

Continued on page 8

August 2014Page 8

Lewis-Goetz Acquires Advanced Sealing

Lewis-Goetz, a Pittsburgh, PA based industrial service

provider of a variety of industrial products, including

fabricated hose, conveyor belts, valves, and gaskets,

announced the acquisition of Advanced Sealing on July 7,

2014.

Advanced Sealing is a full-spectrum manufacturer and

distributor of fl uid sealing products to refi ning, chemical

processing, power generation, and wastewater treatment

facilities. Advanced Sealing provides a broad product mix

including metallic and non-metallic fl ange gaskets, valve

packings, metallic and elastomeric hoses, stud bolts, hex

nuts, steam traps, and heat exchanger gaskets. Advanced

Sealing has a special focus on fugitive emission products,

proven to meet and exceed today’s demanding LDAR

sealing standards.

Advanced Sealing was incorporated in 1988 and has US

based facilities located in Cerritos, CA and Pascagoula, MI.

Lewis-Goetz is part of the ERIKS Group of companies, one of

the world’s largest industrial distributors.

Do you want your press release

featured in a future issue

of the GFA newsletter?

Contact the GFA offi ce for details!

info@gasketfab.com

Press Releases(Continued from Page 7)

Newsletter

The Gasket Fabricator is published by the GFA and is

distributed to all members and prospective members.

President ...............................................................................Ken Stober

Vice President ........................................................................Ken Eaton

Secretary/Treasurer....................................................Shelby Ricketts

Executive Director..............................................................Peter Lance

Administrative Director/Newsletter Editor...........Brian Schaaf

Communications Committee Chair..............................Gord Sirrs

Long Range Planning Committee Chair...........Terry S. Galanis, Jr.

Marketing Committee Chair...........................................Mark Nye

Membership Committee Chair....................................Keith Crowe

Progam & Locations Committee Chair............................Bill Hibner

Technical Committee Chair...............................................Matt Weiss

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 2014 Gasket Fabricators Association

August 2014Page 9

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August 2014Page 10

Ken Stober

President

Ken Stober is President

and CEO of Mueller Die

Cut Solutions. Mueller

has manufacturing

locations in Charlotte,

NC and Suzhou, China,

and has been a member

of the GFA since its

founding. Don Stober,

Ken’s father, was a past President of the GFA. Ken has served

as the Committee Chair of the Programs and Locations

Committee and the Membership Committee.

Ken Eaton

Vice President

Ken Eaton spent his fi rst

10 years in business as

Laboratory and Technical

Director for an adhesive

and sealant manufacturer,

and the next 30 years

as President of various

chemically related

retail and industrial

manufacturing companies. Over 1/3 of his total career

has been spent as a turnaround artist for companies

in serious overall trouble. Aside from North American

experience, he has set up a polymer plant in Mexico and

supervised marketing and new product development in

Israel, Venezuela, India, Australia, New Zealand, and other

countries. For over 15 years, Mr. Eaton has been President of

the Jacobs & Thompson group of companies and as of May

13, 2011, he along with Chris Brand are sole owners of the

group.

Shelby Ricketts

Secretary/Treasurer

Shelby Ricketts is the CEO

of Concote Corporation,

which operates Insul-Fab as

one of its divisions. Shelby

represents the second

generation of ownership at

Concote. Shelby has been

involved with Concote since

his childhood, spending

summers loading trucks or producing parts. He joined

Concote in an offi cial capacity in 1998, after practicing

corporate law for several years with a Dallas law fi rm. In his

capacity as CEO, Shelby works primarily in Sales & Marketing

and assists with the Quality and Management Systems for

the company. Shelby resides in Dallas with his wife, Christy,

and their two children, Caroline and Henry.

Meet the New GFA Offi cers and Directors

Trey Moody

Board Member

Trey Moody has been

employed at Zotefoams, Inc.

for three years as the Business

Development Manager of

North America for the Azote

product line. Previous to

Zotefoams, Trey has spent over

20 years in global and national

sales management, with two

major technical foam companies. His career expertise has

focused on the knowledge of national and international

markets, development and launching of customer value

services/products, and recruitment of sales teams. His career

emphasis has been in the marketing and sales of polyolefi n

and elastomeric closed cell foams for various applications

such as medical device, sealing devices, automotive, military,

and aerospace. Trey has been a member of the GFA for 13

years and served on several committees, including as past

Chair of the Membership Committee.

