James Walker’s new Supagraf® LF low-friction sealing rings are designed to reduce the torque needed for efficient valve operation – effectively cutting power consumption and allowing smaller actuators to be used. They also have the potential to cut shaft seal friction on pumps that use graphite rings. The new rings are considered particularly effective on valves that handle dry gases and other process media where the friction on standard graphite seals is unacceptably high, leading to valve stem sticking and hesitation. Independent tests confirm the low-friction claims. When fitted in a gland housing at 10MPa and 40MPa compressive stress, Supagraf LF displayed friction coefficients of 0.11 and 0.07, respectively. The coefficients for standard graphite rings were exactly double at 0.22 and 0.14. Torque-versus-cycle results proved even more impressive. In extended tests, valve stem torque remained constant at 5Nm for Supagraf LF, whereas for standard graphite rings the torque rose from 21Nm to 25Nm during the first 300 operating cycles. With a lubricated valve stem, the torque for standard graphite rings increased from 7Nm to 23Nm during the first 150 cycles as the lubricant was removed by valve action.