Testimonials
Rohm and Haas, James Kirkland, Mechanical Integrity Specialist
“Our steam trap management program has really been enhanced by the use of SteamStar.
Our facility conducts an annual trap survey using a trusted local company. Before we implemented SteamStar there was little we could do with the data after the steam traps were repaired and replaced. Now SteamStar allows us to keep an up-to-date database of our steam trap population. Our maintenance personnel simply update SteamStar when a trap is replaced. I can then run a trend report that shows me how much estimated steam, fuel, and dollars are lost between surveys.
Another great aspect of SteamStar is the Web-based feature. We have given the company that conducts our trap surveys access to our database through the Web tools in SteamStar. Before they come to perform a survey they can download the most current steam trap information from SteamStar. This saves significant time and money to repeat survey.
My goal is to continue to reduce energy losses, help keep our company competitive, and keep our processes running smoothly. SteamStar, as a steam trap management tool, helps make this goal a little more achievable."
DuPont, Greg White, Steam Trap Specialist
“At DuPont, checking steam traps and maintaining the steam system is a continual process. Our steam trap population of more than 1,000 traps is divided into six routes, which are diligently checked twice a year. We see value in this process because an efficient steam system helps produce quality product, and minimize unscheduled downtime.
SteamStar helps me effectively manage our trap population by allowing me to establish testing routes. I can maintain a complete history of each steam trap with information such as test dates, work order numbers, dates replaced, replacement model, piping conditions, and operational status. I can also review fuel savings and dollar savings by trap, by route, and by the entire plant using SteamStar.
The user friendly format of SteamStar allows me to make changes and updates quickly and easily. The SteamStar database has been a good addition to my steam trap management program."
American Synthetic Rubber Company, Ken Hill, Facilities Engineer
“SteamStar is very easy to use and understand. I especially like the fact SteamStar provides information in real-time, and the information is available to everyone on our staff. As our failed traps are replaced, I update SteamStar and it automatically adjusts all the graphs and calculates monetary savings.
Since we implemented SteamStar we have gone from an annual energy loss of $300,000 to $115,000 and I hope to cut that in half by next year's survey.
Thanks for a wonderful program, and for helping to support our goal of eliminating energy loss."
Ineos, Feluy Mr. Daniel Schiavon, Environmental Manager
“Precise data and easy to use” The Ineos site (Innovene) in Feluy is the largest producer of PAOs (poly-alpha-olefins) in Europe and of LAOs (linear alpha-olefins) in Western Europe. Their Environmental Manager, Mr. Daniel Schiavon, included SteamStar in his strategy to save energy and reduce the site’s CO2 emissions. “
What do I think of SteamStar? It’s very easy to use and operate. Armstrong people gave us a demonstration of how the product works. Now that we have been using it, we can say that we are very satisfied. It has helped us to precisely evaluate energy loss from our installation, especially from steam leaks. The highly precise nature of this data is very useful in our energy-savings and CO2 emission reduction plan. Another advantage of using SteamStar has been the possibility to carry out simulations that enable us to evaluate the impact of pressure loss, for example.”
Spa Monopole, Spa Mr. Jean-Marie Conrad, Assistant Manager of the Maintenance Department
“Easy access to the data required for maintenance” The principal and oldest member of the Spadel Group and the undisputed leader on the Benelux mineral water market, Spa Monopole has 14 production lines that put out a total annual volume of 500 million liters of water. Introduced as part of a global audit of the steam and hot water systems performed by Armstrong, SteamStar has become the principal database containing information about the steam traps.
We have only been using SteamStar for a short time. But the main advantage we have gained is the ability to have a permanent view of what's going on at all of our steam traps. SteamStar has also been highly useful during monthly verifications of our steam traps. I would also mention the benefit of having a complete history of events for each steam trap. In the past, such histories, if we even had them, were only summaries and not systematic in nature. We are currently completing our technical files for each steam trap, which, in the event of a problem, will give us easier access to the data and technical characteristics of each of them without the necessity to grope around and lose precious time to find this information.”
