News

ZERO NAR’s (Non-Accidental Release) in 2011

VSP Technologies was notified that both Marathon Petroleum Corporation and NOVA Chemicals, have completed 2011 with ZERO NAR’s (Non-Accidental Release).  Marathon Petroleum Corporation and NOVA Chemicals are now eligible for the GRAND SLAM award given by the Association of American Railroads (AAR) at the annual AAR/BOE Conference in May 2012.  The GRAND SLAM award recognizes hazardous material shippers that ship on at least four Class 1 railroads without a non-accidental release of hazardous materials during the calendar year. 

RideTight® is a Six Sigma based Fluid Sealing Management Program designed for the Transportation Industry.   Marathon Petroleum Corporation implemented the RideTight® Progam in August of 2006.  NOVA Chemicals implemented the RideTight® Program in November 2010.

VSP TECHNOLOGIES RECEIVES ISO CERTIFICATION

VSP Technologies, Inc. is proud to announce that it has received a Certificate of Registration for the ISO9001:2008 Quality System Standard.  VSP’s management system complies within the following scope:

“The manufacture and distribution of bolting and fluid sealing products for use in chemical processing, transportation, pulp and paper, power generation, pharmaceutical, marine and various other industrial markets.”

This certification covers VSP’s three primary locations: Prince George, VA, Kingsport, TN and Houston (Kingwood), TX.  It is dated July 28, 2011.

ISO certification represents a corporate milestone and confirmation of our commitment to continuous process improvement and quality.  We also recognize that it is largely through the hard work and dedicated efforts of our employees that ISO registration has been achieved, and we sincerely thank them for helping us to reach this standard of excellence.

VSP Participates in The ASME Pressure Vessels and Piping 2011 Conference in Baltimore, Maryland

VSP Engineering and Support Services personnel were participants in this year’s ASME Pressure Vessels and Piping (PVP) Division conference held in Baltimore, Maryland.  Committee member Jerry Waterland developed and Chaired the technical session “Design & Analysis of Bolted Flanged Joints”, and was co-author of the technical paper “Variables Affecting the Assembly Bolt Stress Developed During Manual Tightening”.

Tim Heartwell and William Cooper, members of VSP’s Support Services Group, authored and presented their research  “Variables Affecting Nut Factors for Field Assembled Joints”.

During the Computer Technology & Bolted Joint Committee meeting, Jerry Waterland was presented with a Certificate of Recognition by the ASME PVP Division for Valued Service in Advancing The Engineering Profession.

VSP and its staff have participated and supported the ASME Pressure Vessel & Piping Division since 1990 and have many published research papers through this organization.

VSP Technologies TORQ-KIT

TORQ-KIT™ Developed to Meet Industry Needs

VSP Technologies’  TORQ-KIT™ simplifies the planning process, reduces the number of inventory items and eliminates potential errors in your flange assembly practices.

TORQ-KIT

Each TORQ-KIT™ pipe code compliance kit is a complete assembly containing the correct  nuts, bolts or studs, washers, gasket and a Tyvek® inspection tag.  All TORQ-KIT™ components are packaged to meet your plant or piping code specifications.  Assembly torque values specific to the fasteners/gaskets and flange type (assembly- torque sheets) are included within every TORQ-KIT™.  The box and packaging are designed to prevent damage to the components.

One more way VSP Technologies is maximizing bolted joint performance and reliability for our customers.

VSP Expands Engineering Support in Gulf Coast Region

VSP Technologies is pleased to announce the hiring of Ms. Erin Enright as Product & Applications Engineer to support our growing business in the Gulf Coast territory. Erin is a graduate of Louisiana State University and holds a degree in Petroleum Engineering. She joins a staff of ten VSP engineers and will focus her attention on the industrial and transportation markets in Louisiana. Erin resides in Baton Rouge and is a welcome addition to the VSP Technologies family.

VSP to Participate in the 4th International Exhibition for Logistics, Telematics and Transport

VSP Technologies to exhibit our ‘Intermodal’ products and services for the transportation industry in the upcoming international exhibtion in Pudong, Shanghai China.

