oume 39 umber 2 Summer 2020 The latest on all …oume 39 umber 2 Summer 2020 The latest on all things GFA 610-971-4850 [email protected] @gasketfab Where Fabricators and Suppliers

Volume 39 Number 2 Summer 2020T h e l a t e s t o n a l l t h i n g s G F A

610-971-4850

[email protected]

www.gasketfab.com

@gasketfab

Where Fabricators and Suppliers Connect

Casting Porosity

Four Steps to Selecting the Appropriate Adhesive Solution

Is Your Supply Chain Ready for the “New Normal”?

GFA To Host Virtual Fall Meeting

How to Find Replacements for GORE® EMI Gasket Materials

The Gasket Fabricator | Summer 20202

Table of Contents

President’s Message

GFA Membership Anniversaries

Company ProfilesHudson Cutting Solutions

ElastaPro Silicone Sheeting, LLC

EGC Enterprises, Inc.

New GFA Members

Press ReleasesIn Memoriam: Sealing Devices Inc. Founder, Terry Galanis, Sr.

Happy Trails To Robert Davidson After 45 Years Of Service At American Biltrite!

Talbros Sealing Materials Launches Edge Bonded Gaskets

RM Biltrite® Announces the Opening of a New Distribution Center in Columbus, Ohio

Sealing Devices Inc. Donates Strap Holders to Local Hospitals

Avery Dennison Offers White Paper Discussing RFID Isolating Material Performance

LAMATEK Manufactures Adhesive Backed Foam for Face Shields and PPE

Superior Felt & Filtration, LLC Responds Swiftly to the Global Demand for Surgical Hoods, Mask Components, Viral/Bacterial and Ventilator Filters

ESL Series (Eco-Seal)-A Versatile Alternative for High Performance Gasketing Used In Problematic Applications

American Biltrite Announces Groundbreaking Sheet Rubber Sales Tools

Zotefoams AZOTE® Foams Range Promise Competitive Edge

GFA Virtual Fall Meeting

How to Find Replacements for GORE® EMI Gasket Materialsby Dominic Testo, Specialty Silicone Products

Is Your Supply Chain Ready for the “New Normal”?by Clyde Sharpe, Elasto Proxy

Four Steps to Selecting the Appropriate Adhesive Solutionby Deanne Lewis, Avery Dennison Performance Tapes

Casting Porosityby Larry Pyle, LFP Technologies

Commonly Used Gasket Termsby Larry Pyle, LFP Technologies

Benchmarking Report

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The Gasket Fabricator | Summer 2020 3

President's MessageBy Shelby Ricketts

Earlier this summer, the GFA made the difficult decision to cancel the Fall 2020 Meeting scheduled for September 22-24 in Dallas, Texas. While we were certainly disappointed in having to cancel both in-person events in 2020, careful consideration was given to the responses of all GFA members. I sincerely appreciate everyone’s candid feedback about how to handle this delicate situation. On balance, the concern for the safety of our membership outweighed the importance of trying to meet this fall.

We are, however, excited to announce a virtual meeting to give our membership the chance to engage and benefit from some of the programming that we had in store for the fall meeting. The GFA is based upon connection, networking and education, and we have determined that we must provide some member engagement and discussion opportunities during these trying times for our businesses.

During the week of September 21, the GFA will hold a free virtual meeting, open to all members. We have included a keynote presentation from ITR Economics, as we know that everyone will want to hear their thoughts on the economic forecast and how it may be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, all of the standard business meetings, presentations and forums will be conducted using GoToMeeting and GoToWebinar, allowing members to listen and engage in the discussion!

The meeting, while slightly modified, follows our general meeting format. Check out page 15 for the full schedule and additional details on the program. The meeting is offered free of charge, as a member service, so we are waiving any registration fees. However, we will ask that members register themselves so that we can account for meeting logistics.

As you are no doubt aware, many trade shows and associations are holding virtual meetings this year in place of regular live events. While we realize that virtual forums may not always be a perfect substitute for a face to face meeting, online meetings are here to stay. This is an opportunity for the GFA to determine the suitability of virtual meetings as we embrace a

new reality in business. As a practical matter, we all have a lot to discuss with respect to how to navigate the future, and I believe that connecting, even if by computer, is now more essential than ever for all of us to find our way in this new reality.

Registration instructions and a call for topics will be sent out soon, so please plan to register and join us for this unique but informative GFA Meeting. I look forward to hearing from everyone in September!

I believe that connecting, even if by computer, is now more essential than ever for all of us to find our way in this

new reality.


Ph: 631-727-6000 Email: [email protected]

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Frenzelit, Inc.Lexington, NC

Tel: 336 814 4318Fax: 336 814 4388email: [email protected]: www.frenzelit.com/en

Gerry Lauzon – New [email protected] Quinlan – [email protected] Taylor – [email protected] others - [email protected]


GFA membership anniversaries

In 2020, the following companies are celebrating their anniversaries as members of the GFA. We would like to thank them for their ongoing support!

40 Year AnniversaryEverseal Gasket Inc.

30 Year AnniversaryCreative Foam Corporation

25 Year AnniversaryGaska Tape Inc.

20 Year AnniversaryAdhesive ApplicationsJacobs & Thompson, IncRogers CorporationSekisui Voltek

15 Year AnniversaryChambers Gasket & Mfg Co.Crown Foam TechnologiesProtac IndustriesTrelleborg Coated Systems US, Inc.

10 Year AnniversaryAM Rubber & Foam Gaskets Inc.ContiTech Elastomer-CoatingsLever Manufacturing CorporationPolymer Technologies, IncS.A.S. Industries, Inc.Talbros Sealing Materials Pvt. Ltd.Ttarp Co.Zotefoams Inc.

5 Year AnniversaryAAA - ACME Rubber Co.APGBerry GlobalCHIYODA INTEGRE OF AMERICA, INC.Duraco Specialty Tapes LLCOrion Industries, Inc.Thermodyn CorporationTSS HoldingWindsor StevensWolverine Advanced MaterialsZund America, Inc.


Company Profiles

Hudson Cutting Solutions serves the manufacturing industry by providing complete customized solutions covering all aspects of cutting. Rather than selling pre-made, out-of-the-box equipment for die-cutting, splitting, skiving, and material handling, Hudson Cutting analyzes a manufacturer's operation before presenting an innovative solution tailored to their needs.

"We always go in and find out exactly what they want to do before we try to sell them anything," says David Lees, Consultant at Hudson Cutting. By partnering with leading providers in the industry, the company is able to offer the most advanced customized equipment at competitive prices.

With over 100 years of experience in manufacturing, Hudson Cutting established itself in the shoe industry under a different name in 1910. Over the years, it began to supply different types of equipment including cutting machines. After it was purchased in 1973, the company started to move away from the shoe manufacturing industry and delved further into the industrial cutting space with a new range of advanced machinery.

Since 2012, the company has been a part of IPSUMM Inc. This network of partners has helped Hudson Cutting blossom into a leading provider of cutting solutions capable of offering superior automation technology and engineering solutions.

One of Hudson's sister companies, ENTAKT, is a service organization with technicians dedicated entirely to complete turnkey manufacturing solutions. It specializes in service support in a variety of fields including cutting presses, as well as packaging equipment, filling equipment, and more. The engineering arm of IPSUMM, called i2i Engineering, focuses on technology and automation.

A number of team members within Hudson have close to 50 years of experience in the industry. The extensive knowledge learned over the years is irreplaceable and it is a major advantage over some of its web based competitors. The fusion of skilled maturity

Associate Member

The Gasket Fabricator | Spring 2020 6

with the fresh perspective of the younger generation also present within the company is an ideal combination.

New technologies like laser and water jet cutting prove advantageous when cutting single ply or very complex short run products. Die cutting will always provide a better ROI for multi-ply high volume cutting applications.

Hudson Cutting specializes in providing complete cutting solutions by asking questions and listening to the needs of its customers. Hudson isn’t a company that prioritizes the sale of its product; it is a consulting partner with the intention of improving the efficiency of its customers' operations.

ElastaPro was founded by a team of Silicone Industry veterans, with decades of experience in Silicone Sheeting, Compounding, and Technology- with a passion for enhancing the Customer Experience.

We manufacture all of our Silicone Sheeting and Silicone Compound in the USA and we are inspired by developing long term partnerships with our Customers, Suppliers, and Employees.

ElastaPro offers a wide range of silicone sheeting, including: Fluorosilicone, Phenyl Silicone, High Strength, Hi-Temp, Conductive, UL, FDA, and Medical Grade USP Class VI & ISO 10993 materials. We also stock various fabrics and specialize in fabric-reinforced sheet.

Our Silicone Sheet can be supplied in widths up to 60” and thicknesses from .008” - .500”.

From minimum material needs to large requirements, we are here to serve the Industry by deploying our extensive experience and team of dedicated silicone enthusiasts, to bring the best in Value and Customer Experience, to our Customer Partners.

Associate Member


N e w G FA M e m b e r s

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSAGC Chemicals Americas, Inc.

Exton, PAwww.agcchem.com

ElastaPro Silicone Sheeting, LLCSanta Fe Springs, CAwww.elastapro.com

Hudson Cutting Solutions Anjou, QC

www.hudsoncutting.com

EGC Enterprises, an engineering and manufacturing company specializing in flexible graphite sealing, has recently been approved by the board of directors as a member of the Gasket Fabricators Association (GFA). For gasket fabricators, both large and small, EGC brings expertise in flexible graphite raw materials, including rolls, sheets and laminates.

“We know that gasket fabricators source raw materials from a wide variety of suppliers,” says John Popovich, Vice President of EGC. “Often times, those materials are special in nature – precisely in terms of thickness, density, grade and final configuration. This is where EGC shines. In addition to common thicknesses and densities, we offer an extensive inventory of special flexible graphite grades from which we can supply both raw material and custom products to the market. We can also combine the graphite with various metal foil, tang materials and various plastics, such as PTFE, to create custom solutions. Our true focus is to help our customers with high quality solutions for their sealing requirements, and collaboratively, we can engineer and manufacture the best product for their needs.”

According to Brian Biller, Chief Engineer for EGC, “We’re an authorized manufacturer of NeoGraf (formerly Graftech) laminates, and we stock metal foils and many grades and thicknesses of NeoGraf products. We also offer an extensive line of EGC branded Thermafoil® products for quick turn and economical options. If you need a standard or non-standard laminate of specific thickness and density, EGC can provide you with what you need. In addition, we can also fabricate gaskets, cutting parts using a variety of tooling types and dieless cutting methods.”

One of the key services EGC brings to the GFA is our ability to produce both small and large laminates, using our in-house vacuum presses. We can supply laminates to be cut by GFA members, and can also fabricate finished gaskets, using manual and automated presses with steel rule dies, machined dies, chem-etched dies, and custom punches as required.

Regular Member

Dieless and waterjet cutting services are also available for jobs that require quick turnaround, without the added cost of custom tooling. According to Biller, “Most other water-jet facilities are not as familiar with cutting flexible graphite parts. At EGC, we’re familiar with efficiently cutting laminates in a wide variety of ways, adding value to GFA members that may not have the equipment to do so.”

EGC is a world class engineering and manufacturing enterprise creating high-temperature sealing solutions for the fluid sealing, transportation, aerospace, oil and gas and petro-chem markets. Contact us with your requirements, and together we can solve the toughest sealing challenges.

For additional information call 440.285.5835 or visit our website at www.egcgraphite.com.


Press Releases

Over the years, many of you may have chatted with our Product Manager, Robert Davidson. Bob was a regular at the GFA shows. He truly enjoyed attending and networking with his peers. Bob hit an important milestone this year: 45 years of service and, after a long and successful run at American Biltrite, he is retiring this summer. It is such a strange time for our retirees. We would usually celebrate their accomplishments and thank them for their work by having a special evening in their honor. With social distancing protocols, we had to delay this in Bob’s case, but we will be sure to have a proper gathering when it is safe to do so.

Bob’s career with us spanned more than four decades and several departments. His experience in production, the lab, and sales and marketing made him a vital part of our team. Bob was the “go-to guy” for advice. Having spent most of his life gaining experience and rubber market knowledge, we have spent these past years learning from him and preparing for his eventual retirement.

On a personal level, it was always a comfort to have Bob in our corner. He was stedfast in his commitment to the company. American Biltrite’s success was something he was very passionate about; he always had it at the forefront of his goals. Bob saw huge changes in the plant over the span of his career, and he contributed to alot of growth. Bob will now have more time to enjoy his home and family. For those of us who know

Happy Trails To Robert Davidson After 45 Years Of Service At American Biltrite!

Sealing Devices Inc. founder and chairman of the Board, Terry Galanis, Sr., passed away June 25, 2020. Galanis, Sr. lived to be 102 years old and enjoyed being in the office daily up until the last few weeks of his life. He died peacefully, of natural causes, surrounded by his children.

Galanis Sr., better known in the office as Mr. G., enjoyed being in the office, seeing smiling faces and his friends there. He will be remembered for building a company from the ground up, exhibiting strong leadership and creating an environment where people look forward to coming to work every day. He believed in honesty and truthfulness, ethical values that he passed along to his children.

“I have been fortunate to work next to my father for 48 years at the company he built. The company’s culture reflects his strong work ethics and credibility and we will always continue to run the company the way he envisioned,” stated Terry Galanis, Jr., Sealing Devices President/CEO.

Mr. G. was a U.S. Veteran of World War II, serving with General Patton on his march through Europe and in the occupation army in Austria after the war ended.

Mr. G. started his company in the family garage with a $157 investment from Parker o-rings, a pencil and paper. His wife Marian would answer the phone and his children would count and bag o-rings. Terry’s vision was to provide customers with quality parts, reliable service and fair prices. This vision is still followed to this day at Sealing Devices. He also helped to establish the Gasket Fabricators Association and became the first recipient of Buffalo Business First Lifetime Manufacturing Achievement Award.

