PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Steve Hanson In This Issue President’s Message Page 1 New Association Members Page 2 Future Meeting Schedule Page 2 Meet the New GFA Directors Page 3 Company Profiles Pages 3 & 5 Press Release Page 6 Committee Updates Pages 8 & 9 Long Term Members Page 9 Spring Meeting Photos Pages 10 & 11 Fiber Gasket Compressibility Pages 12 & 13 Surface Conditions Pages 15, 16 & 17 The Solution May Be in the Carrier Pages 17 & 18 Lawrence A. Hillman 1947-2011 Page 18 Every Gasket Leaks Page 19 Benchmarking Report Page 19 Volume 30 Number 2 August 2011 Hello fellow GFA members and potential members! Recently, I attended a multi-day meeting with other parts fabricators and sat next to an owner who is not a GFA member now. She expressed moderate interest in becoming a GFA member, which launched a conversation about GFA idiosyncrasies. Questions came up including, “Is GFA a good old boys club? Is it a means of taking trips to exotic places? What has your company gained from being a member?” My responses were not intended to “sell her the GFA” or “bag a new member”. I understand her concerns and share them myself. When we discussed the changing face of the 2011 GFA and the future ahead, I had these personal insights come into view. GFA meetings are efficient forums for leaders who are personally committed to making their companies stronger. In my case, I believe that being a GFA member helps me hold myself accountable to my personal business goals. Putting it in negative terms, I will work to avoid showing up at a GFA meeting with other leaders, twice a year, with incomplete work at my company. I’m amazed at the pace set by GFA member companies at moving initiatives forward. Year after year I’ve seen consistent growth occur at GFA member companies. How do members choose their top initiatives and set them successfully into motion? Working on the business requires tenacious focus to avoid distractions. Not too many initiatives all at once. Best practices from other companies are shared at the meetings, formally and informally. It’s truly inspiring and satisfying to learn and grow our individual companies together as a group. You all give me confidence to declare that I’m working on the right stuff (sometimes!). When times are rough, my GFA relationships give me moral support. I believe we all have an opportunity to develop new GFA relationships by getting involved on a committee. Working alongside a fellow fabricator/ supplier can lead to priceless friendships. I’ve learned to trust the process. GFA members have told me that their GFA network has made the difference and helped them capture million dollar results for their company, when a blossoming opportunity requires a rapid solution from a capable team. So, I hope my new friend will join the GFA and enjoy the give and take that will make her company stronger. New people joining the GFA are great. They are the changing face of the GFA. Today’s top GFA initiatives will evolve when new members join committees and impact the GFA future. This will sustain the GFA’s freshness and relevancy to members. One last invitation to be part of a communications experiment, please add these tools to your toolbox and let’s talk about what results occur for you. • Do you prominently link your company website to the GFA website? • And would you consider adding a GFA web link to your email signature? Have a great summer and prepare for the next GFA meeting in Texas this September!
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Steve Hanson
In This IssuePresident’s MessagePage 1
New Association MembersPage 2
Future Meeting SchedulePage 2
Meet the New GFA DirectorsPage 3
Company ProfilesPages 3 & 5
Press Release Page 6
Committee UpdatesPages 8 & 9
Long Term MembersPage 9
Spring Meeting PhotosPages 10 & 11
Fiber Gasket CompressibilityPages 12 & 13
Surface Conditions Pages 15, 16 & 17
The Solution May Be in the CarrierPages 17 & 18
Lawrence A. Hillman 1947-2011
Page 18
Every Gasket Leaks
Page 19
Benchmarking Report
Page 19
Volume 30 Number 2 August 2011
Hello fellow GFA members and potential members!
Recently, I attended a multi-day meeting with other
parts fabricators and sat next to an owner who is not a GFA
member now. She expressed moderate interest in becoming
a GFA member, which launched a conversation about GFA
idiosyncrasies. Questions came up including, “Is GFA a good
old boys club? Is it a means of taking trips to exotic places?
What has your company gained from being a member?” My
responses were not intended to “sell her the GFA” or “bag a new
member”. I understand her concerns and share them myself.
When we discussed the changing face of the 2011 GFA and
the future ahead, I had these personal insights come into view. GFA meetings are efficient
forums for leaders who are personally committed to making their companies stronger. In my
case, I believe that being a GFA member helps me hold myself accountable to my personal
business goals. Putting it in negative terms, I will work to avoid showing up at a GFA meeting
with other leaders, twice a year, with incomplete work at my company.
