Original Furon & Seals History

Extremely low temperature cryogens such as LOX & LH2 precluded the use of ‘soft’ & ‘hard‘ seal materials as elastomers became as hard as aluminum and metals became brittle, losing their ductility.

Another problem inherent with metallic gaskets was the tremendous bolt load required to affect a seal. These high loads meant heavy flanges & numerous large bolts resulting in unacceptable weight penalties. Another obstacle to using conventional seals was their chemical incompatibility with hypergolic propellants such as UDMH, nitrous tetroxide and oxidizers.

Some of these propellants could wreak chemically induced damage due to leakage while others such as UDMH created serious and sometimes deadly health problems in vapor form.

This caused major disruptions in the industry, Key space companies such as Aerojet General, North American Rocketdyne, Lockheed & others spent millions of dollars (or lost millions due to contract delays) to solve these seal leakage problems. Most of the manufacturers experimented with or attempted to use PTFE (Teflon) but rejected its use as a sealing material early on due to its propensity to exhibit excessive creep (cold flow), even at room temperature

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Pro​viding Value to Industry Since 1884

​Arthur "A.W." Chesterton launched Chesterton Company, a purveyor of steamboat and engineering supplies, on the Boston, Massachusetts,​ waterfront in 1884. His focus—much as the company operates today—was connecting customers quickly to the product solutions they needed, and this approach was met with success. Before long, the company became a manufacturer as well a distributor.​

​Pump Packing & Gasketing​

In 1895, Chesterton introduced its own line of pump packing and gasketing— ​and the company's focus on industrial sealing solutions was born. Over the next few decades, the organization introduced a number of advanced packing products resistant to high te​mperatures and chemical exposure.

International Expansion

​In 1905, Chesterton evolved to include​ national distribution in the United States and by the 1950s the company was expanding internationally with sales and manufacturing in Mexico and distribution in Asia (Japan).

​​Mechani​​cal Sealing​

The 1960s saw Chesterton venturing into the mechanical seals arena. By the mid-1980s, Chesterton had launched over 8 innovative mechanical sealing solutions, including the first off-the-shelf single cartridge mounted seal and the first commercially viable split mechanical seal, which eliminated shaft wear and hours of costly equipment teardown.​

​Over the decades, Chesterton added industrial lubricants and cleaners to its equipment prot​ection offerings, and started up a hydraulic sealing business that included developing proprietary, high-performance polymer materials.

​Over a Century of Achievements

By 2000, Chesterton employees could look back on a long history of award-winning mechanical seals, pump packings, hydraulic seals, and lubricants, including many Vaaler awards, two seals named "Product of the Year" by Plant Engineering in 1992, the flagship 442™ Split Mechanical Seal, and the first braided graphite tape packing guaranteed to meet the stringent Clean Air Environmental Standard.

​​Solutions & Knowledge​

Chesterton has grown ​from a manufacturer of sealing devices to a comprehensive solutions provider for plant equipment reliability and efficiency, improved plant maintenance, and reduced use of natural resources.

Our extensive experience and knowledge across the energy and process industries​ makes us the go-to company for solving the most difficult sealing and equipment reliability challenges. Chesterton now offers 500 sales/service locations around the world and has over 1,100 employees in 27 countries.

Backed by the same sense of purpose and pride that inspired our founder and Chesterton's rich history, we continue to evolve to provide the transformative solutions and expertise needed to help our customers meet plant operation goals, regulatory challenges, and resource reduction as quickly and cost-efficiently as possible.​