Mr. G. was a constant contributor to his alma mater, Alfred University, where he was a distinguished alumnus. With the University, Mr. G. set up the Galanis Award for Excellence in Family Business, an award honoring Family Businesses who share the same values of his founding company. In 2019 at the age of 101, Mr G. received an honorary doctorate degree in Engineering from the University.

In Memoriam: Sealing Devices Inc. Founder, Terry Galanis, Sr.

He will be remembered as an avid investor in the stock markets. He was a family man, raising four strong children, and is being remembered by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

No words can adequately express our sadness of Mr. G.’s death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much. Mr. G. leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Sealing Devices.


Bob, we know he will never be bored. He always has a project on the go, he adores being outside, he is an avid camper, gardener, and with two young grandsons just down the road, we doubt he will sit still for very long. We wish Bob all of the very best in his retirement.

We are very excited to announce a new addition to our sales and marketing team. Our new Product Manager, Andrew Turk, will be starting with us in July. Andrew comes to us from our Research and Development department. We are very pleased to welcome him to the team. He has already proven that his university degree in chemistry, his lab experience, and his technical knowledge of rubber is going to be a huge asset. Project management is an important role for us at American Biltrite, to move into new markets and to continuously provide premium products that consistently meet specifications. It is a crucial task, and Andrew has demonstrated that he is ready for the challenge.

From all of us at American Biltrite, we wish you a happy, safe, and enjoyable summer.

Designed to seal flat components, edge bonded gaskets comprise an elastomeric sealing bead that is bonded to the thin edge of a metal carrier frame. They are used to seal flat components when a groove is missing for a press-in-place gasket.

VALUES FOR THE CUSTOMERThe edge bonded gasket is designed specifically for an optimal sealing solution:

1. Better suited to seal high-pressure applications, especially higher fluid pressures than can be handled by over-molded or press-in-place gaskets.

2. These gaskets prevent outside contamination to the elastomeric seal while also eliminating the need for compression limiters.

3. A rigid metal carrier aids in the easy positioning of the gasket for quicker assemblies.

Talbros Sealing Materials Launches Edge Bonded Gaskets

4. Carriers are fitted with protruding tabs along joints to verify the presence of the gasket.

KEY FEATURES AND BENEFITSComprising of an elastomeric sealing bead, edge bonded gaskets are bonded to the edge of a metal carrier frame.

SIZE - Varying in size from a few inches wide through to four feet across for larger transmission pan applications, edge bonded gaskets are developed to suit a wide range of applications

TYPICAL USAGE - Oil pans, transmission pans, intake manifolds, AMT units, PTO and oil /water heat exchangers all employ edge bonded gaskets for a robust grip. Many appliance manufacturers have now started introducing these as well.

PERFORMANCE - The ASTM 429 peeling test ensures gasket strength and adhesion for all our edge bonded gaskets.

MATERIAL - Metal carriers are usually made of aluminium, steel, or aluminium coated steel while standard elastomeric gasket compound options include ACM, AEM (Vamac), EPDM, FKM, and HNBR.

Talbros Sealing has been developing and supplying these gaskets to customers across the globe for a wide range of applications. Using laser cutting technology, we are able to provide short runs of production as well as quicker development of products.

RM Biltrite®, a Sandy Springs, Georgia based Industrial Rubber and Thermoplastics company, announces the opening of a new Distribution Center located in Columbus, Ohio. RM Biltrite® specializes in the manufacturing and distribution of industrial rubber sheeting, thermoplastic mats, and matting including a wide variety of specialty rubber and thermoplastic products. Our USA manufacturing facility is in Chelsea, Massachusetts, with offices located in The Netherlands, China, India, and Thailand.

RM Biltrite® Announces the Opening of a New Distribution Center in Columbus, Ohio


Press Releases

Sealing Devices Inc., announces that they will be donating several thousand Medical Mask Strap Holders to local area hospitals to enhance use of personal protective equipment; including Windsong Radiology Group, Millard Fillmore Suburban, John Oishei Children’s Hospital, ECMC and Hospice of Buffalo.

Mask strap holders help relieve ear pain and discomfort felt by medical staff due to extended wearing of face masks.

Seeing the increasing and ongoing need, Sealing Devices employees responded with a solution that could easily be made in volume in their local manufacturing plant.

“Our business is to support sealing needs, but we really wanted to give back to our community during these difficult times,” stated Elizabeth Galanis-Miller, Director of Sales and Marketing at Sealing Devices. “We felt the best way to do this was giving to the front lines, as we thank them for all of their hard work and efforts during these challenging times.”

Sealing Devices will continue to support their customers’ needs while taking on this special project for our community.

Sealing Devices is a 56-year-old privately held manufacturer and fabricator of gaskets, O-rings, EMI shielding, adhesives, seals, custom molded rubber, and sponge parts. They are Veteran Owned, Small Business & ITAR registered, headquartered in Buffalo, NY with additional offices in Erie, PA, Rochester and Syracuse, NY and Colorado Springs, CO.

Sealing Devices Inc. Donates Strap Holders to Local Hospitals

Avery Dennison Performance Tapes, which introduced its ShieldSense™ RFID Blocking Material* in May 2019, announces a new white paper that examines the use of RFID technology in inventory management and the available isolating materials that can help maximize the technology’s effectiveness.

“Attenuation Performance of RFID Isolating Materials” by Brad Cumby, senior RFID research engineer, Avery Dennison, discusses the challenges retailers face in using RFID signals to manage inventory. As these signals may penetrate most walls, floors and ceilings, accurate data gathering can be an issue for users. Performance is subject to factors such as interference, frequencies, power and environments.

The white paper examines the use of the following aluminum-based shielding products:

• Aluminum foil tape (such as Avery Dennison ShieldSense)

• Conductive paint• Foil radiant barrier insulation• Conductive cloth

In reviewing these products, the paper compares installation factors such as install time and effectiveness. It also provides recommendations for choosing a shielding product based on whether the application is new construction or retrofit, ease of use and impact on total costs. Installation examples are also provided.

“RFID technology has become a popular method of providing fast and accurate inventory not only in retail environments, but in virtually any inventory management application,” Cumby said. “This white paper was written to help current and potential RFID users understand how to maximize their RFID experience by shielding specific spaces, as well as making the most cost-effective, reliable shielding choice for their particular application.”

Avery Dennison Offers White Paper Discussing RFID Isolating Material Performance


The gated white paper may be downloaded free of charge on Avery Dennison’s website.

ShieldSense is available directly from Avery Dennison. For more information, please visit tapes.averydennison.com/rfidblocking.

*NOTE: ShieldSense attained UL® 723 certification to meet fire safety codes for surface burning in February 2020. By meeting UL 723, ShieldSense is considered a self-extinguishing material (i.e., will not hold or spread an open flame) and does not create smoke or noxious gases when exposed to an open flame. For more information, please visit tapes.averydennison.com/rfidblocking.

