Garlock Sealing Technologies is a subsidiary of Enpro Company that produces sealing products. Garlock has a global presence, with 1,887 employees, at 14 facilities, in twelve countries.

History

In the later nineteenth century, Olin J. Garlock devised a better way to seal piston rods in industrial steam engines. The invention led to the creation of Garlock Sealing Technologies. Founded in 1887, in Palmyra, New York. For a detailed history of Garlock from its founding in 1887 until the takeover by Colt Industries in 1976, see Garlock - The First Eighty-Eight Years 1887-1975, written by Robert M. Waples and son. (Waples was President then Chairman 1955-1960)

Industries

Garlock provides fluid sealing solutions for the following industries: petrochemical, chemical processing, and refining, pulp and paper, power generation, electronics, steel mills, food and pharmaceutical, mining and original equipment manufacturers.

Patented products

Some of Garlock's sealing products include KLOZURE oil seals, bearing isolators and mechanical seals; GYLON gasketing, CEFIL'AIR pneumatic seals and HELICOFLEX metal seals; sheet rubber products, valve and pump packing, hydraulic seals, molded rubber products, expansion joints, butterfly valves, LubriKup oil seals, pump diaphragms and THERMa-PUR high temperature material. Some of these products have US and International patent protection, including Australia.

Partnerships and recent news

Litigation

Gore-Tex

In the 1970s, Garlock infringed W. L. Gore and Associates patents and was sued by Gore in the Federal District Court of Ohio. After a "bitterly contested case" that "involved over two years of discovery, five weeks of trial, the testimony of 35 witnesses (19 live, 16 by deposition), and over 300 exhibits," (quoting the Federal Circuit) the District Court held Gore's patents to be invalid. On appeal, however, the Federal Circuit disagreed in the famous case of Gore v. Garlock, reversing the lower court's decision on the ground, inter alia, that Cropper forfeited any superior claim to the invention by virtue of having concealed the process for making ePTFE from the public, thereby establishing Gore as the legal inventor.

Asbestos

Garlock has been subject to multiple lawsuits regarding asbestos, which were components of earlier products. Now, Garlock produces only asbestos free products. Some of the notable suits include: