Hycomp Performance Under Pressure™

Fully Packaged to Your Application Hycomp compressor packaging is high quality, safe, flexible, and reliable. Our engineers are the compressor experts so you don’t have to be. We will work with you to engineer a compressor system tailored to your exact application requirements. When your compressor system needs specialized packaging, Hycomp provides the options to get your process running safely while maintaining worry-free service. Our packaging options are organized into four main categories: specialized design, control panels, skid construction and motors.

Specialized Design
When compressing air and other gases at higher pressures the components used must stand up to the rigorous demands placed upon them. And when our clients bring us specialized requirements we design what their application needs. Hycomp engineers have often designed components for specific requirements and conditions, such as: “shell and tube” water cooled aftercoolers to handle 3000 psig, brazed plate (or flat plate) interstage coolers to regulate interstage pressures at 1000 psig, and balanced piston rings to deal with the severity of high pressures.

Safety is absolutely paramount when designing and manufacturing gas compressors. When a potentially explosive substance is present under normal operating conditions, the right explosion proof packaging must be utilized to meet regulations and keep personnel safe. Each compressor is packaged, using high quality components and materials, to meet regional safety standards.

Hycomp quality means attention to detail. We match the controls and packaging to our compressor quality, and tailor the entire system for your application. Our clients often have specific requirements that demand innovative engineering and design specific to their application. To manufacture high quality compressors, Hycomp utilizes high quality components that are both high performance and long lasting.

Hycomp is currently working on two different projects that will experience very harsh ambient conditions. One project will experience ambient temperatures of approximately -50^o F and needs to be mounted inside a mobile trailer, while another project will experience temperatures as high as 160^o F on desert tundra. Our modular style of engineering and manufacturing creates nearly endless compression and packaging possibilities to handle nearly any condition.

Control Panels
Even the best compressor in the world would be a headache if it were difficult to operate. To create a more simple and precise user interface, Hycomp provides the Hycomp Digital Controller or HDC. Hycomp provides two levels of control to meet your applications needs, the HDC1 and HDC2.

The HDC1 is Hycomp’s factory standard level of control. The HDC1 offers precise control of your compressor system. Settings are all easily adjustable and current system values are displayed on the main screen at all times. “Click here for more information about the HDC1”

The HDC2 provides all the benefits of the HDC1, plus additional monitoring and individual troubleshooting screens. This additional information is invaluable for complete control and a full understanding of everything your compressor is doing in real time. When required, the HDC2 can also be remote mounted for ease of use and safety. To learn more about the HDC2, please read the HDCs & VFDs article by clicking here.

Hycomp also offers an energy savings option by combining an HDC2 with a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD). Your HDC2 microprocessor can be configured to automatically adjust compressor speeds to match your demand requirements, while saving energy and wear on the compressor.

Hycomp control panel packages are built to meet the safety rating system requirements for your region and application, such as: NEMA, IP and ATEX rated control panels. To learn more about XP packaging and when it applies, please see our Question and Answer article: “How does Hycomp handle XP packaging?”

Skid Construction
Some applications require modified compressor skid mounting. Whether you need to mount the compressor on top of a tank, the footprint needs to fit into a particular area, or if you need a complete “plug and play” system, we will work with you to provide a solution. We design and manufacture compressor systems to your needs and requirements rather than you having to change your requirements to match our compressors.

Motors
Our motors and motor enclosures are also tailored to meet various safety rating systems, such as: NEMA, IP, ATEX… etc. Hycomp electric motors are sized and specified to your operating requirements and to comply with recent US federally mandated energy standards, Hycomp utilizes premium efficiency motors.

The bottom line is that our compressor packaging is designed for one purpose: to give you exactly what your application needs. Hycomp has been manufacturing engineered solutions since 1969. We have the engineering experience and expertise you can trust. We manufacture high quality packaging and controls to ensure your Hycomp system performs to its full potential for a very long time, giving the system operator the performance and reliability they need.

Full Control & Energy Savings The inclusion of the Hycomp Digital Controller (HDC) increases your compressor’s efficiency, precision and ease of use. It basically comes down to this question: When you need to adjust the discharge pressure or temperature switch, do you want approximate or precise adjustments? A Hycomp Digital Controller will provide exact setting control. For example: when you enter 411 psig discharge pressure, you get precisely 411 psig. By comparison, when using an analog control panel, you only get close approximate settings.

The HDC1
The HDC1 is Hycomp’s standard level of control which gives you the ability to monitor and control your compressor system with precision. Current system values are displayed at all times on the main menu screen for quick and easy reference, while an hour meter serves as a Preventative Maintenance (PM) reminder.

