VALVE MAGAZINE Fall 2025

FEATURE NAME HERE

This connection matters, because the earliest sealing materials used in pumps and valves came directly from ropemaking. Braided fibers — coated in waxes, tallow or oils — were packed around moving shafts to keep steam, water or product contained. The first packings were simply rope with a job to do. The story begins with rope. And then it follows the rise of industry. James Watt and the steam engine As industry expanded,

Tamping valve packing during installation.

sealing demands grew. One of the turning points came with James Watt in the late 1700s. Watt did not invent the steam engine, but he improved it so dramatically that it became practical for widespread use. His key improvement, the separate condenser, allowed the engine cylinder to stay hot while exhaust steam was condensed elsewhere, increasing efficiency. But to take advantage of that improvement, the engine had to hold steam pressure. The rods and pistons passed through openings that leaked. Any loss of steam meant loss of power and wasted coal. The solution was familiar to rope makers: braided packing. Watt and others packed the space around moving rods with braided fibers that had been coated with grease or animal fat. The packing needed to seal pressure while still allowing motion and had to be adjusted over time to maintain performance. This simple idea — a flexible material that can seal while something moves through it — remains the core purpose of valve packing today. Packing has always existed where motion and pressure meet. What packing does in valves In a valve, packing seals the gap between the valve stem and the stuffing box so that fluid does not escape. The packing must maintain this seal while the stem moves through multiple cycles, temperature changes and pressure variations. Even though packing makes up a small portion of the valve’s cost, its job has a big impact on safety, reliability and compliance. If packing does not perform, the results can be serious. Product loss can increase operating cost. Leaks can create fire or safety risks. Extra friction can make a valve difficult to operate or cause stem wear. And in today’s regulatory environment, leakage can also create reportable emissions events.

Emissions monitoring of valve.

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WINTER 2024 FALL 2025