_{TESTING & DEVELOPMENT
Mercer Sets the Standard for Expansion Joint Stiffness Values}

_{Mercer has just produced the most accurate and comprehensive expansion joint stiffness values in the industry. Just as a garden hose becomes stiff and wants to straighten out under pressure, so does an installed expansion joint. This stiffness increases as the system pressure increases. The straightening or restoration force is a function of system pressure, diameter, face-to-face length and amount of lateral movement. While we could calculate the static restoration forces on any expansion joint geometry, we felt it important to augment these calculations with full scale testing.}

_{Accurate stiffness values are particularly important to the Design Engineers because the expansion joint replaces thermal movements and thermal stresses with the stiffness of the pressurized joint. If the adjacent piping or equipment is not designed to handle the expansion joint's overall stiffness, system problems will develop.}

_{In our testing facility built to recreate actual field conditions, we tested several representative sizes, including the 96" diameter 501 Style Expansion Joint pictured above, under a variety of pressures to derive a relationship. The stiffness tests were repeated using various control unit designs whose frictional forces add to the overall stiffness of the pressurized joint, including rods with and without spherical washers as well as cables and chains. By comparing the actual test data to our initial calculations, we were able to extrapolate definitive stiffness values for the remaining sizes and arrangements.}

_{At Mercer we pride ourselves on our engineering capabilities and feel a responsibility to justify our designs through accepted engineering principles and thorough product testing. Look for a printed bulletin of the results discussed above within the next six months.}

_{NEW & IMPROVED
New Hose Design Features Increased Flange Strength and Abrasion Resistance}

_{Over the past two years, Mercer has developed a new industrial hose specially designed for the mining industry. Our Series 6000 Abrasion Buster is equipped with a 5/8" thick pure gum inner lining for maximum wear resistance. The integral flange is reinforced with a steel anchor ring and polyester tire cord, which reduces the need for control rods or piping anchors. The specially designed hoses are available in diameters up to 36" and lengths up to 126". Whether they are used on the suction or discharge of pumps or as a flexible link in the overall piping system, these products ensure a longer and virtually maintenance free service life.}

_{Abrasion Busters are also available with a patented wear detection system. This system will signal when the inner lining is worn through, allowing the hose to remain in service its full life without risk of catastrophic failure. The feedback from the field has been terrific.}

_{For more information on our Series 6000 Abrasion buster and how we can develop this design to your particular needs, please contact us. Our technical sales staff and Professional Engineers are ready to assist.}

_{PERSONNEL PROFILE
Mr. Carl Baus-Mercer Production Manager}

_{Mercer Rubber Company was just under 100 years old when young Carl Baus started with us over 31 years ago. Without question, Mercer has benefited greatly from his experience and years of service. Prior to his position as Production Manager in our New York factory, Carl worked as Receiving Clerk, Mill Room Supervisor, Maintenance Superintendent, Traffic Manager and Plant Manger at our Trenton factory. Today Carl's duties include supervising all aspects of the Mill Room including compounding, mixing, procuring and calendaring of all our elastomeric materials.}

_{Carl's dedication to Mercer goes beyond his work day. When Mercer moved its factory from Trenton, New Jersey to Hauppauge, New York just over three years ago, Carl helped tremendously and decided to stay with us. He still maintains a permanent residence in Trenton and makes a 120 mile weekly commute, leaving Trenton on Monday morning and returning late Friday night. When asked how he feels about the new factory, Carl says "It's a 100% facility upgrade and one that can be seen in the product quality. I'm very happy to work here and contribute." Carl's continuing contributions are appreciated by all of us at Mercer. When not at work, Carl enjoys fishing, camping, taking cruises and traveling with his wife.}

