The A.W. Chesterton Company (often referred to simply as Chesterton) is a major global manufacturer of industrial fluid sealing systems, high-performance protective coatings, and industrial lubricants.
Since you were asking about mechanical seals earlier, it’s worth noting that Chesterton is one of the “Big Four” names in that industry.
Key Company Facts
- Founded: 1884 by Arthur Wellesley Chesterton in Boston, Massachusetts.
- Headquarters: Groveland, Massachusetts, USA.
- Global Reach: They operate in over 110 countries with more than 500 sales and service locations.
- Main Focus: Improving the reliability of rotating equipment (pumps, mixers) and stationary equipment (valves, flanges).
Core Product Lines
Chesterton is known for several specific innovations in the industrial space:
- Mechanical Seals: They are credited with inventing the first commercially viable split seal (the 442 series), which allows a seal to be replaced without dismantling the entire pump. This is a massive time-saver for large equipment.
- ARC Industrial Coatings: These are specialized epoxy coatings used to protect metal and concrete from extreme corrosion, abrasion, and chemical attack (common in power plants and wastewater facilities).
- Packing and Gaskets: They provide high-end compression packing (like the DualPac series) for valves and pumps, often focusing on “Low-E” (low emission) standards to help plants meet environmental regulations.
- Industrial Lubricants (MRO): High-performance greases and oils designed to work in extreme temperatures or wash-down environments (like food processing).
- IoT Solutions: Their Chesterton Connect™ system is a newer sensor technology that allows maintenance teams to monitor pump temperature, pressure, and vibration from a smartphone app.
Why They Matter in the Industry
Chesterton positions itself as a “solutions” company rather than just a parts supplier. They are often brought in to solve “bad actor” pumps—equipment that fails repeatedly due to harsh chemicals or high heat. They are highly regarded for their technical training and on-site engineering support.
Note of Caution: If you are researching their history for legal or safety reasons, you will find references to historical asbestos litigation. Like many industrial manufacturers founded in the 1800s, they used asbestos in gaskets and packing prior to the 1980s. Today, they are 100% asbestos-free and focus heavily on environmental sustainability.
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