Jim Drago

Gaskets are ubiquitous components in a processing plant. Every flange, equipment joint and connection point will have some form of gasket to prevent fluids from compromising (i.e., leaking from) a process system. However, effective sealing can pose challenges. A new form of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) gasket, GYLON EPIX^®, already has successfully addressed a number of persistent problems at plants.

There are many aged and aging process plants in operation today. In fact, many of the processing plants for power, chemicals, oil, etc., have been in service for more than 50 years. And while the piping itself may remain intact, their bolted flange gasket joints and connections are becoming misaligned, corroded and damaged due to repeated handling, chemical exposure and thermal cycling. This can lead to costly ruptures that may result in millions of dollars in damages, downtime, noncompliance penalties, irreparable environmental impact and litigation.

The search for the ideal Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) gasket has been elusive. Competing applications and workplace variables have led to the creation of myriad solutions, yet none that has proven fully adaptable and appropriate for universal adoption. Garlock Sealing Technologies considered this to be a critical yet entirely solvable shortcoming.

Jim Drago co-authors an article on improper gasketed joints in a heat exchanger and what one real world application suffered. Written for the Fluid Sealing Association's Sealing Sense, but republished in Pumps and Systems' March 2017 issue. 

An article written by Jim Drago for August's issue of Environmental Protection discussing how Leak Detection and Repair Programs are changing and what plants can do to accomodate the requirements.

Jim Drago talks about the evolution of Fugitive Emissions in the June version of Valve World.

An article written by Jim Drago and Stan Chen for the April/May issue of Pollution Equipment Magazine. 

An article written by Chemical Processing but features quotes and technical knowledge from Jim Drago from Garlock regarding emissions.

An article written by Jim Drago for Chemical Engineering's October Issue regarding emissions control and compliance.

Jim Drago writes about how to interpret sealing data in order to help provide confidence in the process of selecting application-appropriate materials.