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The Finish Line Vol. 30 • March 2023 [Q1 2023]

RMS ACQUIRES HOT GAS EXPANDER PRODUCT LINE FROM SIEMENS ENERGY

BETHLEHEM, PA — February 14, 2023 — Rotating Machinery Services, Inc. (RMS) today announced that an agreement has been reached for the acquisition of the fluid catalyst cracking unit (FCCU) Hot Gas Expander product line from Siemens Energy, Inc. The transaction is expected to close on February 28, 2023.

This acquisition brings the intellectual property, inventory, and associated tooling of the FCCU Expander product line under the RMS umbrella. Customers will receive world-class support at RMS’s portfolio of three US-based ISO9001:2015 certified service centers augmented by a network of global regional partners.

“This acquisition further solidifies RMS’s position as the OEM service provider for the global installed base of FCCU Hot Gas Expanders”, said John Bartos, CEO of RMS. “Dating back to the inception of CONMEC in 1987, RMS’s legacy brand of multi-OEM turbomachinery services, we have been continuously adding to our fleet of served machines. We have been actively servicing and rerating expanders [for more than two decades] and look forward to introducing new customers to RMS’s extensive engineering and service capabilities.”

RMS’s staff of (FCCU) Hot Gas Expander experts are committed to the support and upgrade of these critical pieces of rotating equipment. Don Shafer, Director of FCC Expander Engineering at RMS has dedicated his career to serving (FCCU) Hot Gas Expander customers and looks forward to continuing this unparalleled level of engineering excellence. According to Don, “(FCCU) Hot Gas Expanders require specialized knowledge and experience to properly support. RMS’s depth of knowledge dates back to the early days of CONMEC and continues today as we leverage advanced engineering tools to improve (FCCU) Hot Gas Expander reliability and performance. We look forward to supporting our new customers across the globe with RMS’s industry-leading (FCCU) Hot Gas Expander engineering, shop and field services.”

Rotating Machinery Services, Inc. (RMS) was established in 1998 with the vision to reinvent the concept of an aftermarket turbomachinery business. RMS provides global engineering, repair, and maintenance services to the rotating equipment supporting critical infrastructure. RMS ensures the continuous reliable and safe operation of large industrial rotating equipment essential to energy, petrochemical, food and beverage, mining, and steel industries. RMS is the OEM for AC Compressor and CONMEC equipment and supports customers in three ISO9001:2015 certified service centers.

Siemens Energy is one of the world’s leading energy technology companies. The company works with its customers and partners on energy systems for the future, thus supporting the transition to a more sustainable world. With its portfolio of products, solutions and services, Siemens Energy covers almost the entire energy value chain – from power generation and transmission to storage. The portfolio includes conventional and renewable energy technology, such as gas and steam turbines, hybrid power plants operated with hydrogen, and power generators and transformers. More than 50 percent of the portfolio has already been decarbonized. A majority stake in the listed company Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) makes Siemens Energy a global market leader for renewable energies. An estimated one-sixth of the electricity generated worldwide is based on technologies from Siemens Energy. Siemens Energy employs around 92,000 people worldwide in more than 90 countries and generated revenue of €29 billion in fiscal year 2022.

This Edition of 'The Finish Line' includes:

  • RMS Announces Acquisition of Hot Gas Expander Product Line from Siemens Energy
  • RMS's Announces Cooperation With Howden Maintenance Partners In EMNA Region
  • E-148 FCC Expander Intake Casing Assembly Overhaul
  • Emergency Technical Support and Repair of a FEX-142 FCC Expander
  • New Hires

Howden Maintenance Partners and RMS To Cooperate On Servicing of Hot Gas and Nitric Acid Expanders in EMENA Region

BETHLEHEM, PA — 2023 — Rotating Machinery Services, Inc. today announced an alliance with Howden Maintenance Partners to service hot gas and nitric acid expanders in Europe and the Middle East.

This signed agreement combines Rotating Machinery Services’ (RMS) industry-leading Hot Gas Expander expertise and technology with the skilled, local repair capability of Howden Maintenance Partners (HMP) to better service customers within European and Middle East (EMENA) region. RMS’s world-class equipment knowledge, engineering and component sourcing combined with HMP’s proven repair capabilities in Europe will assure the flawless overhaul and repair of both Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) and Nitric Acid Expanders. RMS and HMP have previously collaborated and both organizations feel this is a natural partnership that will enable a process that brings greater reliability and maintainability, and equipment performance for their customers.