For your operational convenience, the HDC1 monitors the following: oil pressure, suction pressure, discharge pressure, discharge temperature and motor overload. The HDC1 also provides the following capabilities and information to keep your compressor system running smoothly: PM hour meter indication, trouble alarms, shutdowns, digital readout of system values and digital entry of set points.

The HDC2
The HDC2 gives you all the benefits of the HDC1, plus additional monitoring of interstage pressures and temperatures, password protection, event history, troubleshooting walkthroughs, and Ethernet communications. The individual troubleshooting screens are invaluable when diagnosing potential problems with your compressor, while the event history provides a clear indication of current and past operation. With the inclusion of TCP/IP communications ability, you can remotely monitor and control your entire system. A larger full color touchscreen is also included to facilitate ease of use.

Energy Savings: The VFD Solution
Variable Frequency Drives (VFD’s) are used to vary the speed of an electric motor. They do this by altering the input/output frequency of the electric motor. The VFD will allow your electric motor to consume less energy because the VFD fluctuates the motor speed and energy usage to match the demand of your application.

Think of how a VFD works as the difference between a standard on/off light switch in your home and a modern dimmer light switch. But, this dimmer switch responds automatically to the need for light in the room per your control settings. You use less energy because the VFD provides exactly what your process needs when it needs it. The control logic is based on standard PID functions, which are field adjustable to match your local conditions. Hycomp proudly offers this energy saving option with our HDC2 packages.

No matter what level of control, monitoring and precision your application requires, Hycomp offers the packaging options to give you exactly what you want, when you want it. For packaging that provides precision, safety and energy savings, trust Hycomp.

Full Hycomp Factory Support Click on image to enlarge. Click here to contact a Hycomp Service Technician Hycomp offers full factory support. When you need us we will be there for you 24 hours a day and 7 days a week as a standard service.

We stand behind our product 100%, which also means we stand behind our distributors and end-users. No matter what happens we will do everything in our power to make sure that at the end of the day our customers can say they trust Hycomp to get the job done right. We offer our support in three main categories: Free Unlimited Technical Support, Factory Startup and Factory Service.

Free Unlimited Technical Support
Our factory support commitment begins from the moment you purchase a Hycomp compressor. Hycomp provides free unlimited technical support for every compressor we make. This 24 hour a day and 7 days a week service is offered at no additional charge.

We understand that downtime can be expensive. If there is a possibility that troubleshooting and repair can be managed over the phone, we always want to make that happen. Our Service Technicians will work with you to answer all your questions and concerns.

As part of our goal to provide the best service in the industry, we also keep a complete history on every compressor we manufacture. Every time a distributor or end-user contacts us about a specific compressor we create notes from those communications and record them in our Compressor Tracking Database. This information is confidential and retained for the life of the compressor.

A compressor tracking database is a rare service in the compressor industry. Tracking the history of each compressor allows us to provide better service and technical advice when you need us the most and before a significant problem presents itself. For example: if a compressor has been experiencing small problems periodically, it may be a symptom of a larger issue that the customer may not realize. We simply want to show our customers our appreciation for choosing Hycomp by offering a higher level of support and service.

Hycomp Factory Startup
Two main questions often come up during a capital equipment purchase. “How many other unforeseen expenses are there going to be?” and “How long will it take to be up and running?”

Hycomp Factory Startup eliminates these concerns and provides peace of mind with an additional six months manufacturer’s warranty, efficient worry-free startup, and assurance that proper installation guidelines were followed.

When Hycomp Factory Startup is purchased, you have our commitment that an experienced Hycomp Technician will: 1) Guide you through a correct installation process before arriving onsite. 2) Perform a thorough installation inspection onsite. 3) Perform a detailed Factory Startup procedure including dynamic control checks, application tuning, and factory training for onsite staff.

Larry Smith, Plant Electrical Engineer at Gerdau Ameristeel commented on the help he received from a Hycomp Service Technician, during a recent Hycomp Factory Startup. “He explained all the ins and outs of our Hycomp compressor to me and our technicians: from why the oil pressure starts out low, to how to drain the water out of the system to extend compressor life. His advice went beyond what we would regularly expect and this has made our system even more reliable.”

Hycomp Factory Startup not only provides peace of mind, it is simply the best and most efficient way to get your Hycomp compressor up and running. Each compressor is fine tuned to application specific conditions and requirements. Trust Hycomp to get your process moving efficiently and safely.

Factory Service
Whether you need regularly scheduled maintenance and service or a complete compressor overhaul, Hycomp Factory Service is here to help.

Hycomp Factory Service is a straightforward process. If the concern cannot be handled over the phone or if the distributor would simply prefer a Hycomp Factory Service Technician to handle the service in person, we can make that happen for you.