Superior Felt & Filtration, LLC, based out of McHenry, IL is an essential subcomponent manufacturer sup porting the disposable surgical hood, N95 mask component, BFE/VFE, and ventilator filter markets. Meeting the immediate medical filtration needs of the US government and its partners under the Defense Produc tion Act, Superior Felt & Filtration, LLC has a global reach, exporting lifesaving filter technology across six con tinents, making Superior Felt & Filtration, LLC the largest sub-component filter manufacturer in the world. As a strategic partner with Hollingsworth and Vose and utilizing Technostat, a high quality, electrostatic filter media, Superior Felt & Filtration, LLC has partnerships with vital companies in the fight against COVID-19, including Honeywell, GM, Ventec and Phillips.

Featuring one of the largest inventories of raw materials and 24/7 capacity, coupled with decades of experi ence, Superior Felt & Filtration, LLC has been on the front lines providing lifesaving products to combat COVID-19. Frank Porto, Director of Sales, notes "We are incredibly proud of our dedicated employees at Su perior Felt & Filtration, LLC who have been working tirelessly day and night to fight this pandemic. We can all take pride that our hard work and sacrifices are saving lives on a global scale."

To meet the growing need for PPE and lifesaving filtration for first responders and hospitals, Superior Felt & Filtration, LLC is expanding its operations to include new facilities and highly advanced manufacturing equipment which will expand capacity to respond to the growing global demands. With a highly expert and collaborative research and development team, Superior Felt & Filtration, LLC is advancing filtration technol-ogy with its global partners, changing the paradigm with more efficient and versatile designs to meet the needs of an ever-expanding filtration market.

Recognizing that the new normal will require a continued surge in innovative and accessible filtration tech nology, Superior Felt & Filtration, LLC is committed to continuous expansion and capacity to lead the world and its vital partners forward in the fight for health and safety.

Superior Felt & Filtration, LLC Responds Swiftly to the Global Demand for Surgical Hoods, Mask Components, Viral/Bacterial and Ventilator Filters

In the midst of a global pandemic, people from all walks of life are being asked to step up in the line of duty. Seamstresses are sewing face masks, local restaurants are providing food in support of communities and healthcare workers, and many are donating time, money, and components for personal protective equipment (PPE) and hospital supplies.

LAMATEK, Inc. of West Deptford, New Jersey began manufacturing adhesive backed foam strips for brow liners on PPE face shields early in March, when it became alarmingly clear that there was not enough PPE for our healthcare workers and first responders. Since then, the team of LAMATEK employees has been working hard to accommodate as many requests as possible and to fulfill customer requirements as the need for PPE increases. As of mid-April, the devoted team of New Jersey manufacturers has supplied enough foam to make over 3,000,000 protective face shields. The company continues to receive new inquiries every day.

A video of our operators producing the foam strips can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs2SR3-R59E

In addition to supplying customers and manufacturers of protective face shields, LAMATEK also donated adhesive foam to Michigan resident Keith Wood, who had assembled a team of volunteers to make and donate protective full face shields to St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, where his two daughters work as nurses. Due to supply issues and lack of funds, the hospital had asked their employees to make and provide their own protective face shields as supplies ran low and exposure to COVID-19 became increasingly apparent.

“I wish we had funding available to purchase them, but the truth is that we simply don’t. If you are able to help in any way, it would help to provide life-saving protection to our medical workers during this difficult time!” explained Wood.

LAMATEK Manufactures Adhesive Backed Foam for Face Shields and PPE


Press Releases

Eco-Seal Series Foam Tapes are available in a broad range of gasketing as an alternative to high end rubber products for a wide variety of difficult applications needing a myriad of solutions. The ESL Series are specialized formulations manufactured to be compatible with most synthetic plastic products. Some examples are polycarbonate such as Lexan, polyacrylics such as Plexiglas, ABS plastics, fiberglass and polyolefin composites. Gaska Tape's Eco-Seal Series Foam Tape are phthalate free, so plasticizer migration has been virtually eliminated to eradicate marring, crazing, or cracking problems common with conventional gasketing materials.

ESL Series boasts resistance to ultraviolet rays and sunlight degradation, as well as extreme salt spray. They also remain unaffected by many harsh chemical environments such as gasoline, oil, hydraulic fluid, brake fluid, alcohol and anti-freeze, as well as sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and even hydrochloric acid. As these products are closed cell, they do a tremendous job in weather sealing applications.

ESL Series Foam also has a broad temperature range. It is common to find these products in applications with service temperatures varying from as low as -40 degrees F up to 250 degrees F. It truly is a very durable, cost effective gasketing material that has excellent long-term aging characteristics not available with conventional rubber products.

The Eco-Seal Foam Tape is manufactured with superior quality control to maintain the tight thickness tolerances demanded by many of today's high technology applications. In addition, this product comes standard with durable skin on two sides for better adhesive bonding to substrate materials, and can be produced with single or double sided acrylic adhesives. Choose the ESL Series of products over older gasketing technology in its widely available range to solve your gasketing problems. Gaska Tape Inc. is a worldwide supplier of innovative solutions in foams and tapes serving the global market for over 50 years.

ESL Series (Eco-Seal)-A Versatile Alternative for High Performance Gasketing Used In Problematic Applications American Biltrite has made major improvements to their sales

tools over the past six years. Each of our engineered products have their own informative brochure. We have paid close attention to our brand, keeping our company image sharp and our identity clear to our customers. There is a story behind our brand that dates back more than one hundred years, and we are proud to tell it.

Our marketing team has done research into the sales tools that are most commonly used in the rubber industry. We noted that the standard sample deck was the most common “hands on” product demonstrator in the market. This made us think of how sheet rubber is presented, and how we could improve the experience for our customers and their end users. Many rubber polymers are black, and when you are looking at them in the typical sample deck they all look the same. Enter a new era of sample toolbox. Inside of your Rubber Sample Selection kit you will find samples separated by polymer. Remove one of the stacks, and show the selection of the grades and options of the polymer that you are offering to your sales lead. You will notice that each stack is color coded by polymer. These colors correspond to the section of our new Technical Sheet Rubber Resource Guide, where you will find the corresponding technical data sheet for your rubber selection. There are many other useful resources within this guide such as: Commercial Sheet Rubber Gauge Tolerance Guide, ASTM decoding information, comparison charts, a quick reference guide to help you choose the correct polymer for your application, and information about our company. Your new Sheet Rubber Selection kit and Technical Sheet Rubber Resource Guide are printed on the spine of the binder and the side of the kit, so that you can slide them onto your shelf for fast reference when you are presenting options to a potential customer. The toolbox has a handle, easy to carry to your next sales call.

American Biltrite has already registered hundreds of customers to receive their new sales tools this summer. Would you like to join the wave and receive one of our revolutionary sales kits? Contact American Biltrite at 877-275-7075.

American Biltrite Announces Groundbreaking Sheet Rubber Sales Tools


As industry cautiously opens up for business following the COVID-19 pandemic, Zotefoams Inc. (Walton, KY) believes that its unique range of foams offers fabricators a much-needed competitive edge.

Predictions on how the global economy will recover vary but it is already clear that ‘business as usual’ is some way off. Against this backdrop of reduced demand, suppliers to sectors such as automotive and aerospace are already vying to deliver the best performance and value.