August 2014Page 11

GFA 2014 Fall Meeting

September 30 - October 2, 2014Portola Hotel & Spa • Monterey, California

Registration is now open for the GFA 2014 Fall Meeting,

which will be held September 30 - October 2, 2014 at

the Portola Hotel & Spa in Monterey, CA. The program

will feature a unique mix of committee meetings, open

discussion forums, and of course, plenty of networking

opportunities.

You do not want to miss this opportunity to network and

conduct business with some of the top gasket industry

professionals.

For all of the latest information, please contact us at

info@gasketfab.com, call us at 610-971-8450, or visit us

online at www.gasketfab.com/events.asp.

Tuesday, September, 30, 2014

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. CEO Luncheon Meeting

1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. GFA Committee Meetings

4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Fabricator Forum

6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Member Presentations

9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Supplier Expo

1:00 p.m. Golf Tournament, Tour,

and other activities

7:30 p.m. 35th Anniversary Celebration

Thursday, October 2, 2014

8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. General Session

The Manager's Toolkit:

Improvement with

Key Indicators

Presented by Kraig Kramers

6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Cocktail Reception

Have you signed up yet? Program Highlights

August 2014Page 12

Gasketing/Converting Expo ‘14 Photos

Hilton Orlando

Ken Stober (right) presenting Terry Galanis, Jr. with a plaque

for his contributions as GFA President from 2012 - 2013

Terry Galanis, Jr. (left) presenting Steve Pendergast with a

plaque for his contributions as a GFA Director from 2005 - 2013

Billy Riggs impresses attendees with his magical

presentation during the General Session

Some of the many GFA New Members

and First Time Attendees

Attendees enjoy one of the

Technical & Industry Breakout Sessions

August 2014Page 13

August 2014Page 14

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Working Together for Success in 2014

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August 2014Page 15

What’s Going On In The GFA?Communications

Committee

Gord Sirrs, Chair

With record attendance at the

Expo in Orlando this spring, and

unprecedented engagement at the

committee meetings, the GFA’s impact

in fostering a vibrant community for our industry is more

evident than ever.

In our committee meeting this spring, we placed a spotlight

on some exciting successes such as the GFA website and

mobile app, as well as important opportunities for member

engagement moving forward.

Staying Connected with the GFA Website

and Expo ’14 Mobile App

The Expo ‘14 Mobile App has exceeded my expectations.

While I found the app useful during the Expo in Orlando, the

real surprise has been its usefulness as a tool after the event.

I continue to use my app regularly as an organized address

book of the many member attendees, and as a way to stay

connected. I encourage you to do the same.

The GFA website statistics show positive year-over-year

improvement in site traffi c. The most visited page on the

site during the fi rst quarter of 2014 was the Members by

Membership Type page, and the average visit duration

was approximately 14 minutes. These are indicative of the

importance of peer-to-peer contact within the membership,

and the high level of function and engagement being achieved

by the site.

The KPI Survey has Launched

The Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Survey has been sent to the

primary representative for each member company and I hope

you all chose to participate by completing the survey. The KPI

survey off ers valuable insights for benchmarking and trends

that are specifi c and relevant to our industry. These are useful

for long-term planning, meetings with banks and accountants,

and internally for keeping management and staff up to date.

The more participation we achieve, the more valuable the

feedback will be. This survey took a huge eff ort from many

Committee members, and I want to thank them for their

commitment to putting together such a useful tool.

Contribute and Keep the Momentum Going

Help the GFA help you. As a group, we get out what we put in.

By being proactive members and completing the KPI survey

in even years, the Wage and Benefi t Survey in odd years, and

Quick Surveys year round, you will be doing your part in making

the GFA the most valuable resource it can be for everyone.

Be sure to submit your important and challenging questions to

the GFA for inclusion in future Quick Surveys. Remember, if you

have a question or challenge, many other members will likely

benefi t from your bringing it forward.

You can fi nd the most recent newsletters posted on the GFA

website. We are always looking for members to contribute

technical articles to help build the knowledge base of the

association as a whole. Your contributions help your GFA friends

and peers learn from your experiences and knowledge, helping

them solve their everyday challenges.

Overall, it has been a positive year so far, with a lot of successes

to build from. Let’s keep the energy going, and work together

as a member community, to do our part in providing feedback

and contributions that provide members with useful industry

information and resources… And let’s have some fun doing it.