UCB Pharma, Braine-l’Alleud Mr. Olivier Ockerman, Maintenance Manager
“A complete history” Since its creation in 1928, UCB has become the largest biopharmaceutical company of Belgian origin and its main Research and Production centers are located in Brain-L'Alleud. Mr. Olivier Ockerman, Maintenance Manager for Unit B1, uses the steam trap diagnoses performed each year by Armstrong, the results of which are generated by SteamStar, to draw up a history of maintenance needs and to analyze the lifespan of equipment in place.
"SteamStar provides us with operating reports that are much more user-friendly. We can consult a complete history that closely examines the correct or incorrect functioning of all of our steam traps by auditing each of them. We get a document summarizing all of this data that is highly useful for our work.
SteamStar also allows us to correctly evaluate savings and losses from the system and to translate all of this information into price per ton of steam. These figures are particularly useful when making or justifying investment choices.”
Seppic (Air Liquide), Zwijndrecht Mr. Frank Breugelmans, Technical Manager
“SteamStar is transparent” Seppic, a producer of so-called "fine chemicals” for the pharmaceutical and chemical sector, uses some two hundred steam systems. For maintenance and repair, Technical Manager Frank Breugelmans works with Armstrong to record the data and with a few contractors to perform the actual work on the installations.
“We now have a direct view of the situation via the Internet. SteamStar is very reliable and transparent for all three parties concerned. It has had a big impact on reactivity: we can immediately contact contractors, ask for a quote and, after completion of the work, they can immediately and correctly update the data about our systems over the Internet. Thus, the biggest advantage for us is transparency.”
Noveon, Kallo Mr. Koen Verheyen, Maintenance Coordinator
“Cost-conscious maintenance” Noveon produces water-soluble polymers. Among other things, this relies on the operation of 129 steam traps. The Noveon group (US) has concluded a worldwide contract with Armstrong, under which an evaluation is also performed on a yearly basis in Kallo.
“Since we have had SteamStar, we have had software access to accurate error data and can quickly decide to perform the necessary repairs. This is based on a precise estimation of cost price, literally per leak or failed steam trap. Thus, SteamStar is above all an excellent, precise tool to optimize cost-conscious maintenance.”
Domo, Ghent Mr. Gert Moorthammer, Technical Manager
“It is necessary to control the steam traps more than once per year” Domo Ghent, a company in the Polymers Division of the Domo group, produces polyamide for the manufacture textile yarn. Technical Manager Gert Moorthammer and his group have recently started using SteamStar and appreciate the reliable inventory and direct diagnosis it provides.
“We have four polymerization systems with various steam processes. Armstrong recently performed an audit and yearly survey of the systems at Domo. We will now use this as a basis to further develop the use of SteamStar internally. We also find it necessary to control the installations more than on this one yearly occasion. We would like to plan around two surveys per year with Armstrong. In this context, the information provided by SteamStar will form the basis for maintenance and investment decisions. At this time, that seems to me to be the most significant advantage."
Total Petrochemicals, Carling Christian Linder, Process, Energy, Utilities and Environmental Engineer
“Significant time savings” Total Petrochemicals is the petrochemical branch of the Total oil group that is ranked 5th worldwide. As a result of a series of surveys performed by Armstrong, SteamStar has complied – for the first time – all of the steam traps on the Carling site, from the superheated purge line to the steam crackers, into one single report. Mr. Christian Linder, initiator of this project, is very satisfied with the efficiency of this approach.
For us, SteamStar is clearly a product with true added value. Simply, because it has allowed us to verify the status of all of our steam traps at any time, in one glance and via the Internet. This is a considerable savings in time that also allows more effective management of our steam traps. Yes, we are very satisfied with the performance of SteamStar!”
Our references
|
|
|