Materials in Zotefoams’ AZOTE® polyolefin foams and ZOTEK® high-performance foams ranges are produced using a unique method that uses only temperature, pressure and pure nitrogen for expansion. The resulting closed cell, crosslinked materials are pure, consistent and – thanks to the unconstrained expansion that is a hallmark of the Zotefoams process – have excellent isotropic properties.

In use, this translates into benefits including weight reduction through unmatched strength to weight ratio, improved yield and ease and reliability of fabrication using a wide range of techniques.

AZOTE materials outperform foams produced by any other method: typically, a 2lb competitor foam can be replaced with a 1 or 11/2lb/ft3 AZOTE foam. This offers opportunities to significantly reduce the weight of packaging and fabricated or molded parts, giving cost savings at the time of purchase and weight savings throughout the life of the product. Where parts are regularly transported, or used in vehicles, lifetime fuel savings are considerable.

Zotefoams AZOTE® Foams Range Promise Competitive Edge

The isotropic nature of AZOTE foams is particularly beneficial to fabricators in that, with no restrictive directionality, parts can be cut in any orientation, maximizing yield. A further advantage of free expansion is that the product is completely uniform, unlike those produced in a mold or by a continuous process, which can feature inherent tension. This can result in unexpected shrinkage following processes such as die cutting, water jet cutting, increasing process waste. No such issues are experienced with AZOTE materials, which can also be reliably and repeatably thermoformed with fine detail, thanks to their consistency.

The AZOTE range includes static dissipative foams offering volume resistivity of less than 104 ohms.cms, or a surface resistivity of less than 104 ohms/sq, according to the ESD Association. These materials offer a slower, more controlled transfer of a static charge and have volume resistivity in the range 104 - 1011 ohms.cms and surface resistivity between 104 and 1011 ohms/sq, helping reduce the occurrence and cost of ESD damage when used within an ESD Control Program Plan. Again, the consistency of the material is key, as values remain consistent, top to bottom, end to end.

AZOTE foams have long been used in automotive components manufacture thanks to their ease of fabrication and purity, with a volatile organic compound (VOC) content minimal compared to that of foams produced by other manufacturers thanks to Zotefoams’ unique production methods.

This makes AZOTE the obvious choice for creating a clean environment in automotive interior as well as other forms of transportation.

The same purity brings real advantages when developing products that feature skin contact, such as athletic and military padding and personal protective equipment.

Zotefoams Inc. President, Dan Catalano, comments, “In the current climate, manufacturers are looking to maximize performance, save costs and minimize waste, all needs that are well served by our AZOTE foams, thanks to their consistency, purity and light weight. We are already working on many projects that will help our customers stay ahead of the competitive curve and expect to see more as markets return to growth. Recent capacity increases at our USA production facility ensure that we can meet our customers’ needs from a local source.”



MEE TING SCHEDULE

Monday, September 21, 2020

10:00am - 11:00am

11:00am - Noon

Noon - 1:00pm

1:00pm - 2:00pm

Communications Committee Meeting

MembershipCommittee Meeting

Program & LocationsCommittee Meeting

TechnicalCommittee Meeting

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

10:00am - 11:30am

1:00pm - 2:30pm

1:00pm - 2:30pm

CEO Forum

Fabricator Forum

Associate Member Meeting

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

10:00am - 10:30am

10:30am - Noon

1:30pm - 2:30pm

GFA Business Meeting

Guidance in an Uncertain Economy

By Taylor St. Germain, ITR Economics

New Member Presentations

This year’s GFA Fall Meeting is going virtual! The program will include committee meetings, interactive discussion sessions, member presentations, and a timely presentation by ITR Economics on how COVID-19 will impact the economy moving forward.

A platform for members to meet, network, and learn is more vital than ever during these challenging times, and the GFA is committed to continuing to offer members opportunities to engage and have meaningful discussions on the issues they are facing.

This meeting is being offered as a service to GFA members, and there is no registration fee to attend.

For all of the latest information on upcoming GFA events, please visit us online at www.gasketfab.com/events.

Guidance in an Uncertain EconomyTaylor St. Germain, ITR EconomicsWednesday, September 23rd, 10:30am

Never has it been more critical for decision makers to have a clear, impartial, and data-driven perspective of how factors such as COVID-19, the potential second wave, and the re-opened economies will impact companies moving forward. This session from ITR Economics will help you determine the best course of action for the most important part of the economy – you and your business. We will:

1. Look at a system of leading indicators proven to signal cyclical turns in the economy and markets.

2. Present the outlook for the market segments most important to your industry.

3. Assess interest rate and other financial market trends, including the latest information on stock market performance.

4. Cut through the noise and present our expectation of both the human and the business impact of these black swan events.


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How to Find Replacements for GORE® EMI Gasket Materials

by Dominic Testo, Specialty Silicone Products

Late last year, W.L. Gore announced that it would discontinue production of three GORE® EMI gasket materials: GS2100, GS5200, and GS8000. These well-known shielding, gasketing, and grounding products are used by many gasket fabricators. If you’ve been buying these GORE® materials for years, now is the time to find a new supplier.

Specialty Silicone Products (SSP), a manufacturer of EMI/RFI shielding materials, is offering replacements for these discontinued GORE® products. Since W.L. Gore’s end-of-life notification last year, we have received dozens of inquiries. Moreover, our Ballston Spa, New York (USA) facility is already working with former buyers of GS2100, GS5200, and GS8000.

For gasket fabricators, SSP’s ability to produce thin, low-outgassing, flame-resistant shielding elastomers is especially attractive. We can apply a conductive PSA adhesive, as well. Today, our website has new data sheets with information about ASTM 595 outgassing and UL94-V0 flame resistance testing. Additional product data sheets and a future white paper will provide complete product specifications and test data.

SSP’s replacement materials include a 40-durometer shielding silicone that is filled with nickel-coated graphite particles and that provides UL-94 V1 flame resistance. SSP-502-40-V0/V1 is recommended as a replacement material for GORE® GS2100, a carbon-filled cellular PTFE with 45-durometer hardness that meets UL-94-V0 requirements. (UL-94 V0 flame resistance for SSP-502-40-V0/V1 is pending.)

Another SSP EMI/RFI elastomer, SSP-502-60-V0, is a nickel-graphite shielding silicone with a 60-durometer hardness. It is recommended as a replacement for GORE® GS5200, a nickel-filled cellular PTFE with a 60-durometer hardness. Like GORE® GS2200, SSP-502-60-V0 meets UL 94 V-0 requirements for flame resistance.

SSP is also supplying two corrosion-resistant shielding elastomers that offer alternatives to discontinued GORE® EMI gasket materials. Both SSP-2529 and SSP-2551 are flame-resistant, very conductive, nickel-aluminum elastomers that have been tested to MIL-DTL-83528. SSP-2529 is a 68-durometer silicone. SSP-2551 is a 72-durometer fluorosilicone.


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Is Your Supply Chain Ready for the “New Normal”?

by Clyde Sharpe, Elasto Proxy

Due to COVID-19, inventories of raw materials and finished components are low. But just like before the pandemic, most manufacturers don’t know their true downtime costs. In fact, some companies underestimate factory downtime by as much as 300%. In the automotive industry, pre-pandemic downtime was costing OEMs over $1 million per hour. Your business may be smaller, but you still have plenty to lose proportionally.