Marketing Committee

Mark Nye, Chair

Thirty-four interested GFA members

attended the Marketing Committee

meeting during the Expo in March, which

led to a very productive meeting.

A Task Group was created in order to develop a new tagline for

the GFA and they are working hard to fi nd a tagline that fi ts the Continued on page 16

August 2014Page 16

group. The Task Group plans to hold a conference call prior

to the Fall Meeting to discuss more ideas, so if you have any

suggestions, please let me know.

The Committee also reviewed the GFA’s Marketing Plan Action

Summary and prioritized the remaining items on the list. A Task

Group was formed to pursue three of the top action items. The

action items are:

Collect member success stories in order to develop a

common message to be used on the website and in a print

piece/PDF, which will be used in membership packets and

shared with committees. These stories may also be used to

develop a future direct mail campaign.

Develop a list of the top 10 FAQs for inclusion on the

website, in information packets, and wherever else the list

may be helpful.

Create “Top Reasons Why” list for the website, a PDF

handout for committees, and for marketing and

membership materials.

The Committee also discussed allowing members to use the

GFA logo and “You Gotta Be Here” graphic on their websites

and in their email signatures. When distributed, the logos

will come with instructions for linking the images to the GFA

website.

It has been an exciting year for the Committee, and we are

looking forward to keeping the momentum moving forward.

If you would like to join the Committee, or if you have

suggestions, please let me know.

What’s Going On?(Continued from Page 15)

1.

2.

3.

Program & Locations

Committee

Bill Hibner, Chair

I must be getting older now because

time is fl ying by. Summer is fi nally upon

us, and it is great to feel the warm sun

on my head, rather than the cold snow.

Our recently held Gasketing/Converting Expo was a complete

success. With just under 600 attendees and over 100 tabletop

displays, it was a GFA record. In addition, the new technical

and industry breakout sessions created extra involvement and

excitement for all those GFA members who attended. Billy

Riggs used his “magical” approach and did an outstanding

job as our keynote speaker. Disney’s Behind the Scenes (or

should I say below the street) Tour was very informative and

entertaining, and with 100 golfers, I understand the golf outing

was very good, too.

We are happy to announce that the 2014 Fall Meeting is set

for September 30th – October 2nd at the Portola Hotel & Spa Continued on page 18

Membership Committee

Keith Crowe, Chair

The Expo in Orlando is always well

attended, and this year was no

exception. This was also true of the

Membership Committee Meeting, which

had 25 members in attendance. This has

been quite the year for the Membership Committee, and for

the GFA as a whole. Since this time last year, we have added

19 new Regular Members and 22 new Associate Members, for

a total of 41 new members. This is a direct eff ect of the more

concentrated eff ort to follow up with each prospect. The GFA

now has a total of 180 members (93 Regular and 87 Associate),

the largest membership in the GFA’s 35 year history. Thank you

to everyone who helped get us to this point. Remember as you

talk with non-members to encourage them to be a part of our

association.

Much of this year has been focused on bringing valuable new

members into our organization, but we have also done work

to ensure that the membership qualifi cations outlined in our

bylaws accurately refl ect upon the types of companies that we

are hoping to have in the association.

I look forward to seeing everyone at the Fall Meeting in

Monterey and invite you to become a part of the Membership

Committee.

August 2014Page 17

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August 2014Page 18

What’s Going On?(Continued from Page 16)

1.

2.

3.

Technical Committee

Matt Weiss, Chair

The largest project that the Technical

Committee has taken on in recent years

is reviewing and updating the Technical

Handbook. It has been many years

since the last update and it is due for a

refreshing. The task is greater than expected, but we are looking

forward to the results. The Task Group is working on diff erent

sections to bring it up to date. We still could use some extra

assistance, so please contact Matt Weiss (mweiss@jbc-tech.com)

if you would like to be involved.

Has your organization recently hired some new associates that

are not familiar with our industry? Looking to cross-train some

existing employees? The GFA website has some great resources

available. In the Members Only section, there are three

complete technical webinar series available.

in Monterey, CA. With the famous 17 Mile Drive and Pebble

Beach nearby, it is a beautiful location. Also, San Francisco

and Napa Valley are within driving distance. We are also proud

to announce that Bermuda has been confi rmed for our 2015

Spring Meeting location. The meeting will be held at the

Fairmont Southampton, March 17th to 19th. So please arrange

your schedules and meet us there.

