Crane Engineering

A paper mill was spending too much time waiting for whitewater to reach operating temperature during startup while dealing with ongoing maintenance on traditional heating equipment.

After installing a Hydro-Thermal Corporation Hydroheater® Direct Steam Injection (DSI) system:
✔️ Startup time reduced to less than 2 hours
✔️ Whitewater reached operating temperature 20°F hotter
✔️ Reduced breakdowns during startup and grade changes
✔️ Eliminated extensive maintenance
✔️ Increased production efficiency

These are the kinds of results we look for when recommending Direct Steam Injection. If startup delays or heating challenges are impacting your operation, let's start the conversation.

Read the full case study: Improving Paper Machine Performance with Better Whitewater Heating (https://hubs.la/Q04tdpyv0)

Improving Paper Machine Performance with Better Whitewater Heating Discover how direct steam injection technology enhances paper manufacturing by improving whitewater heating, reducing maintenance, and boosting production efficiency.

Heating a slurry. Heating wastewater. Heating a viscous chemical stream that fouls every exchanger you've thrown at it.

Indirect heating wasn't built for any of these jobs, which is why plants running them keep replacing exchangers, chasing temperature, and burning more steam than the energy audit predicted.

Direct Steam Injection is built for exactly these jobs:
- EZ Heater: economical, rugged DSI for water heating, tank heating, and general industrial duty
- Hydroheater: Hydro-Thermal's flagship modulating heater for slurries, chemical streams, and high-turndown applications (the Jetcooker variant is the starch-cooking workhorse)

Bulk fluid heated in a single pass. ±1 °F control. Steam efficiency at or near 100%.

Worth a 20-minute conversation: https://hubs.la/Q04sPZ6m0

Rick joined the team in 1985 as an Application Engineer and grew into several leadership roles, most recently serving as Senior Vice President of Continuous Improvement. Throughout his career, he helped shape our operations, supported our growth, and earned the respect of colleagues through his steady leadership, thoughtful guidance, and willingness to help others succeed.

Rick's impact on Crane Engineering will be felt for years to come, and we're incredibly grateful for everything he's done for our team.

Congratulations on your well-earned retirement, Rick! Thank you for your dedication, leadership, and friendship. We wish you all the best in this next chapter! 🎉

No two PFAS remediation sites are exactly alike.

Treatment methods, site conditions, and project timelines can all change as new information becomes available. That's why flexibility should be built into your remediation system from the start.

OptiFlow modular skid systems are designed to support a variety of PFAS treatment applications, including in situ dosing and ex situ processes with GAC, while providing the mobility to relocate equipment as projects evolve.

Whether you're supporting a single site or multiple remediation projects across the nation, modular systems from OptiFlow can help improve efficiency and simplify deployment.

Summer fun with the Minnesota team! ☀️🪓

Our Minnesota team recently got together for some axe throwing, and it looks like everyone had a great time! Special shoutout to Clint for coming out on top and taking the win! 🏆

Have you met Jeff Kent? If you work in a wastewater treatment plant, chances are you've crossed paths with Jeff.

For the past 28 years, Jeff has been leading some of the toughest jobs at wastewater treatment facilities, from screw pump bearing replacements and clarifier drive rebuilds to pump inspections and stormwater pump troubleshooting. When the work is critical, Jeff is someone our customers can count on.

His experience, dedication, and commitment help keep local municipalities running reliably every day. If you see Jeff out in the field, be sure to say hello and thank him for everything he does to keep our communities moving!

This AODD pump wouldn't cycle, bringing production to a halt for a manufacturer of thermal paper and specialty films.

Our inspection uncovered the real culprit: a damaged center housing causing an internal air leak. While there was some wear on the bushings, the pilot valve and recently replaced wet-end components were still in great shape.

Rather than replacing the entire pump, our team repaired the center section, cleaned and reassembled the unit, and got it ready to get back to work.

We're proud to have been a sponsor of this year's Mile of Music Festival! 🎶 Thank you to our incredible team members and the many volunteers who helped make this amazing community event a success. We're grateful to have been part of an event that brings people together through the power of music. Until next year!

Compressed air is one of the most expensive utilities in manufacturing, and aging AODD pumps can be driving up operating costs long before they fail.
Our latest blog explains:

✔ Why compressed air costs are often overlooked
✔ How worn pumps impact efficiency
✔ When it makes sense to rebuild vs. upgrade
✔ How the Warren Rupp Sandpiper Pump Evolution X can reduce compressed air consumption by up to 23%

Before you invest in another repair, it may be worth evaluating the total cost of ownership.

➡️ Read the blog and see if your pump could be costing you more than you think. Link in the comments.