Hycomp strives to excel in our service reporting. As service is performed, it is documented via photographs (when possible and where permitted) and through detailed notes. Our technicians go into great detail explaining what was done and also offering advice and action items to improve system performance and longevity. We make an extra effort to explain how to prevent similar problems in the future through proper maintenance, operation and system improvements. You will also be provided with a list

of action items that need to be completed by either the end-user, Hycomp or both. The service report will also contain suggestions for the compressor that will increase efficiency and dependability.

We take our factory support seriously as we work with our customers closely to ensure satisfaction. We have found that it is important that all parties involved understand exactly what to expect before, during and after any service has been rendered. Customer satisfaction is very important to us and that is how we have been doing business since 1969.

It’s a 189 Mile Party Hycomp Team Finishes 2010 Ragnar Relay - Utah Click on image to enlarge. If running 189 miles through the mountains of Utah sounds crazy, you are probably a normal and sane individual. If running 189 miles on a team of 12 sounds like a lot of fun, you are a Ragnar runner.

The Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay Race follows a rigorous mountain course from Logan to Park City, Utah. The Hycomp team, “If We Weren’t All Crazy, We’d All Go Insane” finished the full 189 miles while dealing with less than two hours of sleep, blisters, dehydration and leg cramps.

The Ragnar Relay Race is attempted by teams of twelve brave runners whom each run 3 legs that vary between 3 and 10 miles, while the other runners drive to the next exchange point in a van and wait. This is the fifth year of the race, and the second year that Hycomp has participated as a team.

Averaging a 6 mph pace, the team finished in an unofficial time of 31:46:17.8. This time placed our Hycomp team, “If We Weren’t All Crazy, We’d All Go Insane” at a respectable 358th out of 658 coed teams and 47th out of the 84 corporate teams. The team was exhausted, but still smiling, after being part of about 14,000 runners to run the grueling 189.7 mile trail (305.3 km). Everyone had a good time, and certainly developed stronger bonds of respect and friendship.

In 2009 Hycomp ran this relay race as a team and a couple runners couldn’t finish the race so fellow team members ran for them. This year every runner finished all three of their legs. To celebrate their hard earned victory, Team Captain Robert James took everyone out to dinner at the Red Rock Brewery in Park City, Utah.

Click on following images to enlarge.

Gas Booster Niche & Higher Profits In the gas compression market Hycomp offers an engineered product that provides the end user with what they need while distributors experience higher profit margins. Our gas compressor niche basically exists because most large manufacturers do not address the problems that Hycomp compressors solve.

Many of the companies that have been serving this market are also pulling out of the gas compression market, even as it is growing. This increasing demand for gas compressors offers Hycomp distributors very exciting opportunities.

When a customer has a specific application that requires detailed engineering involvement, Hycomp is often the perfect fit. Whether you are dealing with nitrogen assisted laser cutting, the corrosive nature of wet carbon dioxide or compressing methane off a landfill; Hycomp has the answers and the experience to get the job done.

Trust Hycomp to be the experts and lean on our experience of over 40 years, to provide the right solution that each application demands. Our engineers address any and all concerns from the onset by talking directly with the distributor and end user engineers. This way everyone involved is on the same page and moving forward together.

Hycomp oil free gas compressors are capable of delivering a wide range of flows at pressures from a few psig to over 1,500 psig. Multiple gas packing options and our broad variety of existing modular compressor components allows us to offer an extremely versatile line of gas compressors.

We have found that the three most important factors when dealing with gas are: safety, flexibility and reliability.

Safety:
The most common leaking points in a compressor are along the piston rod and rings. That is exactly why Hycomp utilizes ring and gas packing materials that are specifically matched to the gas or gas mixture being compressed.

Hycomp provides three increasingly secure methods of gas leakage control, including our B-Series gas compressors for inert gases, our G-Series for standard industrial gases and our H-Series for extreme gas control. Hycomp safety does not only protect against gas leakage, we also protect your system and end product. Every Hycomp compressor is oil free. Therefore, your system remains oil free and your product is kept safe from oil contamination. Flexibility: Our engineered solutions are flexible to your requirements. Bring us your conditions and we will engineer a compressor to match your needs. We gauge compatibility and select materials accordingly. Hycomp does not build a single “one size fits all” compressor. Every compressor and system packaging we manufacture is built for its intended use. Our modular style of design allows us to utilize a wide range of high quality materials and methods. We offer 2 cooling methods, 9 block sizes, 12+ gas packing arrangements, and over 100 different cylinder sizes to provide nearly endless possibilities to match the compatibility requirements of most industrial gases and applications. Reliability: Hycomp gas compressors are designed and built with quality for continuous duty. Our compressors are engineered for slower running speeds to handle a full 60 minutes per hour, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year of actual continuous operation. The bottom line is your Hycomp gas compressor will provide safe, reliable and continuous compression while keeping your product free from oil contaminates.

