Despite 100 years of technological advances since we first opened our doors, no one has ever developed a synthetic material that has the diverse attributes of leather. Leather is tough, pliable, and wear resistant. Leather is unaffected by cold, enabling it to withstand high pressure at low temperature, and its low coefficient of friction means it generates less heat, and lasts longer as a result. Leather is impregnated with greases, oils, waxes, synthetic resins, or synthetic rubber as required for various applications - thus leather seals are impermeable to hydraulic fluids and air. Further, leather is far more cost effective than synthetics.

Leather seals, such as cups, flanges and u-packings take on the shape they need in order to seal. It may sound strange, but if you've got a little bit of wear, or you're a bit out of true, leather is going to fill the voids whereas the rubber or plastic cannot. They just are not flexible enough.

We are proud of our strong relationship with one of the nation's largest manufacturer of paint spraying equipment. Our leather seals are used in their fluid handing systems and components from small paint spray pumps to large automotive electrostatic painting equipment, lubrication and sealing applications, as well as power applications for the contractor industry.

They have found that leather impregnated with synthetic rubber, used in conjunction with plastic seals, is a combination that just cannot be beat. Their engineers say, "Leather is more that a good seal, it is an excellent bearing. When pumping abrasive materials, leather absorbs abrasive particles without seal damage, and these impregnated leather seals can be used with both water and solvent based paints."

But simply because our products work so well today is no reason to avoid researching and developing new ways to make them better. The Marsh family tradition of fostering innovation is stronger and more necessary than ever. In the 21st century, we’ve introduced a CW Marsh v-packing that may look the same as one your great grandfather might have purchased, but it is actually a totally new, high-density, high compression product, capable of handing loads three, four, five times past anything that was possible just a few years ago. That means less down time. Less maintenance. More productivity.

All from leather.