Contribution: Congratulations on the 90th
Anniversary Year of the Founding
Valqua Review was inaugurated in 1957 to promote and introduce ourtechnologies under our core principle of value and quality, from which ourcompany derives its name. We take pride in our technologies and have worked
hard to develop various seal products ahead of other companies.
In this 90th anniversary issue, I would like to share with our valued readers
a summary of the products we have developed.
I joined Valqua in 1958 as Japan was emerging from the post-World War II era and as the economy
and society were starting to prosper. At that time, the energy source was switching from coal to oil.
Accordingly, petrochemical complexes were built all around Japan and the production of petroleum
derivatives started, creating a need for new seal products.
• Fluororesin Products
Fluororesin was developed in the U.S. and has unconventional heat and chemical resistance. We
noted the benefits and aimed to incorporate fluororesin products into our product lines. To achieve
this goal, we sent our employees to the U.S. in 1956, where they learned processing techniques, thenwe started to process fluororesin in our Atsugi plant for the first time in Japan. Thereafter, weSpring 2017

started to develop and market chemically resistant fluororesin lining pipes and lining vessels. Also,
we made use of the electrical characteristics of fluororesin, especially its high-frequency properties,
to produce electric parts, and started manufacturing and marketing these parts.
However, since fluororesin is a resin, it was difficult to use it on its own as a seal product. So, we
combined fluororesin with rubber, felt, and metal; designed the shapes of fluororesin products; andNo.32

then produced and marketed seal products (including envelop gaskets). We received DuPont's
prestigious Plunkett Award for our remarkable development of fluororesin products, and received
the award again later.
• Lineup of Rubber Products
Regarding rubber, which is a seal material, new types of rubber material were developed andmarketed one after another. Accordingly, training sessions on these newly developed rubbers andrubber additives were held, taught by various academics. We were lucky to attend such sessions tolearn about techniques for rubber. To fully investigate whether each of these various rubber materials
was suitable for use as a seal material, we combined each rubber material, vulcanized the combined
products, soaked them in various chemical solutions, analyzed the changes in swelling rate andphysical properties, and tabulated the results to determine whether the material could be used or not.
• Alternative Product to Asbestos
The major seal material since before WW II had been asbestos. Thanks to its heat resistance,
chemical resistance, and low cost, asbestos had been used not only for various seal materials but also
as a construction material. However, it was found that asbestos damages the respiratory organs, soits use started to be banned. The ban was then extended to the seal industry, so we needed to19

develop non-asbestos products. The staff in our development department struggled to find appropriate
substitutes for asbestos for joint sheet, Valquatight Gasket（spiral wound gasket）, gland packing, andothers. But thanks to their efforts, substitute materials were found including carbon fiber, foamedcarbon, and aramid fiber. After repeated development and testing, our lineup of alternative products
was finally completed.
• Products Associated with the Nuclear Power Industry
Around 1970, nuclear power stations started to be built throughout Japan under the energy policy ofthat time. Accordingly, seal materials for the nuclear power industry were developed one after
another. Metal bellows, flectors, rubber boots, foamed-carbon products, inflation seals, and otherproducts were developed. Other industries then started to use these products; flectors were often
used as flexible joints for ducts of desulfurization equipment and NOx removal equipment.
• Automobile Industry
We have manufactured industrial braking systems since our establishment. As automobile technologies
changed, we led the way and developed unique products including a clutch facing for automobiles,
sealing-rubber products for electrical components（seals for harnesses）, and oil sheet gaskets.

As a pioneering company, we have also developed and manufactured industrial mechanical seals
domestically, and have focused on developing the main seal materials including mechanical seal

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• Mechanical Seals

materials for car coolers. We have also produced seal materials with excellent sealing properties
which can be used instead of gland packings.

No.32• Valve Production
We have long produced piston valves which used packings as seal materials. After the production offluororesin started, we developed ball valves which used fluororesin as a seal material for the chemicalindustry and other industries, and started production. Many chemical firms have since used our ballvalves. Also, for highly corrosive chemical solutions, we developed various lining valves made fromfluororesins, and also developed our unique, long-life, cylinder-type valves which can open and close
rapidly. These valves have been used in many iron-making machines and gas generators.
• Development of Corrosion-resistant Seal materials
Seal materials always come in contact with metals. When metal-corrosion problems at the contact
surface occurred in Japan, the need for corrosion-resistant seal materials emerged. So, we worked
with universities and other institutions to develop corrosion-resistant gaskets and packings. During
these projects, we identified corrosive elements in seal materials and optimized the mix of ingredientsand sealing properties ahead of other companies. Our pioneering achievements greatly influenced theconcept of seal materials thereafter.

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• Development of Seals for Construction Machinery
During the construction boom, construction machinery was produced one after another. Most
machines were hydraulic-driven, and seals were used for most of the hydraulic machinery.
Conventionally, such seals used to be fabric-filled packings, in which rubber had been reinforced withcanvas and other fabrics. However, after the development of high-pressure-resistant urethane rubber,urethane U-packings became the main type. Urethane rubber has extraordinary mechanical strengthand abrasion resistance and is ideal for high-pressure hydraulic packings. So, we conducted functional
tests of urethane packings and decided to produce and market the product as an alternative to fabricfilled packings. At that time, we established Japan Elastollan Co., Ltd., a urethane manufacturer, toproduce urethane. Urethane rubber has rubber elasticity and can be used for injection and extrusion
molding. So, it started to be used for various purposes, including sport shoes and machine parts.
Around 1955, even a new plant had no experience in developing seals, so functional and verification
tests were required in order to develop seal materials. We could not build a plant only for these tests,
so we made a testing machine to conduct basic tests. However, eventually we needed to conduct
verification tests at actual plants. Fortunately, customers in those days let us conduct the final tests
at their plants and collect data. Thanks to their cooperation, we could establish our seal products. We
are deeply grateful for their steady support and will continue to appreciate them.

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This article described the transition of our seal product lineup and development activities sincearound 1955. I hope it was interesting.
NIPPON VALQUA INDUSTRIES, LTD.

former Managing Director （Technical Manager）

Takao Iwane

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