A pressure regulating system for stationary equipment employing a stacked set of packing elements, comprising a fluid source for supplying a source of fluid, a pressure regulator for regulating the pressure of the fluid to form a pressurized fluid, and a packing loading assembly for sealing a process fluid within the stationary equipment and for applying an axial loading force to the packing elements via the pressurized fluid from the pressure regulator, wherein the packing loading assembly comprises a follower element movable in an axial direction, and a gland for housing the follower element, wherein the gland comprises a main body having an upper surface, an opposed bottom surface and a side surface, a plurality of fastener-receiving apertures formed in the main body for seating a fastening element, characterised by a gland channel formed in the bottom surface of the main body forming a gland pressure chamber, and a fluid supply port formed in the side surface and fluidly communicating with the gland channel, wherein the follower element comprises a first end having a bucket-like structure and an opposed second end having a stem-like structure, wherein the bucket-like structure has a generally U-shaped body having opposed first and second side walls (74A, 74B) and a bottom wall forming a pressure chamber, the bucket-like structure of the follower element being sized and configured for seating at least partly within the gland channel of the gland and wherein the stem-like structure has a foot portion at a terminal end thereof for contacting an axially outermost one of the plurality of packing elements. a fluid source for supplying a source of fluid, a pressure regulator for regulating the pressure of the fluid to form a pressurized fluid, and a packing loading assembly for sealing a process fluid within the stationary equipment and for applying an axial loading force to the packing elements via the pressurized fluid from the pressure regulator, wherein the packing loading assembly comprises a follower element movable in an axial direction, and a gland for housing the follower element, wherein the gland comprises a main body having an upper surface, an opposed bottom surface and a side surface, a plurality of fastener-receiving apertures formed in the main body for seating a fastening element, a main body having an upper surface, an opposed bottom surface and a side surface, a plurality of fastener-receiving apertures formed in the main body for seating a fastening element, characterised by a gland channel formed in the bottom surface of the main body forming a gland pressure chamber, and a fluid supply port formed in the side surface and fluidly communicating with the gland channel, wherein the follower element comprises a first end having a bucket-like structure and an opposed second end having a stem-like structure, wherein the bucket-like structure has a generally U-shaped body having opposed first and second side walls (74A, 74B) and a bottom wall forming a pressure chamber, the bucket-like structure of the follower element being sized and configured for seating at least partly within the gland channel of the gland and wherein the stem-like structure has a foot portion at a terminal end thereof for contacting an axially outermost one of the plurality of packing elements.