Consider the example of a manufacturer with 150 production employees, each with an hourly rate of $50. Purchasing cannot get any of the rubber parts that Production needs, so the entire line comes to a halt. The total cost of employee downtime is $7,500/hour, an amount that does not include manufacturing overhead. Supply chain failure is still painful if the manufacturer can get only some of the rubber parts it requires. If just 70% of Production is operational, the total cost of employee downtime is $5,520/hour.

Whether you’re restarting production or ramping up manufacturing, the “new normal” of our COVID-19 world requires some fresh thinking. There are four ways to strengthen your supply chain.

#1 Determine Product AvailabilityCan your regular suppliers provide the parts or materials that you need when you need them? Find out. Don’t assume the answer is “yes”. If you can expect anything, it’s delays from businesses that were deemed “non-essential”. After all, they need to resume operations and ramp-up production, too. According to a recent Institute for Supply Management survey, almost 75% of U.S. companies have experienced disruptions in their supply chains as a result of transportation restrictions related to COVID-19. Unfortunately, their problems are now your problems, too.

#2 Understand Vendor CapabilitiesMany buyers do not know their vendors’ full capabilities. For example, some of Elasto Proxy’s customers think we’re just a distributor. Others think we’re just a gasket fabricator. Fewer know that we distribute materials, fabricate gaskets, source molded rubber products, make thermal-acoustic insulation, and provide other services. It’s easy to overlook a vendor’s additional capabilities when you’re busy, but don’t wait for a production stoppage to identify an overlooked vendor who can supply more of what you need.

#3 Look for More Ways to SaveBecause the supply of parts and materials is low, the prices you paid before the pandemic may have risen. If your company didn’t lock in vendor pricing, you need all the leverage you can get during price negotiations. Buying multiple products from a single supplier can help. It’s like a volume discount across multiple SKUs. Buying from fewer vendors also lets you reduce shipping costs, expedite receiving and handling, secure more favorable terms, and reduce the cost of processing payments.

#4 Monitor Vendor PerformanceWhen all of the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, manufacturers want to be busy as they meet pent-up demand. No matter how busy you get, remember to monitor vendor performance carefully. There’s always a cost to adding and maintaining vendors. So, is it better to have fewer vendors, but ones you can depend upon? Or does your company carry a list of suppliers that costs senior management plenty of money on vendor scorecards? As for today, can these vendors deliver during the “new normal”?


Four Steps to Selecting the Appropriate Adhesive Solution

by Deanne Lewis, Avery Dennison Performance Tapes

Choosing the right adhesive solution can be a daunting task. At Avery Dennison Performance Tapes, we know just how challenging it can seem. While pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) tapes are ideal for bonding to a variety of materials (including foam, rubber, painted and standard metal finishes, a range of plastics, and other low surface energy substrates), the options may seem unlimited. How can you choose the right solutions for you or your customer’s end use? The Avery Dennison Core Series™ Portfolio is designed to streamline your adhesive and construction selection process. To help converters select the right adhesive for a specific application, we have developed a product selection tool, with four simple steps, so you can find the exact tape solution you need. These steps include: 1. Lamination: What are you laminating to? 2. Surface Energy: What surfaces are you sticking to?3. End-Use Requirements: What are your application

requirements?4. Tape Construction: What tape construction do

you need?

Step 1 – Lamination: What Are You Laminating To? Is your adhesive for foam? Felt? Fabric? Film? Foil? Whichever your materials, we break it down into three categories:

• Foams, including polyether urethane, polyester urethane, dense urethane, sponge rubber foam, and silicone sponge foam

• Nonwovens, felts and fabrics• Films and foils

Knowing how well adhesives laminate to various materials can help you determine the best combination. Specific adhesives work better with specific materials. For example, general purpose rubber adhesives work very well with polyester urethane, dense urethane and sponge rubber foams. However, while an adhesive like our High-Performance Acrylic (HPA™) is not suited for those foams, it performs well with felts and fabrics.

Step 2 – Surface Energy: What surfaces are you bonding to?Surface energy—a measurement of a surface that indicates how something will bond to it—affects an adhesive’s ability to bond to that substrate. Using the


wrong adhesive on the wrong surface will not produce an effective bond. It is so important your adhesive works with the surface it is being adhered to. With this in mind, we look at four different surface energy types and their corresponding materials:

• High: Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Copper, Glass, Polyimide (Kapton®), Nylon, Polyester (PET) Film, Polyurethane Film

• Medium: ABS, Polycarbonate, Vinyl (PVC), Acrylic, Polystyrene

• Low: EVA, Powder Coated Paint, Polyethylene, Polypropylene, PVF

• Extra low: PTFE (Teflon™), Silicone Converters should always ask their customers what the construction will be adhered to before selecting an appropriate adhesive. Step 3 – End-Use Requirements: What are your application requirements?A tape construction may face a variety of situations during its lifecycle. And each situation faces unique challenges, depending on the end use. For example, a tape construction that will live under the hood of a car may be exposed to fuel, chemicals and extreme temperatures. This tape has very different end-use requirements than a construction used in the manufacture of exterior building materials that are exposed to UV light. Before choosing an adhesive, consider the following traits. Ask yourself, are any of these requirements needed for your application?

• Maximum service temperature• Humidity resistance • Solvent/chemical resistance• UV resistance• Shear strength• Initial tack• Price

Step 4 – Tape Construction: What tape construction do you need?Choosing the right construction, along with the optimal adhesives, can help a tape’s convertibility and performance. There are three constructions to consider:

• Transfer Tape - Single Liner/Double Liner• Single Coated Tape• Double Coated Tape/Differential

For example, an application may involve bonding to foam that is going to be die cut. There is a risk the foam will stretch and lose its desired shape when it is applied to its end-use substrate. So, in this case, the converter should consider using a double coated tape. The carrier will add dimensional stability that will help retain its shape. When choosing a construction, it is also important to consider the liner. There are five liner types we look at, each with its own attributes:

• Paper/Kraft (SCK)• Poly Coated Kraft (PCK)• 12 Pt. Board• Polypropylene (PP)• Polyester (PET)

Paper/Kraft is one of the most popular, as it is affordable and suitable for a variety of applications. A 12 Pt. Board liner can offer rigidity that is useful for small, hand-applied parts. Polypropylene offers high tear resistance and polyester film helps improve convertibility of small parts. ConclusionThe Core Series Portfolio is designed to make it easy for you to do business and choose the proper adhesive for applications in four simple steps. The Core Series features nine basic adhesive categories—general purpose rubber, high shear general purpose rubber, low VOC acrylic, general purpose acrylic, high performance low VOC acrylic, high shear acrylic, high performance acrylic, LSE modified acrylic and silicone. Additionally, four differential adhesive tapes are offered for bonding effectively to dissimilar substrates. The streamlined portfolio of 32 pressure-sensitive adhesive products, covers a large percentage of bonding and application solutions.


