Selecting the ideal seal technology for specific applications provides vast improvements in reliability, housekeeping (product leakage onto the floor and other equipment), safety, product waste and asset uptime. In this session, the presenters will discuss four case studies that demonstrate how choosing the right seal reduces costs; increases mean time between failure (MTBF) and saves money due to minimized or eliminated product loss. The case examples that will be discussed are:
•             Air seal for a potato chip seasoning conveyor: Product loss was completely eliminated.
•             Mechanical seal system in an ethanol plant: Meantime between repair increased from one year to three years.
•             Bearing isolator in a paper plate manufacturer: Success with one gearbox eliminated lubricant leakage and downtime for bearing isolator and felt roll replacement. 
•             Pump air seal system in paper mill: MTBF of a hydrapulper discharge pump increased from about two weeks to 18 months and counting.