My Packing Gland is Leaking! Help, ValveMan!

Blog posted by Gilbert Welsford on Jun 12th 2012

June 2012, Philadelphia, PA: A Fortune 500 company that designs and manufactures industrial and laboratory ovens and furnaces and environmental temperature cycling and stability test chambers contacted ValveMan.

They called when the vacuum in their chambers to create silica crystals were not holding. The problem was chronic and could potentially cost the company millions of dollars. They told ValveMan that they had discovered air was getting into the chamber through leaks in the ball valve’s packing glands in which they had purchased from other suppliers. There was also positive pressure in the ball when the valve was in the off positions which caused a fluctuation in the vacuum in the chamber. 

ValveMan’s solution was to install the 3″VMDM2500 pneumatically actuated, spring return, ball valve with aNEMA 4 solenoid. ValveMan supplied the valve with a vented ball which means they drilled a hole on the upstream side of the ball so when the valve was in a closed position and a vacuum was pulled, there was a vacuum in the ball as well. They also fixed the degradation of the packing gland issue by supplying a valve with high quality standards. Happy with the outcome, the Fortune 500 company has bought hundreds of the VMDM2500 series valves for their pure silica crystal manufacturing chambers.

Contact ValveMan for all your valve needs. We’re your one-stop valve shop.

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Gilbert Welsford

Valve industry Engineering Business operations and leadership Sales and customer service Product knowledge Sector-specific knowledge Project management Innovation and industry trends

Gilbert Welsford, a renowned valve industry expert and third-generation owner of FS Welsford Company, is the visionary behind ValveMan.com, a leading platform for valve-related products. Gilbert's profound understanding of fluid dynamics and precision engineering plays a pivotal role in designing and applying various valve types. Known for his collaborative approach and outstanding communication skills, he builds strong relationships across multiple sectors and consistently ensures successful project outcomes. Committed to innovation and excellence, Gilbert remains at the forefront of industry advancements, consistently delivering solutions that exceed expectations.