Conax Technologies: Industry-Leading PG Packing Glands and Sealing Solutions

About Conax Technologies

Conax Technologies is a globally recognized manufacturer of pressure and vacuum sealing solutions, compression seal fittings, and temperature measurement products. Founded in 1952 in Buffalo, New York, Conax built its reputation on the innovative design of the PG packing gland — a compression seal fitting that uses replaceable sealant elements to create a leak-tight seal around wires, tubes, rods, and thermocouples passing through pressure boundaries.

For over seven decades, Conax has served the most demanding industries in the world — oil and gas, power generation, nuclear energy, aerospace, semiconductor manufacturing, chemical processing, and industrial furnace applications. Their products are trusted in environments ranging from cryogenic temperatures (-350 degF) to extreme heat (over 1,000 degF) and pressures from high vacuum to 10,000 psi.

In 2020, Conax Technologies was acquired by Ametek, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices. Under the Ametek umbrella, Conax continues to operate from its Buffalo, New York facility and maintains its commitment to engineering excellence, quality manufacturing, and customer-focused innovation.

The PG Packing Gland: Conax's Signature Product

The PG-series packing gland is the product most closely associated with the Conax Technologies name. It is the industry-standard sealing fitting for sample probe assemblies, thermocouple installations, RTD penetrations, and any application where a cylindrical element must pass through a pressure or vacuum boundary with the ability to be adjusted, inserted, or retracted without breaking the seal.

How It Works

The PG gland uses a simple, robust mechanism:

1. The gland body threads into the process connection (NPT male thread into a weldolet, threadolet, or coupling)

2. Compressible sealant elements (Teflon, PEEK, or Grafoil) are loaded around the tube inside the gland bore

3. A threaded follower nut is tightened, compressing the sealant elements radially against both the tube OD and the gland bore ID

4. The compressed sealant creates a gas-tight and liquid-tight seal

This design allows the tube to be pushed in, pulled out, or held in any intermediate position while maintaining the pressure seal — a critical capability for retractable sample probes where the insertion depth must be adjusted to reach the center third of the pipe.

The PG Product Range

Conax manufactures PG glands in eight standard sizes, from the PG2 (1/4" NPT, for small-diameter thermocouples and 1/8" OD tubes) to the PG9 (2-1/2" NPT, for large-diameter probes up to 1-1/2" OD). The complete specifications are detailed on our PG packing gland product page and in our comprehensive PG technical guide.

Sealant Technology

A core competency of Conax Technologies is their expertise in sealant materials and compression seal design. The performance of a PG gland depends not only on the mechanical design of the body and follower but critically on the sealant elements that provide the actual gas-tight barrier.

Teflon (PTFE)

The standard sealant for most industrial applications. Teflon sealant elements are chemically inert to virtually all process fluids, rated from -350 degF to +500 degF, and provide reliable, long-lasting seals with minimal maintenance. Teflon is the default choice for oil and gas sampling, refinery service, and general chemical processing.

PEEK (Polyetheretherketone)

For applications where temperatures exceed the practical limit of Teflon (approximately 450-500 degF continuous), PEEK sealant elements extend the operating range to 600 degF. PEEK maintains its mechanical properties at temperatures where Teflon begins to creep and lose sealing force, making it the preferred choice for moderate high-temperature service.

Grafoil (Flexible Graphite)

Grafoil sealant elements handle the most extreme temperatures — up to 1,000 degF in non-oxidizing environments and 850 degF in steam or air. Grafoil is the standard sealant for power generation steam sampling at superheated conditions and for any application involving severe thermal cycling where polymer sealants would degrade.

Body Materials

Standard Conax PG glands are manufactured from 303 stainless steel, which provides good machinability and adequate corrosion resistance for most industrial environments. For applications requiring enhanced corrosion resistance or compliance with specific material standards, Conax offers gland bodies in:

• 316 stainless steel: For marine environments, moderate chloride exposure
• 316 SS (NACE MR0175 compliant): For sour gas service in oil and gas applications
• Monel 400: For hydrofluoric acid service and severe chloride environments
• Hastelloy C-276: For aggressive chemical processing environments
• Inconel 600: For high-temperature applications above 1,000 degF

The ability to specify the gland body in the same or compatible alloy as the probe tube eliminates galvanic corrosion concerns and ensures consistent chemical resistance throughout the assembly.

Beyond Packing Glands: Other Conax Products

While the PG packing gland is their most widely recognized product, Conax Technologies manufactures a broader range of sealing and sensing solutions:

Multi-Hole Fittings (MHC Series)

MHC (Multi-Hole Configuration) fittings seal multiple wires or tubes through a single gland body. These are used in applications requiring multiple thermocouple or RTD penetrations through a single pressure boundary — common in reactor vessels, autoclaves, and research equipment.

Electrode Seals

Conax manufactures sealed electrode penetrations for applications where electrical conductors must pass through a pressure or vacuum boundary — glass-to-metal seals, ceramic-to-metal seals, and potted designs for voltages up to several kilovolts.

Temperature Sensors

Conax produces a range of thermocouple assemblies, RTD assemblies, and thermowells that integrate their sealing technology with precision temperature measurement elements. These assemblies are widely used in power generation, nuclear, aerospace, and industrial process applications.

Custom and Engineered Solutions

Conax's engineering team works with customers to design custom sealing solutions for unique applications — non-standard sizes, exotic materials, unusual geometries, multi-element configurations, and extreme operating conditions that fall outside the standard product catalog.

Quality and Certifications

Conax Technologies maintains rigorous quality management systems to support the demanding industries they serve:

• ISO 9001 certified quality management system
• Nuclear quality assurance: Products available to ASME NQA-1 and 10 CFR 50 Appendix B requirements
• Material traceability: Full lot traceability from raw material through finished product, with EN 10204 Type 3.1 material test reports
• NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156 compliance: Available on all applicable products for sour gas service
• Pressure testing: Standard production testing per applicable ASME and ASTM requirements

Why We Recommend Conax

We specify Conax Technologies PG packing glands as the standard sealing fitting in our sample probe assemblies for several compelling reasons:

1. Proven reliability: Over 70 years of field-proven performance across millions of installations worldwide

2. Comprehensive size range: PG2 through PG9 covers virtually every tube OD and process connection size encountered in sampling applications

3. Sealant versatility: Three sealant options (Teflon, PEEK, Grafoil) cover the full temperature range from cryogenic to 1,000 degF

4. Material options: Body materials from 303 SS through exotic alloys to match any corrosion environment

5. Field-replaceable sealants: Sealant elements can be replaced in the field without removing the gland body from the process connection — minimizing downtime

6. Industry acceptance: Conax PG glands are specified in the engineering standards of virtually all major oil companies, utilities, and chemical producers

7. Availability: Standard models and sealant kits are stocked by distributors worldwide for fast delivery

For detailed specifications, ordering information, and technical assistance with Conax PG gland selection for your sample probe assembly, visit our packing glands product page or contact our engineering team.