I’m amazed at the pace set by GFA member companies at moving initiatives forward.
Year after year I’ve seen consistent growth occur at GFA member companies. How do
members choose their top initiatives and set them successfully into motion? Working on the
business requires tenacious focus to avoid distractions. Not too many initiatives all at once.
Best practices from other companies are shared at the meetings, formally and informally. It’s
truly inspiring and satisfying to learn and grow our individual companies together as a group.
You all give me confidence to declare that I’m working on the right stuff (sometimes!).
When times are rough, my GFA relationships give me moral support. I believe we all
have an opportunity to develop new GFA relationships by getting involved on a committee.
Working alongside a fellow fabricator/ supplier can lead to priceless friendships. I’ve
learned to trust the process. GFA members have told me that their GFA network has made
the difference and helped them capture million dollar results for their company, when a
blossoming opportunity requires a rapid solution from a capable team.
So, I hope my new friend will join the GFA and enjoy the give and take that will make
her company stronger. New people joining the GFA are great. They are the changing face
of the GFA. Today’s top GFA initiatives will evolve when new members join committees and
impact the GFA future. This will sustain the GFA’s freshness and relevancy to members.
One last invitation to be part of a communications experiment, please add these tools to
your toolbox and let’s talk about what results occur for you.
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Committee Updates Continued on page 9
August 2011Page 8
GFA Committee UpdatesCommunications David Soliday,Chairman
The Communications
committee is working on
a number of activities to
streamline and update how
information will be shared in
the future.
With participation on ‘key performance surveys’
somewhat less than desirable, the committee received
suggestions for improvements. The go forward plan
includes a questionnaire mailing that when responded to
and tabulated, will provide an abbreviated yet informative
measurement device for future use. Additionally, the GFA
newsletter will include testimonials from members that
will be shared to stimulate new member participation.
The website is being revamped with the GFA’s marketing
consultant, Lauron Sonnier to bring an up to date visual
theme into play. The Communications Committee is always
interested in hearing suggestions and thoughts for making
the GFA a positive and favorable organization. Please join us
at our next meeting.
Programs and Locations Shelby Ricketts,Chairman
Location, location,
location. This often-used phrase
is the answer to the question
“What are the three most
important things to know about
real estate?” Likewise, the importance of location cannot be
overstated when planning our GFA meetings.
To that end, the Programs and Locations Committee
has planned an exciting range of locations, beginning with
the scenic Hyatt Lost Pines Resort in Lost Pines, Texas. After
the positive reviews from our meeting in San Antonio, the
committee decided to select another central Texas location.
The Hyatt Lost Pines Resort is a short, 20 minute drive
from the Austin-Bergstrom Airport, making access easy for
everyone. This quiet, 405 acre retreat is set squarely in the
middle of the Texas hill country, next to the Colorado River,
making it the perfect location to relax, unwind and visit with
other GFA members.
Terry Galanis and Steve Pendergast have graciously
agreed to co-chair next year’s Gasketing/ Converting Expo,
which promises to again be an industry-leading event.
The Expo will be held at the Hilton Orlando hotel. The
International Association of Diecutting and Diemaking and
the Fluid Sealing Association will again be co-sponsors of
the event.
In 2012, we have confirmed Denver, Colorado as the
host city for our fall meeting. The Long Range Committee
has suggested that we consider focusing on a series of
sales-related issues such as prospecting, cold calling and
other sales techniques to generate more interest in our
members bringing their sales staffs to meetings. Some
members have used the GFA meetings as an opportunity
to hold their own company sales meetings, and we want
to foster a sales-oriented environment, since sales issues
are always a well-received topic. Should you have any
suggestions regarding interesting sales presenters you have
seen, please let a member of the Programs and Locations
Committee know.
On the Program side, the Committee is renewing
its commitment to delivering content from its members
with “Fabricator Success Stories.” This fall, the focus will be
on what gains fabricators can make by enhancing their
presence on the web. We will also continue with the CEO
Luncheon Series and roundtable discussions that have
been successful during the last GFA meetings. We always
encourage as much member content as possible and, even
though many of our members don’t like to brag about their
successes, it is important for the GFA membership to share
thoughts, ideas and best practices during our meetings.
Please feel free to present any thoughts or ideas you have to
the Programs and Locations committee. Don’t be afraid to
stop in and attend our meeting this fall, either.
