France combines a wide variety of materials and designs to meet any specific packing requirement -- Cast iron, FLUR-O-FRAN®, LAM-O-FRAN™ , FRANLON™ and bronze are just a few of the materials available. All of these materials are available in rings designed for unidirectional and bi-directional sealing, low pressure vent sealing, and gas purge sealing. Also available are high speed and high pressure rings as well as the France SANDWICH™ and TRIPLE CIRCLE™ designs.

The introduction of FRANLON™ compressor packing materials has extended the non-metallic packing capabilities beyond those limits previously associated with PTFE based materials. As a prime manufacturer of thermoplastics, France maintains total control of the manufacturing process from blending through molding to finished machining.

Radial-Tangent Pairs

France Type 211
Packing ring pair consisting of a radial ring and a tangent ring for sealing in one direction. This is the most common single-acting seal ring pair. The radial ring must be installed to face the maximum pressure for the ring pair to seal on the compression stroke. The tangent ring is the primary sealing element of the pair.

Tangent-Tangent Pair

France Type 212
Packing ring pair consisting of two tangent rings. This pair of rings provides a seal in both directions and is normally used to seal at a vent point. This is the most common double- acting seal ring pair.

Pressure Breaker

France Type 250
Metallic ring usually used in the groove closest to the cylinder. The ring throttles the flow of gas into the packing case and also back towards the cylinder. It is particularly effective on high speed compressors.

Tangent-to-the-Rod with Relief Grooves and Back-up

France Type 205/252
Tangent-to-the-rod ring with pressure side relief grooves. This style of ring is used in applications where the ring groove width is not sufficient to accommodate the single-acting Type 211 ring pair. A Type 252 metallic back-up ring is commonly used to prevent extrusion. France does not recommend plunging the rod with this type of ring due to the potential damage to the inner tips of the ring.

Tangent-to-the-Rod with Back-up

France Type 206/252
Tangent-to-the-rod ring with no relief grooves. This style of ring is used in applications where the ring groove width is not sufficient to accommodate the double-acting Type 212 ring pair. A Type 252 metallic back-up ring is commonly used to prevent extrusion. France does not recommend plunging the rod with this type of ring due to the potential damage to the inner tips of the ring

Pressure Breaker (256)

France Type 256
Pressure breaker ring with face relief grooves, closed joints and oversize bore.