John Bartos, Chief Executive Officer of Rotating Machinery Services explains, “This collaboration allows RMS to provide our decades of experience with FCC and Nitric Acid Expanders to customers in the European theater that prefer to have their equipment serviced in Belgium. RMS is proud to work with the exceptional team at Howden Maintenance Partners. Both RMS and Howden Maintenance Partners share a culture committed to quality solutions for our customers and minimizing the long-term cost of ownership of critical rotating equipment.”

Wim Schelfaut, Managing Director and Director Regional Development at HMP added, “RMS and Howden Maintenance Partners have worked well together for many years on a supplier-customer basis. By strengthening the cooperation through this agreement, we combine the expertise of RMS with the field service and workshop capabilities at Howden Maintenance Partners. This creates a European centre of excellence for expanders that allows us to improve the efficiency and reliability of the customer’s production process.”

“The collaboration between HMP and RMS means that customers with the EMENA region now have Expander Service backed by RMS, the global leader in FCC and Nitric Acid Expanders, and Howden Maintenance Partners, Belgium-based ISO 9001:2015 certified workshop.”

Dan Jones Vice President of International Sales at RMS goes on to say, “Our mission is to provide customers with RMS’ proven engineering expertise, hardware and guidance coupled with fast execution at a European facility. RMS will be responsible for the technical aspects of the repair and Expander services while the Howden Maintenance Partners team will execute the shop work. All repairs will be in accordance with RMS standards and backed by RMS.”

About Rotating Machinery Services

RMS was established in 1998 with the vision to reinvent the concept of an aftermarket turbomachinery business and provides global engineering, repair, and maintenance services to the rotating equipment supporting critical infrastructure. RMS ensures the continuous reliable & safe operation of large industrial rotating equipment essential to the energy, petrochemical, food & beverage, mining, and steel industries. RMS is the OEM for AC Compressor and CONMEC turbomachinery, the OEM for the former Siemens Hot Gas FCCU Expander line, and serves as an alternative source for aftermarket engineered solutions & service to all other nameplates of rotating equipment.

For more information:

https://rotatingmachinery.com/

About Howden Maintenance Partners

Maintenance Partners, founded in 2001, is a leading provider of aftermarket services focused on the maintenance, repair and overhaul of industrial compressors, pumps, electric motors, blowers, steam turbines and generators of any brand. Headquartered in Belgium, Maintenance Partners serves principally European and North African customers in the Industrial, Thermal Renewables and Petrochemical, Oil and Gas markets. Maintenance Partners was acquired by Howden in 2021 and is now one of Howden’s European aftermarket Service Centres, providing responsive local service for all needs.

Howden Maintenance Partners is a highly flexible provider of aftermarket services, backed by world-leading OEM Howden. The company combines workshop and field services and extensive engineering capabilities, to improve the reliability of rotating equipment and turbomachinery.

For more information:

www.maintenancepartners.com/

RMS Completes E-148 FCC Expander Intake Casing Assembly Overhaul

Don Shafer, Director of FCC Expander Engineering

RMS recently completed the repair and overhaul of an E-148 FCC Expander Intake Casing Assembly. This expander is used in the refinery's FCC unit power recovery train. The Intake Casing Assembly was removed from service during a planned outage and shipped to the RMS facility in Bethlehem, PA for disassembly, inspection and repair. The RMS shop's primary work scope was to address a intake casing flange leak the unit had developed in operation.

The ICA was completely disassembled and abrasively cleaned to allow for the component detailed inspections. The inspection findings were evaluated and detailed repair work scopes were developed for each ICA component. Severe catalyst erosion cutting was found on the intake casing, intermediate casing and nosecone flanges. The internal insulation was found to be in very poor condition. The ICA outer casings and nosecone were found to be distorted and out of round, and the key mating faces were out of acceptable flatness tolerances. The RMS engineering team and shop personnel have extensive experience on these types of repairs. The repair and refurbishment work scopes were executed as required to meet the customer’s schedule. The work scope included casing and component weld repairs and re-machining, along with new components and hardware as required to complete the assembly.

-Continued-

At the completion of repairs, the Intake Casing Assemblies were re-assembled. All of the critical clearances and fits were verified in the RMS Bethlehem shop facility. The ICA was re-installed on the shipping fixture and shipped back to the customer’s site for installation on the deck with the other expander sub-assemblies.

This is another prime example of RMS’s expertise and capabilities to support short duration outage overhaul work scopes, even when the in-service damage found is more severe than anticipated.

Emergency Technical Support and Repair of a FEX-142 FCC Expander

Don Shafer, Director of FCC Expander Engineering

New spare rotor for FEX-142 FCC Expander pictured

Rotating Machinery Services was called to respond to an emergency shutdown of a FEX-142 Expander in Corpus Christi, Texas in June 2022. RMS immediately sent a team of experts to site to aid in the initial failure investigation as the machine was being disassembled. The evaluation showed a blade failure had occurred and RMS was contracted to perform a Root Cause Failure Analysis on the failed components.