We look forward to seeing you in Texas this
September!
August 2011Page 9
Technical CommitteeJim Ward, Chairman
The principal function of the Technical Committee is
to inform and educate. The Technical Committee of the GFA
directs the programming of technical information available
to the membership during the semi-annual meetings,
through the GFA newsletter, and through the GFA web site.
The committee also organizes the placement of member
information available at the web site and selects the
categories in which the member information is separated.
The latest innovation developed by the Technical
Committee is the GFA technical webinar. The purpose
behind the webinar is to offer each member the opportunity
to view general information pertinent to the industry from
the convenience of their own facility with the added bonus
of including as many member associates to the education
process as possible. The webinars are designed to inform
(not advertise) members and their associates about
materials, equipment, and services available to every GFA
member organization.
The most popular service currently offered through
the Technical Committee is the technical articles in the
GFA newsletter. Topics and information for these articles
are suggested and recommended during the Technical
Committee meetings. The articles are professionally
prepared through a technical writing firm or through GFA
member volunteers.
The Technical Committee also selects the program
for the technical sessions during the bi-annual Gasketing /
Converting Expo as well as the technical content for future
GFA meetings.
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
about and possibly offer your expertise in the industry.
Long Term MembersIra Warren As I celebrate the
beginning of my 36th year as the CEO
of Frank Lowe Rubber & Gasket Co.,
Inc., I think about those experiences
which have helped me get to where
I am today. One of those which
deserve significant credit has been
my membership in the GFA.
I joined the Gasket Fabricators Association in the late 1980’s
and then took a short leave of absence during the years prior to
my divorce. I returned in the early 1990’s and have been an active
member ever since. When I first joined, it was for the opportunity
to socialize with my peers, while sharing and gaining the insight
necessary for success. What better way to get that knowledge
and promote the industry than in the company of a group of great
people, many of whom were dealing with similar struggles and
obstacles as I. We often hear that as a CEO, it is lonely at the top and
the friendships I have made have been invaluable.
Another priceless benefit of the GFA has been the
opportunity to create relationships with the principals or senior
members of current and future suppliers. The opportunities
created by those relationships are so very vital to the success of
my company as well as mutually beneficial to the suppliers who
became part of Frank Lowe’s family of partners. And, lastly, the wide
variety of knowledge gained from the speakers has been the icing
on the cake.
Needless to say, the GFA has been an integral part of the
growth of Frank Lowe Rubber & Gasket.
David Soliday Chicago Wilcox Mfg. views the
GFA as a very cost effective way to
share information with suppliers about
today’s customer challenges. We
have received many suggestions and
solutions for material and fabrication
options. Additionally, the forum
discussions provide thoughts for
efficiencies in business that we may have not realized without our
participation.
Committee Updates(Continued from Page 8)
August 2011Page 10
Spring 2011 Meeting PhotosPGA National Resort & Spa, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Steve Hanson presenting Don Rauch with a plaque for his
contributions as a member of the Board of Directors from
2005 – 2011
Chet Conte presenting at the General Session
Dr. Jeff Dietrich with the Institute for Trend Research
presenting at the General Session
First Time Attendees: Travis Francy, MACtac and Bob Grant,
Marian Milwaukee
First Time Attendees: Rocky Pulsinelli, AM Rubber & Foam
Gaskets; Karan Talwar, Talbros Cork Rubber; Tony Stillinger,
The Seal Group @ Gatlin Corp.; Jenn Neuwirth, Avery
Dennison; and Joe Bliss, JBC Technologies, Inc.
First Time Attendees: Mike Hurrle, Marian Chicago; Wayne
Tangel, Adhesive Applications; Ida Elliott, Caldwell Gasket;
Bob Major, Lintec of America; Andy Fondakowski, Adhesive
Applications; and Angela Dreis, 3M
August 2011Page 11
August 2011Page 12
Selecting the right gasket material for an
application is a difficult and complex process. Making the
correct decision requires a lot of input information; first
you need to know all of the engineering data about the
application and second you need to know the performance
characteristics of the materials that are being considered.
Knowing the compressibility characteristics of a material is a
vital part of this decision making process.
The compressibility of a gasket material must
meet or exceed the requirements of the application. It’s
important to understand how the compressibility values are
determined and how to use the information.
Given the sealing stress found in an application,
it’s vital to select a material that will seal at the known
stresses and conform or compress to all the flange surface