Spiral Wound Gaskets Vs Kammprofile

We’ve recently manufactured several large diameter (60”) spiral wound gaskets with inner and outer rings for a customer — and handling proved difficult (even more tricky on site – see attached).

To be honest, I’ve never really understood why spiral wound gaskets are specified in such large diameters, given the challenges they present — particularly their tendency to “spring”, where the windings can detach or loosen during handling and installation. In over 25 years working in the industry, this has been a common and recurring problem.

Handling becomes an issue when the weight of the inner and outer rings is heavy enough to cause the gasket to flex or distort under its own weight, making damage far more likely without special care. Given that alternatives are available, does it really make sense to keep using spirals in very large diameters?

Kammprofile are a much better option for large flanges — the solid metal core makes them far easier to handle, transport, and install safely. While spirals do have some performance advantages in certain applications, for large diameters, the handling benefits of Kammprofiles far outweigh these.

Despite this, many sites continue to specify spiral wounds for large diameter flanges and so I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts:

Have you experienced “springing” or handling issues with large spirals?
Where would you draw the line? (Personally, I agree with Scott Hamilton of VSP Technolgies who recommends Kammprofiles in flanges above 24”.)

I’m interested to hear your thoughts.