The Fluid Sealing Association (FSA) continues to build momentum across its membership and technical programs, with several initiatives underway as the association looks toward the year ahead.
2026 Annual Meeting
The FSA will hold its Annual Meeting from October 28-30 at the Pan Pacific Vancouver in Vancouver, British Columbia. The meeting will bring members together to discuss market and technical trends, participate in technical and educational sessions, and help shape the association’s priorities for the coming year. The program will feature presentations including:
- Gene Marks, AI Automation & The Future of the Fluid Sealing Industry: What’s Hype, What’s Real, and What Industry Leaders Need to Know Now
- Denise Lee, Navigating Global Packaging EPR & PPWR Requirements: Risks, Costs, and Opportunities for the Sealing Industry
- Ron Frisard, Packing and Gasketing Global Product Line Director with A.W. Chesterton Company, will facilitate a workshop on From Technical Experience to Published Article: A Technical Writing Workshop and Luncheon
- Tom Haan, Fluid Handling Industry M&A Update and the Industry Economics
Elastomeric and Polymeric Seals Division
FSA is advancing efforts to establish a new Elastomeric and Polymeric Seals Division, providing a dedicated forum for members working with these technologies. The proposed division will support collaboration in areas including standards, education, advocacy, and market development. Discussions with prospective members regarding the formation of the division are planned for the Annual Meeting.
Government and Regulatory Affairs
The Government and Regulatory Affairs Committee continues to monitor U.S. state and federal developments, including Minnesota’s delayed PFAS reporting requirement, New Mexico’s upcoming labeling requirements, and the EPA’s revised TSCA reporting timeline. The committee is also coordinating closely with industry organizations, including VMA, HI, ESA, and the Flow Control Coalition, to address potential reporting, labeling, and compliance impacts on FSA members. FSA participated in the European Sealing Association’s response to the REACH SEAC public consultation, which received more than 3,500 comments, and continues to support ESA’s work on a risk assessment addressing the challenges of replacing polymeric PFAS in sealing devices. The Committee is also continuing to monitor Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) developments and their potential reporting, fee, and data-management impacts on members.
The FSA values its ongoing collaboration with the ESA and looks forward to continued partnership on technical and regulatory initiatives important to the sealing industry. For more information, visit www.fluidsealing.com or contact info@fluidsealing.com.
Jason Ferris,
FSA President