October 1994                    

Techincal Note from Dr. Mel Giberson, P.E. - TRI President

In the past, maintenance personnel could always "call the OEM" for help with rotating equipment problems. The user knew the OEM, its people and capabilities. Most existing equipment was built by large OEMs, at a time, when they had adequately staffed factories and regional service offices prepared to help.

Todays "global economy" relies on computers and the "information superhighway." Four significant trends have emerged that change how maintenance personnel respond to equipment problems. The question of "whom to call" for the best technical support for a rotating machinery problem has certainly changed: These four trends are:

1. Most large OEM's have "down-sized" their operations. As a result, customer support has suffered, particularly for small to medium size projects, which are the majority of the projects. Some users have told us that they have offered work to OEMs and have been told that "there's no one to do the work". In certain situations, "cost reduction" has led to unreliable support and abandoned product lines and customers.
2. The global marketplace has resulted in a significant realignment in the ownership of companies and, in some instances, entire industries. Some lines of equipment are simply gone, along with the service and spare parts. New equipment is being purchased from non-traditional and non-domestic sources.
3. Many smaller US companies are now the technological leaders in their respective fields offering quality, competitive prices, service, and responsiveness. Smaller companies often work together in ad hoc arrangements to address large, multi-disciplined projects filling the void left by down-sized OEMs.
4. Insurance companies expect the users of the plant and equipment they insure to use only high quality parts and service. Most recognize that todays sources for quality spare parts and service include many companies other than traditional "OEMs".

Turbo Research, Inc. is a smaller, highly qualified company with a long record of technological leadership in:

• Consulting engineering services for rotating machinery, emphasizing control of rotor vibrations and journal and thrust bearing performance
• Products and field service for installation and maintenance. TRI's four primary product areas are:
  • Film bearings, seals, certain shafting, and vibration control of all types, sizes, and applications of rotating machinery.
  • Fluid drives of all sizes and power, though we focus on the larger ones providing variable speed power for BFPs and fans.
  • Oil systems for fluid drives, turbines and related equipment.
  • Impellers and similar products made using 3-D CAM and multi-axis CNC milling machines.

TRI rebuilds existing equipment, manufactures new and re-rated equipment, using new TRI-designed components to meet the specific needs of the application and comply with strict QC standards.

TRI works with other companies and specialists on an ad hoc basis for large projects, such as repowering a power plant, to provide customers with "turn-key" projects. Almost everything in a power plant, refinery, or a similar facility, including large generator rotor forgings, can be sourced from one or more of these smaller specialized companies.