AICD Presentation - Understanding The Booster Market It was a pleasure to meet with so many of Hycomp’s good friends and colleagues during the recent AICD Meetings at the beautiful Sawgrass Marriott Resort in Florida. This meeting was a great opportunity for Hycomp to learn more about how the AICD member companies are doing and share some of our experience about where we are finding success. Hycomp truly appreciates all of the AICD member companies and how they have welcomed our participation in this event.

Hycomp had the opportunity this year to present information about the Air Booster and Gas Compressor niche market. Ken Schiefer led an energetic discussion about how AICD members can find opportunities and applications for these products. Ken shared some tips and tricks to understanding gas compressors and how to break into this niche market utilizing the Hycomp strategy of heavy engineering involvement and working directly with the distributor and end user.

One of the big reasons Hycomp attends the AICD meetings is that we learn so much from our distributor partners by discussing business during the vendor exhibit sessions. Hycomp was able to meet and discuss business with virtually every AICD member company. We really appreciate all of the good questions; look for them in our Q&A section of this newsletter and on our website.

There was a lot of positive energy at the meeting and many companies reported that their business is bouncing back after a relatively flat 2009. If you missed the session and would like to know more about the booster market email to sales@hycompusa.com. We would be happy to share our presentation and discuss booster opportunities with you.

Hycomp came away from the 2010 AICD Meetings with a number of very useful ideas and strategies for controlling costs, enhancing revenues, and keeping customers really satisfied. Thank you to all who contributed to making it such a great meeting. We look forward to seeing our AICD friends again next year at Red Rock in Las Vegas!

Nitrogen Applications On The Rise The demand for pure, high pressure reliable nitrogen is increasing, and Hycomp has the answers that your clients want. In the last six months 42% of the inquires we received were for nitrogen compressors and boosters. These inquires represent a wide assortment of applications, such as: pharmaceuticals, steel mills, laser cutting, nitrogen blanketing, autoclaves etc. Moreover, in the last six months, nitrogen pumps represented 35% of the total compressors we manufactured for our distributors.

At the same time that interest is increasing, some of the larger manufacturers are discontinuing production of their gas compressor lines. Opportunities abound for nitrogen applications that our distributors are identifying and capitalizing on. Hycomp continues to manufacture quality nitrogen pumps that are oil free, continuous duty and offer higher pressures.

Many nitrogen applications need higher pressures, whether the N2 supply is coming from bulk nitrogen tanks, dewars or a nitrogen generator. The point of use pressure is often higher than is provided by these means. Hycomp boosters are meeting the needs of various nitrogen applications and our customers keep coming back.

“Hycomp gas compressors have outperformed any other competitor. The units keep up with demand and are cost efficient. Our evaluations show the compressors gave us a payback within an eight month period,” said Eddie Cunningham of Pratt & Whitney, “We tried one Hycomp compressor running our TRUMPF laser cutting machines. We now have four Hycomp gas compressors.”

Hycomp distributors are able to sell our nitrogen compressors based mostly on three main points: Oil Free (nitrogen purity), True Continuous Duty (no unplanned downtime) and low maintenance (quality and longevity). We provide engineered solutions tailored to the operating conditions of individual customers.

Oil Free – Everything Hycomp makes is oil free. Oil will not contaminate your client’s nitrogen supply, leaving their nitrogen pure and their process clean and efficient. When blow molding blister packs for the pharmaceutical industry, laser cutting metal or chemical curing in an autoclave, oil simply cannot be present or the product will be damaged.

True Continuous Duty – Continuous duty means something different to us. Every Hycomp compressor is engineered to run continuously for 60 minutes an hour, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. When downtime is not an option, trust Hycomp.

Low Maintenance – Hycomp quality means attention to detail. By holding our materials and production methods to a higher standard, we provide you with industrial duty compressors that outlast and outperform the competition. Hycomp utilizes heavy duty construction that incorporates the benefits of larger designs into our smaller compressors and boosters. We manufacture compressors that provide longevity and continuous oil free service by taking advantage of cast iron cylinders/heads, pressure oil lubricated crankcases, thick PTFE based piston rings and radial tangent gas packings. We match the controls and packaging to our compressor quality, and tailor the whole system for your application.

John Cantu, Operations Manager for US Precision Manufacturing has been using a pair of nitrogen boosters for several years, “The [Hycomp] nitrogen boosters worked great… we liked our first one so much we bought a second unit without even shopping around, we wanted more of what we had.”

