L-K Log: April 2017 

Happy Anniversary L-K!

We can’t believe it’s been two years; time really does fly…

On April 16, 2015, L-K Industries was purchased by our very own Eric Calderon. “At the age of 89, long-time owner Joseph Hugghins decided to retire,” said Calderon. “He wanted to sell to a local, someone committed to preserving the company’s rich history and maintaining its Houston home.” He found that local in the Texas native. Founded in 1930 as L-K Pump Valve Company, L-K Industries was a premier name in oil testing equipment, and they continue to manufacture state-of-the-art centrifuges and related equipment under Calderon’s leadership.

Calderon set out to continue the legacy of L-K Industries’ expertly crafted offerings by adding another layer of top-line merchandise through the purchase of Miller-Weber, the iconic New York thermometer manufacturing company. Calderon’s purchase of the company allows L-K to offer a full range of liquid-in-glass thermometers and accredited calibration services – all housed in the Houston, Texas lab. In fact, the company offers the only manufactured products of their kind made in the southern U.S. The independent, accredited on-site laboratory offers exponential benefits to clients. “The acquisition of Miller-Weber allows us to expand our footprint,” says Calderon, “not only to clients in the oil business, but to those in diverse fields such as dairy, agriculture, and medicine.”

Calderon has initiated other company changes, too. 27% of L-K’s staff consists of those with engineering backgrounds: petroleum, chemical, mechanical, and civil. Strong STEM credentials help the employees provide customers with technical advantages. Their production capacity spans the vertical spectrum of design, assembly (including machining, glass blowing and etching, and electrical work), quality control, maintenance, repairs, and calibration. They work directly with clients in the field, refinery, and laboratory settings to design custom equipment. Technology support is provided through video tutorials, a 24-Hour Tech Helpline, annual onsite maintenance, and field service for emergencies. Designing superior oil testing equipment for the petrochemical industry requires technical expertise, and Calderon ensures L-K has the very best.

L-K is also dedicated to innovative research and development; they’ve filed two patents since 2016. One of these initiatives, their SMART Transport series, is currently in testing. Human error has long plagued crude oil testing. Basic sediment and water content (BS&W), which is currently determined manually after centrifugation and visual inspection, is riddled with opportunities for mistakes. Harried drivers, inconsistent analysis, missed steps, and variable test times are all problematic during the transfer of custody from suppliers to buyers. Currently there is no way to ensure that testing is performed to ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) and API (American Petroleum Institute) standards. Additionally, the only traceable data points are manually entered by drivers into data loggers. Ultimately, settling disputes on BS&W content must be conducted at third-party laboratory facilities – a costly and time-consuming task. Traditional centrifuge testing of crude oil results in significant economic consequences each year; L-K believes it’s time that oil testing equipment joins the SMART generation. Their SMART Transport utilizes automation, which drastically reduces human error and provides historical, traceable data in the case of transfer disputes. Its long-term success rests on producing repeatable images for accurate processing and adequate images for human viewing. The Benchmark Platinum, an ultra high-speed capability, Class I, Division 2 centrifuge with refined features and upgraded display, is also in the research phase.

Of course, no company improvement effort would be complete without a website overhaul. See the March L-K Log for details on cyber initiatives, or visit www.lk-ind.com. Happy Anniversary, L-K, and many, many more!

Anniversary Celebration at L-K!

Past – Present – Future
Our Distributors!

L-K Industries is excited to announce our new Distributor Partnership with Grainger Industrial Supply! With over one million industrial supplies, Grainger’s ‘Got Your Back.’ They offer a broad range of industrial equipment, maintenance supplies, tools, and parts to customers all over the world. L-K Industries is proud to announce our relationship with this renowned,  global powerhouse. 

Past – Present – Future

L-K Industries has long enjoyed a close relationship with Parkes Scientific Canada, who has served the Petroleum Industry since 1985. Parkes Scientific, whose headquarters is in Edmonton, Alberta, carries the L-K Industries Transport Centrifuge as well as the Benchmark Series Centrifuge. Find them on the web at www.parkesscientific.com or call 780-484-1849 for more information.