25th Anniversary - Product Innovators
Following are featured companies and their products that were nominated for recognition in this special 25th Anniversary Issue.
Determan Fluid Solutions
Jim Determan founded Minneapolis-based Determan Brownie, Inc. in 1964 in a 16x24-foot garage. Recently renamed Determan Fluid Solutions, the company has grown to include refined fuels, propane, industrial chemical, ethanol, and bio diesel products for aviation. Among the changes the company has witnessed in 25 years are the transition from manual to electronic in the work force and the implementation of enhanced safety procedures.
Neubert Aero Corporation
Founder Tim Neubert has been a leader in helping industry develop standardization of airport runway safety practices and was instrumental in the formation of the International Friction Pavement Association. Neubert Aero Corporation, based in Clearwater, FL today sells its Dynamic Friction Tester to companies and airports around the globe. Other products include GIS airfield data collection technology, runway closure markers and barricades, and friction pavement systems and services in support of airport operations.
Velcon Filters LLC
Originally named Enfab, Inc., Colorado Springs-based Velcon Filters, LLC was founded in 1953 by Harold Higbee, a tooling engineer, and L.W. (Lu) Taylor, an industrial engineer. Today it offers an array of products for both military and commercial aviation fuel markets, and reports that it supplies more replacement cartridges to purify jet fuel than any other company in the world. Among its product innovations …
- Introduced the first threaded base filter elements, which make it easier and quicker to change out old and new elements inside the filter vessels.
- Aquacon® absorbent monitor elements were an innovation and helped to reduce trace amounts of water in jet fuel before being uploaded into the airplane.
- Recent innovations include the VCA® and VCA-CV for real-time monitoring and analysis of jet fuel to determine both solids and water concentrations within the flow stream, and the FDPM® (Flow Differential Pressure Module) for automatic calculation of differential pressure within a filter vessel.
Hammonds Companies
Carl Hammonds, who founded the Houston-based Hammonds Companies in 1982, holds over 30 U.S. and foreign patents. The company’s product lines today include a line of fuel additives, fluid-powered technology, fuel additives, and water chlorination systems and chemicals. In 1991, Hammonds Fuel Additives (HFA) was launched when the company purchased Biobor JF, a fuel biocide for diesel and jet fuels. Since then, several new fuel additives and fuel quality products have been launched, serving such industries such as aviation, marine, trucking, the oil and gas industry, and off-road equipment. Beginning in early 2010, a highly anticipated new family of Biobor products is being launched to these same industries, promising to deliver significant sales results and market share. Among the company’s latest products is the Omni Directional Vehicle (ODV), a unique, round tractor that features a radial hitch and the ability to move in any direction, facilitating the movement of aircraft in ground support operations. www.hammondscos.com
