In his latest message, ESA Chair Ozan Devlen highlights new initiatives, welcomes new members, honours friends we have lost, and looks ahead to the future of the sealing industry.

ECHA’s updated proposal on PFAS restrictions under REACH puts sealing applications officially in focus. The revised report considers alternative options that could allow continued PFAS use where risks can be managed, opening a possible pathway for continued use of fluoropolymers in critical applications.

The U.S. DoD cleared for publication its updated report on critical PFAS uses. The document highlights their role in defense and civil-military supply chains, risks of regulatory changes and inconsistent definitions, and strategic needs ranging from short-term domestic supply to the development of long-term alternatives.

On 8 July 2025, the European Commission published its Industry Action Plan to strengthen the chemical sector in Europe. The package outlines simplification measures, a planned revision of REACH by late 2025, a new standalone ECHA Regulation, and a PFAS Action Plan.

ESA’s Technical Director Ralf Vogel reports on the past and ongoing projects and activities of the separate divisions within the ESA.

We are pleased to welcome Metrik Endüstri A.Ş. to the European Sealing Association. With over 20 years of expertise in high-performance compensator solutions, the company brings valuable knowledge and innovation to the ESA community.

The ESA is pleased to announce the release of our updated General Code of Conduct, a key step in strengthening our commitment to responsible business practices, sustainability, and ethical governance.

ESA is proud to support another Young Engineer project by means of a financial contribution. Young Engineer Martin Wand will execute the project “Testing and Evaluation of Different Expanded Graphite Packings with Hydrogen” at the laboratory of DHBW at Mannheim University, starting early October 2025 for a 6-month period.

Ceetak EU BV is delighted to announce the successful asset purchase of the Sealing Division of Profiltra BV. The acquisition is a strategic transaction which represents an important milestone in Ceetak’s continued growth and strengthens its position as a leading provider of sealing solutions across Europe.

To meet the increasing commercial importance and demand for its activities, the Metallurgical Laboratory at Cross Manufacturing has moved into new dedicated facilities which will also enable further expansion in the future.

Kastaş Sealing Technologies has recently introduced a new generation of guiding solution designed to meet the increasing performance demands in linear, oscillating, and slow-rotating motion systems.

Precision Polymer Engineering (PPE) marks its 50th anniversary, celebrating five decades of delivering high-performance sealing materials for the most demanding applications in the most critical industries.