Hycomp Presentation At AICD Hycomp has been chosen as a presenter to explain the air and gas booster market on Monday, May 17th during the 2010 AICD meeting in Florida. Hycomp is very excited and honored to provide this presentation. Hycomp is already a recognized leader in the air and gas booster market and we are rapidly gaining additional traction in the market

with many new applications and additional customers. Hycomp is particularly qualified in booster applications where purity of product, true continuous duty, and long-term reliability are paramount.

The air and gas booster market is one that is often misunderstood; therefore some distributors tend to approach the market with hesitancy. Distributors that have experience and are comfortable handling air and gas boosters have learned when and where to effectively apply these machines and are seeing some solid success.

The presentation will help distributors better understand the market and how to find more opportunities and success. The basics of air and gas boosting will be addressed. We will also delve into some key technical engineering points to help those in attendance fully understand when, where, and why air and gas boosters are excellent solutions.

Distributor and dealer managers continue to ask us for more information about when, where and how air and gas boosters can be sold. We will address a lot of applications that have proven very fruitful for Hycomp. An understanding of these applications, along with an explanation of how to identify and respond to these opportunities will provide a good starting point for those wishing to get a better hold on the air and gas boosting market.

Our goal is to inform you about this niche booster market in an interesting and interactive presentation. We’ll be available to answer any further questions in Booth 204 at the vendor exhibits throughout the conference. We hope to see you there!

Engineering A Better Cardboard Sled The 2010 Beaver Mountain Bash: Cardboard Boxcar Derby & Pond Skim Click on image to enlarge. Zooming down a snow covered hill in a cardboard box may seem like a bad idea to some people, but to those who piloted the “cardboard box derby cars,” it was a hilarious adrenaline rush. Matt Logan, Hycomp Marketing and cardboard box derby car team captain was very pleased with their run, “We were screaming down that hill, the crowd was cheering… there was no stopping us. We crossed the finish line, went up and over an embankment [that was supposed to stop us], crashed through a few photographers and kept sliding down the hill.”

On March 27, 2010, a three-man Hycomp employee team entered and raced in the “First Annual Beaver Mountain Bash Cardboard Box Derby.” Beaver Mountain is a local ski resort that is only about 45 minutes away from Hycomp’s front doors. The “Beaver Bash” is held at the end of the ski season and all are welcomed to have fun as either competitors or spectators.

A cardboard box derby is an event in which 1 to 4 person teams construct “sleds” made out of only three things: cardboard, tape and string. The teams then line up at the top of a football field length (100 yards) hill and attempt to cross the finish line at the bottom with the fastest time. Teams are sent down one at a time, and hilarity ensues as teams crash or their cardboard sleds disintegrate before they can reach the end.

“My favorite part of the day was when we crashed though those photographers at the end of the run. We couldn’t stop and they weren’t moving,” commented Matt Baldwin, Hycomp Machinist and team rider, “We were all laughing so hard, and I’m glad that no one got hurt.”

Matt Logan also participated in the “Pond Skim,” which is basically snowboarding or skiing down a short run, trying to get up enough speed, and then skimming across a 50-60 foot body of water without stopping or falling in. He made it twice, and then inevitably, couldn’t make it all the way across the third time and sprayed the crowd with an icy sheet of water as he went down.

Team Hycomp came in second place in the cardboard box derby, which is not bad for a first attempt. However, Hycomp will be back next year with an improved design to claim the title of fastest cardboard box derby car on the hill!

Click on following images to enlarge.

“Hycomp Inc.” Cardboard Boxcar Derby Team:

How To Size A Compressor: Application Worksheet Success When we say Hycomp offers engineered solutions, we mean just that. Hycomp oil free compressors are not “off the shelf” or “one size fits all.” We engineer each compressor for specific applications. A well built compressor is like a tailored suit, exact measurements need to be recorded and followed or the suit will not fit properly. Hycomp compressors are engineered to be an exact fit for their intended use and the Application Worksheet helps provide all the necessary measurements.

“There are so many variables when sizing a compressor,” said Terry Terwelp an outside salesman for Sullair of Houston, “The Hycomp engineering support is very helpful.”

At first glance, the Application Worksheet may be slightly intimidating; there is a lot of information required to provide the right solution. However, Hycomp engineers are ready to help our distributors and end users. By talking directly with the end user engineer and distributor, Hycomp engineers are able to discuss the application and not only provide a solution tailored to the situation, but solve any potential problems before they can occur.

We call this business approach: Engineer to Engineer or “E2E”. When the distributor and engineers from both sides of the sale communicate directly, the project moves forward faster while both product and purchase confidence increase. Mike Tiedt, Vice President of Sales for A-1 Air Compressor Corporation was very impressed with the Hycomp sales process, “Hycomp’s engineering involvement was very useful… They [Hycomp] really worked hard to help us get the order.”

