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This article was originally published on November 15, 2021, and updated on March 31, 2025 In your most challenging applications, prioritizing safety is critical. For instance, in environments with high oxygen levels, you need to ensure your pressure instruments are free of contaminants to prevent a fire. Even though oxygen itself is not flammable, it can cause other materials like dust, oils and lingering residue to easily ignite and burn with intensity. Cleaning for oxygen service is an effective safety precaution you can take to prevent this from happening in your application. As a product sales leader at Ashcroft, a leading authority in pressure and temperature instrumentation, I am often asked if we offer this service to our customers. The answer is yes, depending on the application. However, before you decide if it's right for you, take a few minutes to see what the service involves. Read this article to learn more about the benefits of cleaning for oxygen service and the process we use to be sure your instruments are safe to use in high-purity gas or pure oxygen systems. You will also see additional articles and resources that are relevant to pressure gauge selection and care.

This article was originally published on March 22, 2021, by John Girard and updated by Paul Francoletti on November 13, 2024. Pressure gauges are relied upon in virtually every industrial and commercial application to ensure smooth and efficient operations. That means Ashcroft - an industry leader in pressure and temperature instrumentation - gets A LOT of calls from new customers in search of a pressure gauge. Nine times out of ten, the first question we get is how much the gauge will cost them. Of course, the answer is not that simple. The reason is this: it’s nearly impossible to provide any kind of cost estimate without knowing your specific requirements. As the product leader for pressure gauges at Ashcroft, I can tell you the price range for these instruments is anywhere from $10 to $1,000. To help you get a more accurate answer, continue reading for a closer look at the factors that influence price. When you’re done reading, you will be able to either validate the price range you are currently paying or know what to expect if you are searching for a new supplier. Ultimately, you will be better equipped to make an informed decision about purchasing a pressure gauge, regardless of whether you choose to work with Ashcroft.

This article was originally published on July 19, 2021, and updated on October 28, 2024. If you work in a refinery, petrochemical plant, or power generation facility, you likely face the challenge of managing high temperatures and pressures associated with steam applications. Under these harsh conditions, pressure gauges and other instruments can become damaged, which can lead to operational failures. A steam siphon is one solution that can provide a simple yet effective way to protect your instruments from these elevated process temperatures. As a product leader in process gauges at Ashcroft, one of the most common questions I’ve heard (and one that our customer service team often receives) is, “What is a steam siphon and how can it protect my pressure gauge?” In this article, you will get the answer as well as details on the two most common types of steam siphons and how they work. You will also get my guidance on selecting the right siphon for your application. From this point on, when I mention the term siphon, I am specifically referring to a steam siphon, as other siphons can also dissipate heat for high process temperatures not related to steam.

Pressure gauges play a vital role in the operations of various manufacturing industries, offering valuable insights into processes and serving as an early warning system for potential issues. From detecting pressure spikes that could indicate blockages to identifying pressure drops signaling leaks, these instruments are essential. Many mechanical pressure gauges share the same fundamental components — including a flexible measuring element known as a Bourdon tube. So the challenge is selecting the right gauge for your specific needs. Seeking guidance from experts is a smart initial step in this decision-making process. Ashcroft is a trusted name in pressure measurement instrumentation with a rich history that dates back to 1852. In this article, you will discover what sets Ashcroft pressure gauges apart and why they are a preferred choice for customers across different industry sectors. You will also get access to additional resources and information that will help deepen your knowledge about how these instruments work.

If you are having difficulty understanding the differences between the Buy American Act (BAA) and Build America Buy America Act (BABAA), and how to ensure you comply with their requirements, you are not alone. Similar names and overlapping purposes make it easy to be confused about which law applies to you and how to ensure the products you purchase are in compliance with the law. As a global manufacturer of industrial pressure and temperature instrumentation for industries serving customers in the United States, Ashcroft understands how these laws affect our company and our customers. To help guide you, we’ve compiled a list of some of our customers’ frequently asked questions and documented our responses in this article. Read on for a high-level review of the BAA Act and BABAA Act, including similarities and differences between, the considerations for purchasing products for use in U.S.-based projects and how Ashcroft can help you find pressure and temperature instrumentation that meet your specific needs.

This article is based on a white paper written by John Carissimi and Jeremy Payne in 2015 and rewritten on May 6, 2024. Sour gas and crude oil operations involve harsh conditions with a high risk of corrosion. Metals and alloys used in environments with hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are especially prone to corrosion and stress cracking, which can lead to material failure and dangerous fluid leaks in your system. To enhance safety and prevent equipment failures, the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) established control standards for any instrumentation used in these types of applications. As the Product Marketing Leader for process gauges at Ashcroft, a global leader in pressure and temperature instrumentation, I have spent the past 15 years answering questions and guiding customers on the importance of ensuring compatibility between your instruments and process media. In this article, you will get an overview of the NACE standards that specifically address corrosion that can occur with exposure to sour gas or sour crude. You will also learn what to look for when selecting pressure and temperature instruments for your sour gas and crude applications. When you are done reading, you will be able to access additional resources to help make informed decisions about selecting instrumentation for corrosive operations.