VSP Technologies ‘Sealing Technology Exposition’

On December 02, 2009, VSP Technologies sponsored a one-day Sealing Technology Exposition at our Prince George, VA coporate headquarters facility. The industrial tradeshow showcased Technical Representatives from Major U.S. and European manufacturers. Demonstrations of VSP’s state of the art gasket fabrication, equipment technology including:

* spiral wound gasket fabrication
* Artios and Flash Cut CAD automated gasket fabrication equipment
* electronic digitizing equipment
* magnetic torque coupling equipment
* VSP’s ‘Heat Link’ doubles specification confirmation pressure bolting/stud program

Thirteen technical presentations (qualifying for Continuing Education Unites/CEU) were presented throughout the symposium on various topics including:

* Application of ASEM PCC-1, Appendix F, Alternative Flange Assembly Procedures –
Anita Bausman/VSP Technologies
* Fluroelastomer Compounds and Capabilities – Arun Gopaladrichnan/DuPont Elastomers
* Mechanical Seal Reliability Improvements – Mike Spencer/AESSeal
* Understanding ASME Requirements for Pressure Bolting – Rodney Roth/Leader Global Technolgy
* Flange Assembley Best Practices – Matt Tones/Garlock Sealing Technologies
* Qualifications of Vacuum Performance of Gaskets – Walter Lee/Inertech, Inc.

With over 200 customers and vendors in attendance, there were positive responses from all involved.

Once again, VSP has set the bar high and has followed through, with an outstanding Sealing Technology Exposition.

All who participated commented that the Exposition was a very valuable learning tool for them in learning fluid sealing products and technology.

Welcome New Employee Anita Bausman

I am pleased to announce that Ms. Anita Bausman, P.E., has recently joined VSP Technologies’ Support Services Engineering Group.

Anita is nationally recognized in the technical community, with considerable experience in all aspects of gasket material and flanged connection specification, selection, and assembly developed during the past twenty-three years while working with Eastman Chemical Company. Anita’s 20+ years of experience ensuring operating reliability of industrial piping & pressure vessel flanged connections positions her as a valuable asset to VSP, and our clients that rely upon us as their subject matter expert on bolted flanged connections.

Anita resides in Kingsport, Tennessee and, as a member of our Support Services Engineering Group, is providing engineering and applications support to VSP’s core clients and businesses. Many of you will no doubt be interacting and working with Anita, and I am confident that you will be impressed with her expertise and capabilities, and gain a first hand appreciation for her decision to join VSP Technologies.

Anita can be reached at:
anita.bausman@vsptechnologies.com

Eastman Receives CSX Transportation Chemical Safety Excellence Award

VSP Technologies’ Ride-Tight® fluid sealing management program helps company maintain safe practices (more…)

In Memory

VSP Technologies was saddened to learn of the death of David Weese on Sunday, April 26. David James Weese, 35, was a 16-year employee and had run the VSP On-Site Services facility at Eastman Chemical (Kingsport, Tenn.) for the past ten years. David’s pride and joy was his daughter Sophie, who appears with her dad in the photo above.

David definitely “lived his life to the fullest” and was a much-loved and highly respected member of the VSP family. He will be sorely missed an leaves a void in our hearts. Please keep David’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers as they cope with this tragic loss.

VSP Technologies Employees Trained in Kaizen Methods

Company Focuses on Lean Manufacturing and Improvement Processes (more…)

Supplier of the Year Award – 2008

VSP Technologies Receives Dominion’s “Preferred Gasket and Sealing Technologies Supplier of the Year Award – 2008″ (more…)

VSP Technologies Is Garlock’s Leading Single Store Distributor of 2008

(more…)

VSP Gets New Name, Logo and Address

Virginia Sealing Products, Inc. is pleased to announce, effective October 20, 2008, a new name, logo and address. (more…)

North American Best Practice Nomination

Railcar Team Earns North American Best Practice Nomination for Developmentof Repair Standards

(more…)