The RMS experts worked with a local repair shop to oversee the repair and re-machining of the expander components that had sustained damage during the failure, to allow for re-assembly of the unit. The primary emergency work scope was to prepare the intake casing assembly components and exhaust casing that survived the failure event, for installation of the spare Rotor, Bearing and Seal Assembly that had been refurbished by RMS on a prior contract.

RMS also worked with the site engineering team and site personnel on the deck during the re-assembly to re-establish the proper clearances and assembly sequence to get the unit back together and ready for operation. The expander was made suitable for start-up within a six-day window.

RMS was then tasked with repairing and re-building the RBSA that had been removed after the failure event. This entire work scope is being executed on an expedited basis to get this critical spare suitable for use as quickly as possible. RMS has been working internally and with our key suppliers to make this repair the expander team’s top priority until the assembly is completed.

RMS was then contracted to provide all new intake casing components, outer casings, and rotor assembly to replace the failed components. The RCFA analysis results were used to ensure that the new rotor components that were being produced would not be as susceptible to the prior failure modes. The new components were shipped to the customer to insure they have a critical spares on site.

This project was another prime example of how RMS experience can react quickly to the customer’s needs and work to get their equipment repaired and suitable for service in the most efficient manner without compromising quality. It also shows that with teamwork between all of the disciplines within RMS, along with working closely with the customer, these types of aggressive deliveries can be accomplished. This site is a key RMS customer and they rely on us for the critical support of their power recovery train.

The RMS Team Grows: New Hires

Pictured: William Harmsen, Master Scheduler

Joshua Cowart, - Director of Field Technology Josh brings to RMS a wealth of experience in planning and executing turnarounds with industry-leading performance. Josh has 22 years of experience with ExxonMobil, most recently as the Lead Machinery Specialist for the Baton Rouge area. Within ExxonMobil, Josh led the field execution for all metrology efforts in Baton Rouge associated with turbomachinery maintenance and project execution. Josh will oversee RMS’s growing team of Metrology Technicians and help RMS deliver industry-leading support to our customers. RMS looks forward to having Josh as part of the team.

Brett Cetnar, Designer - RMS is pleased to welcome Brett to our growing Design Team. Before joining RMS, Brett worked as a Mechanical Drafter and Machinist at Summit Aerospace USA. He brings significant Solidworks experience and will be a valuable addition to RMS’s Design team. Brett is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from East Stroudsburg University with a concentration in Engineering Physics.

Rutger Fluck, Welder - Rutger joins the RMS Bethlehem Shop Team as a welder. Rutger graduated from Triangle Technical School with an Associate in Advanced Science and Technology of Welding. Rutger offers over 5 years of welding experience where he gained knowledge performing weld repairs on heavy equipment and machinery. Rutger is Certified in Welding Training for Licensure, Certified Welder D1.1 SMAW 3G/4G positions, and Certified Welder D1.5 SMAW 3G/4G positions unlimited. In addition to his certifications, Rutger is qualified for the ASME section IX 6G position and qualified for the API 1104 6G position.

Jose Garcia Jr., CNC Lathe & VTL - RMS welcomes Jose to the RMS machining team as a CNC Lathe and VTL Programmer. Jose graduated from Instituto Tecnol6gico de Matamoros (Mexico) with an Electromechanical Engineering degree. After graduation, Jose started his career as a mechanical drafter and then moved on to work as a CNC Programmer and operator. Jose offers over 23 years of experience working in a critical machining environment and RMS looks forward to having him as part of the team.

Armando Guzman, Senior Engineer - Armando is a Mechanical Engineer with over 10 years of experience in the world of rotating equipment design and repair. Armando Specializes in steam turbine, compressor, and turbo expander bucket/blading, engineering, 2D and 3D CAD, CAD production management, and project management. Armando’s experience and passion for rotating equipment make him a great addition to the team.

William Harmsen, Master Scheduler - William is an experienced Project/Program Scheduler in the Construction Industry. This includes new schedule development, as well as ongoing project progress tracking and reporting. William has over 26 years of project management and scheduling experience managing complex industrial projects. William’s experience is a great addition to RMS’s growing project management team.

Andys Hernandez, Metrology Technician - Andys joins RMS with over 10 years of metrology experience. Andys graduated From San Jacinto College with an Associate's Degree in Engineering Sciences. Upon graduation, Andys started his career in Metrology where he gained experience utilizing FARO/ Leica (Hexagon) Laser Trackers and FARO/Romer Arms for 3D Metrology, Alignment Solutions, Virtual Builds, Scanning, and Fabrication Monitoring. RMS looks forward to adding Andys to our growing Metrology team.