There are some things on the Application Worksheet that appear more important than others, such as: gas, point of use pressure or flow. The hazardous location classification (Class/Division/Group) is an important factor when dealing with potentially hazardous gases. However, everything is important, as all information is necessary to provide the best possible solution. When Hycomp engineers get involved, customer satisfaction increases as the compressor is tailored to provide an exact fit for your application.

31st Annual ICDA Meeting Industrial Compressor Distributor Association Palm Springs, California April 25 - 28, 2010

Ken Schiefer, Area Manager – North America, will be representing Hycomp Inc. at the 31st Annual ICDA meeting located in Palm Springs, California on April 25 - 27. “I am very excited to talk to Gardner Denver distributors about gas compressors. Hycomp has an amazing oil free gas compressor line, and due to recent events with Gardner Denver, people are coming to us more and more.” said Schiefer.

“Hycomp is moving forward in the natural gas market and making a hard push in the oil industry. Our gas compressors and boosters are 24/7 continuous duty, which is very important in these industries or anywhere unplanned downtime is not an option,” said Schiefer.

Hycomp specializes in oil free compression engineered solutions. Hycomp engineers design oil free air compressors, air boosters and gas compressors to fit the specific demands of each application. At the ICDA meeting, Ken will demonstrate for dealers how Hycomp gas compressors can provide the solutions their clients need.

To explain how Hycomp goes to market, an online distributor training webinar is offered at no charge and with flexible scheduling. Ken enjoys sharing training with Hycomp distributors, “We have experienced only success with our training webinars. Our distributors understand where Hycomp fits into their line cards and they are excited to offer their customers solutions where they previously had limited or no options.”

The Hycomp product line blends well with compressor distributor main product lines because Hycomp sells niche products. This is great news for Hycomp dealers, because Hycomp products do not compete with the products they already sell, dealers are simply provided with more solutions to offer their customers.

Hycomp provides excellent solutions for the following situations:

• When you need compressed air above 150 psig - Hycomp Oil Free Air Compressors
• When plant air pressure is not enough - Hycomp Oil Free Air Boosters
• When you need to compress any gas other than air - Hycomp Oil Free Gas Compressors

To sell Hycomp, a dealer simply needs to find one of these three “Hycomp Situations” and then call Hycomp. The Hycomp sales and engineering staff will work closely with distributors to ensure customer satisfaction. Hycomp also stands by its dealers with free continual technical support and advice.

We hope to see you at the 2010 ICDA meeting in sunny Southern California!

Worry-Free Factory Startup Two key questions often come up during a capital equipment purchase. “How many other unforeseen expenses are there going to be?” and “How long will it take to be up and running?”

Hycomp Factory Startup eliminates these concerns and includes: an additional six months manufacturer warranty, efficient and worry-free startup, assurance that proper installation guidelines were followed and system training for end user technicians.

When Hycomp Factory Startup is purchased, you have our commitment that an experienced Hycomp technician will: a) Guide you through a correct installation process. b) Be on-site to perform a pre-start inspection and factory startup procedure, which includes: dynamic control checks, application tuning, and scope of supply validation.

Larry Smith, Plant Electrical Engineer at Gerdau Ameristeel commented recently on the help he received from Todd McGregor, Hycomp Service Manager, during a Hycomp Factory Startup. “Todd explained all the ins and outs of our Hycomp compressor to me and our technicians: from why the oil pressure starts out low, to how to drain the water out of the system to extend compressor life. His advice went beyond what we would regularly expect and this has made our system even more reliable.”

McGregor explained the three most common installation mistakes that he has seen when he goes out to provide Hycomp Factory Startup:

1. Foundation Construction. Reading and following the Hycomp Installation & Operation Manual, may seem like a simple task, but sometimes it’s the details of simple things that are overlooked. Reciprocating compressors can produce mild to moderate vibration. If improperly mounted to a foundation or if an improper foundation is used, problems can occur during operation. Hycomp technicians work closely with all of our factory startup clients to be sure that they have the best advice and we make ourselves available to answer any questions or problems they may have.

2. Lack of Inlet Cleanliness and Filtration. “It is very common to have debris issues if you have a lot of welded or even threaded piping in front of your compressor without proper filtration,” said McGregor.

3. Maintenance Access. When maintenance is needed, access to the compressor is essential. For example: hoists are necessary to remove the cylinder heads of our larger sized compressors and if adequate access has not been provided then future maintenance is more difficult. Hycomp works with all of our factory startup clients to ensure that the Installation & Operation instructions are understood and utilized.

Once your compressor is up and running as designed, Hycomp continues to provide tech support at no additional charge. We want you to feel like you can call Hycomp directly with any questions you may have. Anytime.

Commenting on technical support calls, McGregor said, “Our customers can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. We will do our best to get them the answers they need so their Hycomp equipment is operating in a correct manner.”

