The European Sealing Association successfully hosted its Annual General Meeting from 14 to 16 April 2026 at the Meliá Hotel in Seville, Spain. This marked the first time the AGM was held in Seville, and it offered an inspiring backdrop for members to connect, collaborate, and shape the future of the sealing industry.
Key highlights
Executive Team development
As Executive Team members rotate every few years, we are pleased to announce that Alberto Rocca from Klinger and Francesca Torriani from General Packing have joined the team. Alberto and Francesca replace Mike Eason (John Crane) and Chiara Sozzi (General Packing) as they roll off the team, having served their term. Mike and Chiara were recognised for their contribution throughout their time in office.
ESG Director update
ESA’s ESG Director Sandy Van den Broeck provided a detailed update on the status of the PFAS restriction and outlined the next stages. As this is seen as a crucial issue affecting many members, everyone was encouraged to participate in the questionnaire to be submitted by the ESA for the SEAC public consultation.
Division reports and technical updates
ESA’s divisions presented progress reports covering technical developments, regulatory challenges — especially surrounding PFAS — and ongoing projects focused on material behaviour, research and standards within the sealing sector.
Key presentations
Digital Product Passport update
Sandy Van den Broeck, ESA’s ESG Director, provided an update on the Digital Product Passport programme, which is steadily being introduced. Unfortunately, Chrisantos Rich from EagleBurgmann was ill and unable to provide the update, but Sandy came to the rescue. A team of volunteers agreed to take the project forward and will meet in the next few months.
Sealing Technology Institute
Prof Alex Riedl, Prof Christian Spura and Finn Bartmann, Münster University of Applied Sciences, presented an opportunity for the ESA to further cement cooperation between the two organisations. This was discussed via workshop groups prior to lunch on the second day. The summarised results can be found in the GM minutes and attachments held in the Members area of the ESA website.
Young Engineers Initiative
Grzegorz Rusak, Spetech, presented an insight into the work they have been undertaking to employ young engineers within Spetech and the sealing industry. This was a result of the strategic discussion which took place at last year’s AGM in Ljubljana. The presentation is available in the Members area of the ESA website.
Networking and industry collaboration
The AGM offered members ample opportunities to network, discuss emerging trends, and share strategies in a collaborative environment. These face-to-face interactions remain a cornerstone of ESA’s strength as an industry platform.
The 2026 AGM reinforced ESA’s role as a forward-looking association, focused on innovation, environmental leadership, and technical excellence across the sealing industry in Europe.
The ESA would also like to thank their long-standing partner Actuado, who specialise in digital marketing and communication.