Packing is one of the most common and simplest seals for positive displacement pumps. Packing consists of braided or formed rings that are compressed inside the stuffing box of a pump. As the packing gland is tightened, the packing is compressed against the shaft and the inside of the stuffing box bore - creating a seal. When the pump is operating, process liquid cools and lubricates the packing. The pump must leak or "weep" slightly to ensure proper lubrication. Packing is one of the oldest forms of shaft sealing. Original packing was made of materials such as leather or rope.

Let's start in Connecticut. Fuel oil is one of Viking Pump’s oldest applications and can be found in EVERY US state, so why highlight Connecticut? First Connecticut, like much of the US Northeast, utilizes fuel oil to heat their homes. In fact, nearly half of all Connecticut households are heated by fuel oil. As a result, much of the fuel oil reserve is stored in Connecticut as well. Viking Pump fuel oil pumps can be found at every step of the supply process.

The machine shop is Viking Pump’s largest facility. Since its opening in 1960, the shop has undergone multiple expansions and has now grown to 320 thousand square feet. Today this facility houses many departments including machining, tooling, assembly, paint, shipping, quality, procurement and planning. In the machine shop, parts are machined from castings and bar stock. Dimensions, especially those inside the pump cavity, must be precise to ensure the pumps operate efficiently and are capable of high pressures and self-priming.

Located on Viking Road in the Cedar Falls Industrial Park, the 78,000 square foot facility is used to produce gray iron, carbon steel, 316 stainless steel, and 770 non-galling stainless steel. 
In a foundry, parts are cast by pouring molten metal into a hollow mold. To create a mold, core and mold technicians pull patterns for the various cast parts. Each pattern is a template for one side of one or more parts. Sand is compressed against the plate and when the plate is removed the shape of the part remains and half of a mold is created. 

Let's start in Utah. Soaps and detergents are viscous and corrosive - making them perfect applications for Viking pumps. These include dishwasher detergent, laundry detergent, and hand soaps just to name a few. Many are liquids, but some are powder slurries which are then dried into powder or compressed into tablets for easier handling.