Larry Smith, of Gerdau Ameristeel, commented further on the support he received from Hycomp after startup. “Most people are willing to help a customer until they get paid, then their interest to help tapers off. I have been in contact with Todd McGregor since the factory startup via email and over the phone and he has been very willing to provide additional technical support and advice.”

At Hycomp, our ability to respond to customer questions and concerns is very important to us. We want our customers to be satisfied with our product and our organization. We also have great distributors to help trouble-shoot and provide constant local support and we use all of these resources to effectively serve our distributors and customers.

Factory Testing At our Hycomp factory in Northern Utah, we test every compressor we manufacture to ensure that it performs as designed. Each compressor is tested for a minimum of four hours under application simulated conditions to ensure that the compressor startup is safe and reliable.

After successful completion of testing a Hycomp Performance Certificate is prepared by our Quality Department and shipped with the compressor. This documents that the compressor has met our stringent performance and quality standards, while listing out several of the key test parameters and requirements such as: gas being compressed, inlet and discharge pressures/temperatures, and flow.

Our testing involves actual run time. During the first two hours of testing, known as “the break-in period,” the compressor is run at a reduced load. This allows the piston rings to seat themselves against the cylinder walls and the rod gas packings to wear to an exact fit with the rod. The compressor is then brought up to the maximum design condition for two or more hours of run time.

To verify performance with end user requirements, each compressor is monitored by a data logger for the entire testing process. The data logger records measurements such as: inlet/interstage/discharge temp & pressure, flow rate, coolant temp, motor amp draw and oil pressure. System control functions of the compressor are also tested to ensure proper function and system response.

Hycomp Awarded Petrofac Contract Hycomp, Inc. has been awarded a compressor design, build, installation and service contract by Petrofac International LTD. Petrofac is one of the largest design, build and investment companies for oil & gas production projects in the Middle East with annual revenues of $3.3

Billion (USD) and a backlog approaching $8 Billion (USD). Hycomp will be supplying Petrofac, the primary contractor for the El Merk Central Processing Facility (CPF), with a nitrogen gas compressor system that will be used for fire suppression.

This Hycomp nitrogen gas compressor system will be boosting 80 psig of nitrogen up to 565 psig then delivering it into a nitrogen storage vessel. The high pressure nitrogen will then be discharged to the Hot Oil Fired Heater snuffing application in the event of a fire. Hycomp is also providing Petrofac with engineering services prior to installation and onsite technical support/services after installation.

Due to the severe weather conditions of the Algerian Sahara Desert, Hycomp is providing a 3-stage air cooled gas compressor specifically engineered to handle the sandy desert conditions and extreme temperatures of -5˚ to 60˚ Celsius (23˚ to 140˚ F). Coupled with these tough environmental conditions, the Hycomp Compressor must also meet ATEX certification and have explosion proof system packaging.

The El Merk CPF will be operated by Sonatrach and Anadarko on behalf of the El Merk partners: Sonatrach, Anadarko, Maersk Oil, Eni, ConocoPhillips and Talisman (Algeria) BV. The El Merk CPF is located in the 208 block of the Berkine Basin of Algeria (see image above), approximately 550 miles South East of Algiers, Algeria. Oil and gas from this development will be primarily exported to European markets.

Petrofac’s decision to utilize Hycomp for this large scale oil and gas project continues to solidify Hycomp as a leader in engineered solutions for oil free compressors. Hycomp is making a strong push in the oil & gas industry and proving very successful where safety and reliability are paramount.

Commenting on the award, Robert James, President and CEO of Hycomp Inc. said, “Petrofac is extremely careful with whom they do business. To be considered for this project we submitted to an extensive 3rd party audit of our quality management system. The fact that we were awarded the Petrofac project is a testament not only to the quality of our actual product, but to the quality and engineering processes that we have in place.”

What’s New On The Hycomp Website At Hycomp, we are pressing forward in the areas of distributor communication and engineering involvement, while keeping up our commitment to quality, reliability and safety. At Hycomp, we are pressing forward in the areas of distributor communication and engineering involvement, while keeping up our commitment to quality, reliability and safety. As such, our website has grown, meaning: we have some new pages and more new content than ever before.

So, visit hycompusa.com often as new content is continuously being added. We have added three new pages: Engineer To Engineer, Newsletter and Question & Answer. These new additions to our website offer interesting information about our approach to compressor manufacturing.

Engineer To Engineer
The Engineer to Engineer or “E2E” page explains the selling approach that has been proven to work best for our engineered solutions. The E2E Concept is: Hycomp engineers working directly with distributors and the end user’s engineers to provide the exact solution each application requires.

