Garlock in Asian Joint Venture

Garlock Sealing Technologies (a division of Enpro Industries, Inc., USA) revealed it is forming a joint venture with Nippon Valqua Industries Ltd. (Japan) to serve Asian markets. Nippon Valqua manufactures industrial packing and gaskets in Japan. Garlock, with 13 operating locations, manufactures a wide variety of fluid sealing products sold in more than 75 countries worldwide. The joint venture, Garlock Valqua Japan Inc., will be headquartered in Tokyo and be charged with marketing high-performance metal seals to customers across Asia -- in automotive, semiconductor, nuclear and energy industries. It is scheduled to be operating by fourth quarter 2006. Paul Baldetti, President of Garlock Sealing, said: "The market for high-performance metal seals is growing rapidly in Asia. This partnership with Valqua links the strength of our products with their well established sales and support infrastructure to create a strong and effective competitor in the region." The two companies are not strangers to each other. Since 2003, Garlock and Valqua have been strategic suppliers and customers, optimizing manufacturing and outsourcing, and collaborating on some new product development.