Last week, Specialty Silicone Products (SSP) traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana for the Fall 2024 Meeting of the Gasket Fabricators Association (GFA). As a material supplier and Associate GFA Member, we were eager to hear what’s on the minds of fabricators and converters.
SSP’s Kevin Wickert, Sales and Marketing Manager, and Gary Falchi, Business Development Specialist, made the trip to the Big Easy. In between technical discussions and industry networking, SSP gained three insights we’d like to share with you.
- Help is on the way if you’re confused about versions of materials specs.
- Suppliers, converters, and testing laboratories are your allies in this effort.
- Sitting on the sidelines won’t help. Now is the time to get involved and connect.
Material Specifications
Throughout the rest of 2024 and into 2025, the GFA’s Technical Committee will compile up-to-date information about material specifications. This group consists of Associate members (like SSP) who supply goods or equipment, and Converters.
With silicones, there are four specifications of special concern.
With MIL-DTL-83528, for example, the current revision is different for each lettered type of material. That can cause confusion among fabricators, especially because the current version may not be what they’ve been referencing.
When the organizations that maintain material specifications don’t have a formal notification process about changes, fabricators need to somewhere to turn. SSP is doing its part to help, and the GFA’s converter members plan to create supporting technical materials.
Testing Laboratories
Thanks to the GFA’s efforts, testing laboratories will also have an important role to play. The GFA plans to work with various testing organizations to leverage their knowledge of current specifications-level callouts and testing requirements.
If you’ve viewed products on SSP’s website before, you’re probably familiar with the types of reports these organizations compile. For example, SSP2486-70 is an EMI silicone (and offset to Chomerics CHO-SEAL 1298) with a third-party shielding report from DLS Electronic Systems, Inc.
Ask SSP About the GFA
Would you like to know more about the GFA and how working together with your industry peers can help you overcome common challenges? Whether you read about our work with the GFA in blogs, emails, or on LinkedIn posts, SSP is always willing to make a connection.
Contact us to get started.