Casting Porosity

by Larry Pyle, LFP Technologies

The gasket is not always the cause of a leakage failure. The selection of the gasket type, material and design matches the parameter of the joint design and is tested and approved as meeting the requirements. It is incumbent on the manufacturer of the other joint components to provide parts which will allow a seal to be established and maintained. Flaws in the flanges or fasteners can contribute to leaking joints.

An issue which can be common with castings is the condition called porosity. Casting porosity can be caused by gas formation or solidification shrinkage while the metal is a liquid. If a casting needs to be pressure tight, then the porosity can allow gas and fluids to seep from the part. In addition, the porosity can weaken the casting. When these voids string together, they can create leakage paths, particularly in narrow or critical sections of the casting. As the amount of porosity increases in an aluminum or iron casting, it can become inter-connected and cause a leak path. The porosity makes the casting unusable for holding pressure in applications like pumps, compressors, transmissions, and plumbing fixtures. The following photos show various example of these flaws.

Gas porosity Trapped air or gasses can cause porosity on the surface or inside the casting. During the casting process, gas bubbles form as the material cools and solidifies in the casting mold. This is because the molten metal can hold a large amount of dissolved gas in its liquid form but not in its solid state. Air is present in the tool cavity and is easily trapped as metal fills the cavity. The air dispersed as small spheres of high-pressure air when the metal fills the cavity. Gas porosity can reduce the strength of the material in the affected part of the casting. So, it is important that this is eliminated or reduced as far as possible. Gas porosity can take the form of minute bubbles or larger holes such as blowholes or blisters. Surface defects can generally be detected by manual inspection but, if porosity is hidden inside the casting, it may be difficult to spot. In these instances, it would be picked up through dye penetrant or X-ray testing. Gas-related voids generally look like bubbles with a smooth interior. Gas porosity is always buoyant and will be near the top of the casting.


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Shrinkage-Related PorosityWhen a casting solidifies inside the tool, it always shrinks in size. Shrinkage-related porosity is caused by sections of a casting that solidify later than the surrounding sections, and do not have enough metal flow into the section to completely fill.

Macroporosity and MicroporosityThere are two general classifications of porosity found in metal parts: macroporosity in the form of large flaws in the part which may be visible to the naked eye, and microporosity in the form of very small, almost invisible voids. In powdered metal parts, the structure of the metal results in a condition like macroporosity in castings having low density, and microporosity in high density castings. The most common way to check for porosity is an X-ray of the material, using computerized tomography or by cutting and polishing a section and then analyzing it under a microscope.

Powdered MetalA situation like poured castings can exist with powdered metal parts. Porosity in powdered metal parts can cause severe plating problems where the plating chemicals are trapped in the pores. The entrapped plating chemicals expand with enough force to cause spotting on the plating. Impregnation of these powdered metal parts not only seals parts for pressure application but also improves the plating or finishing issues.

Prevention at the Manufacturing LevelTo prevent porosity, the material may be melted in a vacuum, in an environment of low-solubility gases, such as argon or carbon dioxide, or under a flux that prevents contact with the air. To minimize gas solubility, the superheat temperatures can be kept low. Various issues can cause gas porosity. Turbulence, from pouring the molten metal into the mold, can often introduce gasses. So, changing the pouring technique or altering the running system may be needed.

How to Remedy Casting PorosityThe most economical and successful approach to stop casting porosity is through vacuum impregnation. Vacuum impregnation is a method that seals the casting resulting from porosity. The impregnating sealant is introduced into the voids within the wall thickness of the casting through vacuum and/or pressure methods. This method is a cost effective and permanent solution to casting porosity. There is no limit to the size of castings which can be impregnated. Since the impregnation process occurs within the part, the vacuum impregnation process does not distort, discolor, or affect the casting.

When casting porosity causes leakage problems, bad parts are often sorted out by testing and inspection. Good parts that are sent to production are often as porous as the bad parts as many may have porosities which are bling and not completely interconnected. Subsequent machining, mechanical or stress often breaks the thin membrane which keeps the blind porosity hidden and can create a leakage path. Impregnation after the part is finished fills porosity from both sides filling leakage paths.

Impregnation technology seals leak in all ferrous and nonferrous metal, including die castings, sand castings, pressure castings, and powdered metal parts, as well as forgings or weldments. Iron, bronze, aluminum, zinc, magnesium, steel, sintered metal, as well as alloys of these metals can be impregnated.

The ideal penetrating sealant should be a low viscosity liquid containing no inert solvents, no filterable solid materials in suspension and producing no gaseous or liquid by-products on curing or transforming into an impervious solid. These properties allow the sealant to penetrate the tiniest openings and deepest recess of porosity by capillary action. Such a sealant can be drawn in by capillary forces where it may not be possible to push it using hydraulic pressure alone.

Vacuum impregnation achieves the results that casting engineers have sought for centuries: a leak-free and pressure tight casting that is economical and usable in all the applications required.


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Commonly Used Gasket Terms

by Larry Pyle, LFP Technologies

MD/CMD/Z-STRENGTH: These are common abbreviations for tensile strength properties of most materials used for gaskets. Ideally, the tensile strengths in the X and Y directions of any sheet of material should be the same. In most cases, however, they are not the same. MD means the tensile strength in the machine direction. Paper in particular is supposed to be random in its fiber orientation, however, it is run in a continuous process which allows the fibers in the mix to orient themselves, in varying degrees in the direction of machine travel. CMD means the tensile strength in the cross machine direction. If there are any differences between the tensile values between the MD and CMD tensile values, it is usually due to this orientation of fibers. This can easily be seen when tearing a piece of paper. It will easily tear in a straight line if torn parallel to the machine direction. Tearing at right angles to the MD, the tear will not be anywhere near straight.

Z-STRENGTH is the internal strength of the material. Suppose that the flat surfaces were glued to plates and then these plates pulled apart. Failure should occur within the material itself (cohesive failure). The value of the stress required to fail the material internally. This property manifests itself whenever the gasket material adheres to any flange surface upon removal, leaving material which will require additional removal. In most instances, the use of anti-stick coatings or material with higher Z-Strength will reduce the sticking problem. One material which has relatively poor Z-Strength is expanded graphite.

BASIS WEIGHT/AREA WEIGHT: The paper density of a type of paper or cardboard (or gasket paper) is the mass of the product per unit area. The term density is used somewhat incorrectly, as density is mass by volume. More precisely, “paper density” is a measure of the area density.

There are two ways of expressing paper density:• Expressed in grams per square meter (g/m2),

paper density of known as grammage. This is the term used by most of the world.

• Expressed in terms of the mass (in pounds), density is known as basis weight. The base size and area used depends on the product type. In gasket materials, it is common to use pounds/100 square feet as the basis.

• ASPECT RATIO: The aspect ratio of a shape is the ratio of the longer dimension to its shorter dimension. It may be applied to two characteristic dimensions of a three-dimensional shape, such as the ratio of the longest and shortest axis, or for symmetrical objects that are described by only two dimensions, such as the length and diameter of a rod. Aspect ratio is often used to describe the properties of fibers and various fillers in gasket materials. Generally speaking, the larger the aspect ratio of the primary fiber constituent in the material, the higher the tensile strength and flexibility of the sheet. The term Aspect Ratio is sometimes used to describe the ratio of surface area to volume of a fiber.