_{FIELD SERVICE
Mercer Rubber Engineers Prove Flexible}

_{Mercer Engineers will go to great lengths to verify field measurements in order to properly custom fabricate expansion joints. Recently, at a Northeastern Nuclear Power Plant, the 108" (9') diameter piping had large misalignments and required custom built expansion joints. The accompanying photo shows this job with its piping on a 60 degree angle, a condition making field measurements extremely difficult. Mercer's engineers used simple line levels, plumb bobs, carpenters' squares, good engineering sense along with some Yankee ingenuity to overcome these adverse conditions and map out the offsets and misalignments. On this same job, the engineers were also required to measure joints in a 20 foot deep, 3 foot wide pit, the lowest point in this nuclear Power Plant, requiring them to be certified in CPR and Confined Space Training. Clearly, Mercer's engineers are dedicated to doing whatever is necessary to get the field measurements needed to manufacture our custom built expansion joints.}

_{Once the field dimensions were obtained, Mercer then designed and fabricated the joints to those exact dimensions and thoroughly labeled them to facilitate and expedite installation. Six (6) 9' diameter Mercer Expansion Joints were installed at this facility with lateral offsets in excess of 2 ½" and two more are currently being built. In every installation they fit perfectly and the customer couldn't be happier. There are numerous advantages to custom fabricating an expansion joint in offset and misalignment applications, including longer life expectancy and ease of installation. Mercer has available upon request a news release outlining these benefits along with numerous referenced jobs.}

_{USEFUL INFORMATION
Telephone System
Mercer Rubber Company has experimented with various ways to improve our communications base. Not all experiments are successful, as was the case with our transition to a completely automated telephone system. In response to a number of complaints, we have now returned to a human operator to ease in the processing of your call. In the event all lines are occupied or the company is closed, your call will be forwarded to a voice mail system on which you can leave a message. If you do not wish to leave a message and your are calling between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), Monday through Friday, you can reach our secondary operator by pressing "O" at that time. We believe our modified system combines the best of both an automated and human system.}

_{Literature Update
Please follow this link to our new Duct type expansion joint bulletin.  This bulletin features two common duct shapes and lists important product information. The full bulletin, available by mail, contains more specific information needed for proper selection and ordering of this product. Please contact us for copies.}

_{Mercer is currently concentrating on an industry specific marketing campaign. Our new pieces of literature highlight applications for each particular industry on the front page with valuable company information on the back. Our first Application Bulletin features Cooling Tower and subsequent bulletins will include blowers, fans, pumps, valves, condensers, offsets and seismic applications. Additional bulletins will be developed for the Power, Mining, Water/Wastewater, Chemical, Pulp and Paper, Marine, and HVAC industries as well. Look for your industry's mailing soon!}

_{Feedback
Mercer Rubber company recently conducted a survey in order to obtain customer comments and up to date information. We simply asked "How can we service you better?" and received some very helpful feedback. We have included another survey inside this mailing to continue this effort. Your comments are welcome and greatly appreciated.}

_{We were pleased to learn that many of you found our prices to be competitive. An automated factory and highly trained work force enables us to fabricate our products at the lowest overall cost. We also maintain competitive pricing through a continuous effort to broaden the number and selection of import items manufactured in our Bangkok, Thailand factory. Our two facilities complement each other in providing the highest overall value and cost competitiveness.}

_{Time, or lack thereof, also proves a serious concern to many of you. Here at Mercer, we understand time constraints and the need for timely replies. To expedite quotation turnaround and order placement, we have hired an additional in-house customer service representative. We are also attempting to build our communications base through an increased marketing effort. Our new Marketing Manager, Kelly E. Van Houten can be contacted at (516)582-1524 with any comments or suggestions.}

_{Many of you requested additional technical training support. This support is available through our factory trained representatives and technical sales staff. We regularly conduct technical seminars and if you would like us to come in, simply contact our sales staff or Marketing Manager and we would be happy to arrange it.}

email
Email addresses at Mercer Rubber Company
info@mercer-rubber.com
sales@mercer-rubber.com
engineering@mercer-rubber.com