John Crane is marking the 50th anniversary of a breakthrough that changed the global standard for gas compression sealing.
In 1976, the company introduced the Type 28 dry gas seal, a development that transformed compressor reliability and established new benchmarks for performance, safety and efficiency.
The achievement followed nearly a decade of pioneering work on non-contacting spiral-groove technology, which began in 1968.
The first commercial installation of the design took place in 1975, but it was the release of the Type 28 dry gas seal the following year that proved to be a defining moment for the industry.
The innovation set the foundation for the widespread adoption of dry gas seals in centrifugal compressors used across oil and gas, petrochemical, power generation and, more recently, hydrogen and carbon-capture sectors.
Over the past five decades, continuous product development has extended the performance range of dry gas seals to handle higher pressures, temperatures, and demanding operating conditions.
Key advances have included bi-directional grooves, ultra-high-pressure capabilities up to 425 barg (6164 psig), and the introduction of durable materials such as Carbon LF™.
John Crane has also integrated digital diagnostics through its John Crane Sense® Turbo system, allowing real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance to enhance reliability.
Sustainability has become an integral part of sealing design.
Retrofit programs converting wet seals to dry gas seals have achieved annual CO₂ emissions reductions of about 278,000 tonnes in some customer operations.
Modern dry gas seals can also cut methane and fugitive emissions by as much as 95 per cent compared to traditional oil-lubricated wet seals.
The latest separation seal developments, including the Type 93AX model, further improve efficiency by reducing nitrogen consumption by up to 80 per cent compared to conventional carbon ring systems, aligning with operators’ decarbonisation and energy reduction objectives.
John Crane’s dry gas seals now operate within a global installed base numbering in the thousands.
The company supports this network through more than 200 manufacturing, sales and service locations, including 12 dedicated turbo service centres worldwide.
This combination of technology leadership and service capability positions John Crane to continue supporting its customers’ goals for reliability, safety, and environmental performance.
“Dry gas seals transformed compressor reliability and set a new industry standard in 1976,” said Rubén Álvarez, President of John Crane.
“Our 50-year anniversary not only celebrates a milestone in engineering innovation but also recognises the continued dedication of our global teams and the customers who have trusted our technology for decades.
“We remain committed to advancing sealing solutions that support reliability, efficiency and the future of sustainable energy.”
Throughout 2026, John Crane will commemorate the 50th anniversary through a series of initiatives, including technical papers, customer features, and digital storytelling.
The program will highlight the development of dry gas seal technology from its origins in the 1970s to modern solutions engineered for the evolving needs of the energy transition.