Benchmarking Report

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 8 - 31, 2020.

We had 37 out of 105 Fabricators respond.

1. Were sales for the second quarter of 2020 UP, DOWN, or the SAME compared to the first quarter of 2020?

2. Were sales for the second quarter of 2020 UP, DOWN, or the SAME compared to the second quarter of 2019?

3. Is your projection for the third quarter of 2020 UP, DOWN, or the SAME compared to the second quarter of 2020?

4. Is your projection for the third quarter of 2020 UP, DOWN, or the SAME compared to the third quarter of 2019?

Benchmarking Report: Fabricators

Up Down Same16% (06) 79% (29) 05% (02)

Up Down Same

Up Down Same24% (09) 62% (23) 14% (05)

35% (13) 60% (22) 05% (02)

Up Down Same19% (07) 76% (28) 05% (02)

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Aug17(50/103)

Dec17(30/104)

Mar18(35/106)

Aug18(23/108)

Dec18(22/107)

Mar19(22/108)

Aug19(23/104)

Dec19(13/104)

Mar20(24/103)

Aug20(37/105)

1. Fabricators - Most Recent Quarter Sales Compared to Previous Quarter

UP DOWN SAME

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Aug17(50/103)

Dec17(30/104)

Mar18(35/106)

Aug18(23/108)

Dec18(22/107)

Mar19(22/108)

Aug19(23/104)

Dec19(13/104)

Mar20(24/103)

Aug20(37/105)

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

UP DOWN SAME

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Aug17(50/103)

Dec17(30/104)

Mar18(35/106)

Aug18(23/108)

Dec18(22/107)

Mar19(22/108)

Aug19(23/104)

Dec19(13/104)

Mar20(24/103)

Aug20(37/105)

3. Fabrictors - Current Quarter Sales Projections Compared to Last Quarter

UP DOWN SAME

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Aug17(50/103)

Dec17(30/104)

Mar18(35/106)

Aug18(23/108)

Dec18(22/107)

Mar19(22/108)

Aug19(23/104)

Dec19(13/104)

Mar20(24/103)

Aug20(37/105)

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

UP DOWN SAME


Benchmarking Report: SuppliersBelow 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 8 - 31, 2020.

We had 43 out of 97 Suppliers respond.

1. Were sales for the second quarter of 2020 UP, DOWN, or the SAME compared to the first quarter of 2020?

2. Were sales for the second quarter of 2020 UP, DOWN, or the SAME compared to the second quarter of 2019?

3. Is your projection for the third quarter of 2020 UP, DOWN, or the SAME compared to the second quarter of 2020?

4. Is your projection for the third quarter of 2020 UP, DOWN, or the SAME compared to the third quarter of 2019?

Up Down Same25% (11) 70% (30) 05% (02)

Up Down Same25% (11) 72% (31) 03% (01)

Up Down Same25% (11) 54% (23) 21% (09)

Up Down Same54% (23) 23% (10) 23% (10)

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Aug17(37/104)

Dec17(39/107)

Mar18(32/103)

Aug18(20/105)

Dec18(24/101)

Mar19(21/97)

Aug19(21/97)

Dec19(20/97)

Mar20(23/92)

Aug20(43/97)

1. Suppliers - Most Recent Quarter Sales Compared to Previous Quarter

UP DOWN SAME

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Aug17(37/104)

Dec17(39/107)

Mar18(32/103)

Aug18(20/105)

Dec18(24/101)

Mar19(21/97)

Aug19(21/97)

Dec19(20/97)

Mar20(23/92)

Aug20(43/97)

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

UP DOWN SAME

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Aug17(37/104)

Dec17(39/107)

Mar18(32/103)

Aug18(20/105)

Dec18(24/101)

Mar19(21/97)

Aug19(21/97)

Dec19(20/97)

Mar20(23/92)

Aug20(43/97)

3. Suppliers - Current Quarter Sales Projections Compared to Last Quarter

UP DOWN SAME

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Aug17(37/104)

Dec17(39/107)

Mar18(32/103)

Aug18(20/105)

Dec18(24/101)

Mar19(21/97)

Aug19(21/97)

Dec19(20/97)

Mar20(23/92)

Aug20(43/97)

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

UP DOWN SAME

The Gasket Fabricator The Gasket Fabricator is published by the GFA and is distributed to all members and prospective members.

President .............................................................Shelby Ricketts Vice President .......................................................David SolidaySecretary/Treasurer.............................................Chuck Keeley Communications Committee Chair.............Petra Schaefer Long Range Planning Committee Chair.........Shelby Ricketts Membership Committee Chair................. ...Judette Savino Program & Locations Committee Chair.............Carl StoberTechnical Committee Chair.............................Rebecca BloseExecutive Director....................................................Peter LanceAdministrative Director..............................James Wolfington

Members are encouraged to contribute articles and items of interest to [email protected].

The Gasket Fabricator newsletter is a copyrighted publication of the Gasket Fabricators Association (GFA) and any rights not expressly granted herein are reserved. The reproduction, transfer, or distribution of part or all of the contents in any form without prior written permission of the GFA is strictly prohibited. The articles and content appearing in this publication are provided for general information purposes only and are not intended to constitute advice. No claim is made as to the accuracy or authenticity of the newsletter content and the GFA specifically disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions, losses, damages, or results of any actions based upon the information contained in the newsletter. The articles and content appearing in the publication represent the views of the authors and not

necessarily those of the GFA.

© 2020 Gasket Fabricators Association. All rights reserved.

Learn about Technical Innovations and Emerging Technologies from the Comfort of Your Home with the GFA's Industry-Specific Technical Webinars!Head over to the members only area of the GFA's website by clicking on "Members Only" from the homepage for on demand viewing! If you have forgotten your username or password, please contact the GFA office at [email protected].

UL Flame and Gasket Ratings UncoveredDiscover the ins and outs of UL94, a flammability standard, and UL50E, an electrical enclosure standard. This session also provides information on the various ratings that are typically used.

Estimator's Guide to Basic GasketingThis five part series is a perfect introduction to gasketing, and the gasket industry. Learn everything from understanding the application to cutting processing techniques.

A Guide to Material SelectionChoosing the right material can be difficult. Make it easier with this in-depth guide. You will be provided with a plethora of information regarding elastomer products, gasketing materials, and foams.

Equipment SeriesThis series makes it easier to select the right equipment for your needs by examining relative advantages and disadvantages of various types.

The ABCs of PSAsThis series will give you a thorough insight into pressure-sensitive adhesives, liners, carriers, and end user processing considerations.

Introduction to UL Evaluation of Gaskets and SealsGet an overview of UL's Gasket and Seals Certification program.

Documents

oume 39 umber 2 Summer 2020 The latest on all …oume 39 umber 2 Summer 2020 The latest on all things GFA 610-971-4850 [email protected] @gasketfab Where Fabricators and Suppliers