Once again, I want to thank Carol Bowman for her assistance as

Vice Chair and, of course, the rest of the Program & Locations

Committee for their important input and ideas. As a Committee,

it is our goal to listen to our fellow GFA members and to create

an exciting and enjoyable environment during these meetings.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful and safe summer. See you

in sunny California.

The Estimator’s Guide to Basic Gasketing (5 sessions)

Guide to Material Selection (3 sessions)

ABC’s of PSA (4 sessions)

Did you miss some of the breakout sessions at the last Expo

or were not able to bring everyone to Orlando? There are

previous meeting presentations that can be reviewed in the

Members Only section as well.

In addition to the webinars and presentations, there are

more than one dozen previously published GFA newsletter

articles written by GFA members available for your use.

The combination of these resources provides an expansive

spectrum of information for the industry.

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.

Joining a committee is one of the best

ways to take advantage of your GFA

membership. Contact the GFA offi ce at

610-971-4850 or info@gasketfab.com

if you would like to join a committee.

The GFA is on Social Media!

Did you know the GFA is now on LinkedIn and Twitter? Take a

few minutes to join our LinkedIn group and follow us on Twitter

so you do not miss any of the valuable discussions taking place!

Gasket Fabricators Association (GFA)

@Gasketfab

Join the conversation today!

August 2014Page 19

Fugitive Gases and LiquidsBy: Larry Pyle, President, LFPtechnologies

As producers of gaskets and gasket materials, we are in the

business of sealing gases and liquids. Based on our experiences,

most gaskets do an adequate job of performing its sealing

function within limits; however, every gasket leaks, some very

little, and some a lot. Most seal within the limits that the end

user sets, or will tolerate. The changing dynamics of the system

often diminish the eff ectiveness of the seal or gasket. Improper

installation or maintenance procedures often diminish the

sealing potential of the gasket or seal, or can lead to disastrous

consequences.

Fugitive emissions are those gases or liquids which escape either

through or past the gasket. These emissions are accelerated by

the diff erential pressures on either side of the gasketed joint, or

by changing conditions in the joint, such as reduced clamping

pressure, thermal expansion and contraction, and a myriad of

other factors.

Losses due to these leaked gases and fl uids carry an economic

cost, as well as contribute to air pollution and possible global

warming. Emissions also present other risks and hazards, such

as long term health risks to workers or local communities. This

is particularly true in large industrial plants or refi neries. These

fugitive gases or liquids could be highly toxic and lethal. The

chemical leak, which killed thousands in Bhopal, India in 1984 is

but one example of this.

In chemical plants processing large amounts of fl ammable

liquids and gases contained under pressure, leaks also increase

the risk of fi re and explosion. If a fi re were to occur, the gasketed

joint must be able to continue to seal in extreme conditions of

temperature and thermal expansion without leaking. Any leaks

would further feed the fi re with fuel making containment much

more diffi cult. A typical chemical plant or refi nery has thousands

of gasketed joints at valves, pipe connections, mechanical seals,

and related pressure vessels and tanks.

Design gaskets for the appropriate end use, allowing for

extenuating circumstances, and adhere to established standards.

A recent study released by the EPA has indicated that 6.9

million metric tons of methane gas was lost due to fugitive

emissions in 2011, down from 10.3 million metric tons in 2010.

Natural gas is more that 80% methane. As natural gas replaces

diesel fuels, and are more widely used in industrial and power

generation plants, these losses represent a sizable contributor

to greenhouse gas eff ects.

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August 2014Page 21

Help Tell the GFA Story!

During the Fall Meeting, the Marketing Committee was

hard at work trying to develop a strategy for promoting

the GFA and attracting new members. Following the advice

of Marketing Consultant, Lauron Sonnier, the Committee

will be working on telling the GFA’s story. The Committee

decided that there would be no better way to achieve

this goal than through member testimonials and member

success stories. Any submitted testimonials and success

stories will be featured in GFA promotional material and on

the GFA website. Take a look at some of the examples we

have already received:

I have been a member of the

GFA for some time, and during

that time have seen it evolve from

a narrowly-focused group that

encompassed a small to medium

group of like companies, to a

modern broad-minded organization

that anyone in our industry can

benefi t from both monetarily and intellectually. The contacts

and conversations are something my company will benefi t

from for years to come. “

- Ken Eaton, Partner

Jacobs & Thompson, Inc.

“

The GFA provides an excellent

forum for networking with fellow

fabricators and material suppliers,

participating in various committees

that connect members with various

interests, and accessing guest

speakers that provide insight into

improving business effi ciencies.”