Newsletter
2010 marked the launch of our monthly Hycomp Newsletter Performance Under Pressure. As stated in the first issue (January 2010) these newsletters have been designed with our distributors and their clients in mind. We plan to utilize this monthly publication to inform and inspire.

Question & Answer
This new page is meant to give our distributors, OEMs and clients the information they want and need. If you would like to know more on a specific topic or product, need engineering advice or anything related to our company, please send us an email at: support@hycompusa.com and we will cover that subject on our website in the Question & Answer section and possibly in a future issue of the Hycomp Newsletter Performance under Pressure.

Literature
Near the end of 2009 we published a complete new series of Hycomp literature. We have created three new product brochures: Oil Free Air Compressors, Oil Free Air Boosters and Oil Free Gas Compressors. We have spent a great deal of time on these brochures to ensure that they are extremely useful and informative.

We have also added two new application specific cut sheets to the literature page: Water System Oil Free Air Compressors and PET Bottle Blowing Oil Free Air Boosters. We will be adding more cut sheets in the future and we would like to know if you have any ideas for an application specific cut sheet that you would find useful as a distributor or end user.

The Hycomp technical literature has also been completely updated. Hycomp is an engineering solutions provider and as such our technical literature is intended to provide detailed technical information to guide discussions and decisions about applications, options, and performance.

One very important addition to our literature page is the Hycomp Application Worksheet. This tool will prove very helpful to Hycomp distributors, as it pin points the exact information we need to know to quote a job. This electronic form can be filled out on your computer or printed out and completed manually.

Thank you for visiting hycompusa.com. Come back often to see what’s new. We invite you to experience the Hycomp difference.

Now that 2009 is in the rear-view-mirror, I thought I would share a few 2009 Hycomp achievements with our valued Distributors, Dealers, and other industry friends.

First off, we are very proud to announce that in the midst of a hard-hitting recession and a very difficult climate for capital equipment expenditures, our revenues grew for a fifth straight year. We give a lot of credit to our valued Distributors, Dealers, end users and employees for their great efforts.

During the course of the year, we had our share of difficulties as some of our key customers saw their businesses struggle. This gave us the opportunity to re-calibrate our Distributor/Dealer Network and to further diversify our business across more industries and applications. We developed completely new Distributor Literature Kits and Distributor Training Programs, which are already proving to be very valuable tools in capturing the situations that require our unique and individualized solutions.

Internally we focused on production efficiency and quality. Through stricter control on our manufacturing floor, we reduced our internal cost of goods, allowing us to keep our prices level during the wildly fluctuating raw materials markets of the past few years. I am also very proud that we improved our delivery performance by 4%, reducing lead-times to your customers.

As our quality department continues to grow, our overall warranty levels continue drop. Our total warranty claims were a record low 0.17% of total sales, meaning for every thousand dollars sold, we had less than two dollars in warranty costs. I can think of no better testimony to the craftsmanship of our employees than this.

We enter 2010 poised to have another record year. Organizationally, we are now better structured to support our Distributors and Dealers. We are already well ahead of pace to have a record month in January and we consider our outlook for this year to be very positive, despite the tough economic conditions that still prevail.

Thank you again for your diligent efforts and continued support of Hycomp. We look forward to working with you in 2010, and I personally wish you success in the coming year.

Robert James
President and CEO
Hycomp, Inc.

Hycomp Runs For Glory? The 188 Mile 2009 Ragnar Wasatch Back Relay

Click on image to enlarge.

So what do you get when you load two large vehicles with 2 drivers, 12 runners, and collectively run 188 miles (302.6 km) on next to no sleep? Two vans full of stinky, zombie-like crazy relay runners who are having an amazing time!

The Wasatch Back Relay Race follows a rigorous mountain course from Logan to Park City, Utah. The Hycomp “Performance Under Pressure” team managed to finish it all while dealing with less than two hours of sleep, rashes, blisters, dehydration, cramps and even a bum knee. This is the fifth year of the race, but only the first year that Hycomp has participated as a team. Twelve runners each run 3 legs that vary between 3 and 10 miles, passing a wrist baton to the next, while the other runners drive to the next exchange point in a van and wait.

Averaging just under a 6mph pace, the team finished in an unofficial time of 31:13:45. While not winning any awards, this places them at a respectable 305th out of 438 coed teams. While a total of 650 teams started the race, making it a race of 7,800 runners, only about 600 teams actually finished the grueling 187.9 mile run.

Everyone had a good time, and each group of 6 certainly developed stronger bonds of respect and friendship. Several runners were unable to complete their legs, but supportive teammates substituted for them before or after running their own legs. Many who participated have already agreed to run again next year – even some that initially said ‘no way’, but for whom the draw was too great and have since expressed a desire to do it again!

Click on following images to enlarge.