Abbey James, Staff Accountant - RMS welcomes Abbey to our growing accounting and finance team. Abbey graduated from Kutztown University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Finance and a minor in Sociology. After graduation, Abbey started her career in accounting where she gained experience supporting daily AR/AP duties including entering invoices/purchase orders, paying invoices, and depositing checks. Abbey also prepared journal entries, reconciled general ledger accounts, and oversaw financial statements.

Freddie King, Blaster - Freddie joins the RMS Shop Team as a blaster in our South Houston facility. Freddie offers a wealth of experience with over 20 years of painting and blasting knowledge. Freddie has experience in Industrial painting, sandblasting, cleaning, and preparing surfaces to be painted using various paint systems. RMS looks forward to adding Freddie to our team.

Julie Llewellyn, Project Manager - RMS welcomes Julie as the newest member of RMS’s growing Project Management Team. Before joining RMS, Julie was part of the legacy AC Compressor family where she worked in many roles including scheduling, contract management leader, and project manager. She continued in her role as Project Manager after the GE acquisition of AC with GE and worked with the AC legacy line as Project and Installation Manager. She then moved into a Senior PM role where she negotiated terms and conditions, framed and channeled agreements, executed NDAs, and worked with the commercial teams on MOUs, LOI, and risk management. RMS is excited to have Julie as part of the Project Management team.

Ralph Martinez, Account Manager - Ralph is based at RMS’s Mepco - Houston Repair facility and will be focused on managing customer relationships and securing small equipment repairs. Having worked for Dresser-Rand, RPM, and most recently INEOS, Ralph brings tremendous experience in the areas of Project Management, Field Service Planning, and as a Mechanical Specialist overseeing repairs to pumps, turbines, and various other turbomachinery. RMS looks forward to having Ralph as part of our industry-leading sales team.

Jessie Mireles, 2nd Shift Machinist - Jessie joins the RMS team with over 10 years of machining experience. Jessie has an Associate's Degree in both Machining Technology and Process Technology. Prior to joining RMS, Jessie gained machining experience as both a CNC Programmer and Manual Machinist working on precise components like bearings. We look forward to having Jessie as part of the RMS team.

Seth D. Parker, Senior Sourcing Specialist - Seth started his career in the Food & Restaurant industry, as a Manager/General Manager at four upscale restaurants. His responsibilities were in total operations for each location. Seth has his Bachelor of Science Degree from Pennsylvania State University in Hotel Restaurant and Institutional Management. Most recently, Seth has worked in an ever-expanding role as System Procurement and Aftermarket Sales Manager at GJ Oliver, Philipsburg NJ for 9 years. Seth was involved in the end-to-end procurement of all types of valves, filters, and gages, as well as all types of Fluid and Mechanical systems supporting aftermarket sales. RMS looks forward to adding Seth to our growing Purchasing Team.

Edgar Pena, CNC Lathe & VTL - Edgar joins RMS with over 25 years of CNC Machining experience. Before joining RMS, Edgar worked as a CNC Machinist and Lead Man on the night shift. Edgar was responsible for setting up, adjusting, and operating CNC VTLs, lathes, and mills. In addition to his machining experience, Edgar is proficient at working with engineering drawings and completing dimensional inspections. RMS is excited to welcome Edgar to the RMS team.

Alberto Santana Jr., CNC Lathe & VTL - RMS welcomes Alberto to the growing machining team here at RMS. Alberto has over 10 years of machining and CNC Programing experience in both lathes and VTLS. Alberto has experience creating programs from Solidworks files and inspecting work with measuring equipment to ensure it conforms to drawing specifications. RMS looks forward to having Alberto on board.

Ebony Michele Walker, Human Resources Coordinator - Michele joins the growing RMS Human Resources team as Human Resources Coordinator. Michele is an experienced HR professional who has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management from Sam Houston State University and is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and Business Council Member. Michele has experience leading all human resource functions for over 200 staff including hiring, onboarding, training, benefit packages, compensation coordination, and ongoing employee relations. RMS looks forward to adding Michele’s skills to the growing team here at RMS.

John Edward Yankauskas, Machinist - John joins RMS with over 17 years of machining experience for both CNC and manual machining. John is knowledgeable in setting up and operating Vertical and Horizontal Milling Centers, as well as reading and understanding engineering drawings to create precise finished products. John is an exciting addition to the RMS shop team and we look forward to having his as part our growing organization.

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Phone: 484-821-0702

Corporate Office: 2760 Baglyos Circle, Bethlehem, PA 18020

Houston Office: 16676 Northchase Drive, Suite 400, Houston, TX 77077

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