- David Soliday, Vice President Engineering/Sales

Chicago Wilcox Mfg. Co., Inc.

“

The conversations you have at

the Expo can profoundly change

your business. At a recent Expo, I

was explaining to a key supplier

that one of our strategic initiatives

included acquisitions. They put

me in contact with a fabricator

that they knew was looking to sell. That fabricator fi t our

criteria and the transaction closed soon thereafter. It has

been a win/win for both parties and it all started with one

conversation at the Expo.”

-Chuck Keeley, President

CGR Products, Inc.

“

I enjoyed the opportunity to

meet a wide variety of colleagues

from within the Gasketing/

Converting industry at the last Expo.

The people that attend are decision

makers for their organizations.“

- Shelby Ricketts, COO

Insul-Fab

“

If you have a great GFA success

story, or you would like to provide

a testimonial, please contact the

GFA offi ce at info@gasketfab.com.

August 2014Page 22

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 3 - July 26, 2014.

We had 37 out of 93 Fabricators respond.

1. Were sales for the second quarter of 2014 UP, DOWN, or the SAME compared to the fi rst quarter of 2014? UP DOWN SAME 28 (76%) 3 (8%) 6 (16%) 2. Were sales for the second quarter of 2014 UP, DOWN, or the SAME compared to the second quarter of 2013? UP DOWN SAME 26 (70%) 6 (16%) 5 (14%)

3. Is your projection for the third quarter of 2014 UP, DOWN, or the SAME compared to the second quarter of 2014? UP DOWN SAME 25 (68%) 3 (8%) 9 (24%)

4. Is your projection for the third quarter of 2014 UP, DOWN, or the SAME compared to the third quarter of 2013? UP DOWN SAME 28 (76%) 1 (3%) 8 (22%)

Benchmarking Report:

Fabricators

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1. Fabricators Most Recent Quarter Sales Compared to Previous Quarter

UP DOWN SAME

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Aug12(42/77)

Dec12(35/79)

Mar13(41/78)

Aug13(31/80)

Dec13(36/85)

Mar14(41/85)

Aug14(37/93)

2. Fabricators Most Recent Quarter Sales Compared to Same Quarter Last Year

UP DOWN SAME

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

3. Fabrictors Current Quarter Sales Projections Compared to Last Quarter

UP DOWN SAME

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Aug12(42/77)

Dec12(35/79)

Mar13(41/78)

Aug13(31/80)

Dec13(36/85)

Mar14(41/85)

Aug14(37/93)

4. Fabrictors Current Quarter Sales Projections Compared to Same Quarter Last Year

UP DOWN SAME

August 2014Page 23

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 3 - July 26, 2014.

We had 37 out of 87 Suppliers respond.

1. Were sales for the second quarter of 2014 UP, DOWN, or the SAME compared to the fi rst quarter of 2014? UP DOWN SAME 24 (65%) 3 (8%) 10 (27%) 2. Were sales for the second quarter of 2014 UP, DOWN, or the SAME compared to the second quarter of 2013? UP DOWN SAME 28 (76%) 4 (11%) 5 (14%)

3. Is your projection for the third quarter of 2014 UP, DOWN, or the SAME compared to the second quarter of 2014? UP DOWN SAME 24 (65%) 2 (5%) 11 (30%)

4. Is your projection for the third quarter of 2014 UP, DOWN, or the SAME compared to the third quarter of 2013? UP DOWN SAME 30 (81%) 3 (8%) 4 (11%)

Benchmarking Report:

Suppliers

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1. Suppliers Most Recent Quarter Sales Compared to Previous Quarter

Series1 Series2 Series3

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Aug12(45/69)

Dec12(40/71)

Mar13(45/73)

Aug13(33/73)

Dec13(36/76)

Mar14(32/80)

Aug14(37/87)

2. Suppliers Most Recent Quarter Sales Compared to Same Quarter Last Year

UP DOWN SAME

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

3. Suppliers Current Quarter Sales Projections Compared to Last Quarter

UP DOWN SAME

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Aug12(45/69)

Dec12(40/71)

Mar13(45/73)

Aug13(33/73)

Dec13(36/76)

Mar14(32/80)

Aug14(37/87)

4. Suppliers Current Quarter Sales Projections Compared to Same Quarter Last Year

UP DOWN SAME

August 2014Page 24

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