L-K Log: February 2017 
Advantage: L-K Industries
In primary schools, colleges, and businesses across the country, the buzz word on everyone’s tongue is STEM. Short for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, L-K Industries is anything but short on STEM expertise.
Since Eric Calderon bought the business in 2015, engineering capacity in the company has increased five-fold; 27% of the staff consists of engineers. Leading by example is Calderon himself, with a BS in Petroleum Engineering and an MBA. Members of the L-K team with STEM degrees include Edison Carpio (BS in Mechanical Engineering), Marcel Lawson (BS in Civil Engineering), Frank Ragan (BS in Geology), Dwan Thomas (BS, MS in Chemical Engineering), and Mitchell James (AAS in Electrical Engineering). Steve Alaniz (32 years of glass-blowing experience) and Wayne Barton (42 years of machining experience) augment L-K’s technologically strong staff.
Beyond strong staff credentials, L-K Industries is dedicated to providing its 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. Perhaps most importantly, L-K Industries provides technology support through video tutorials, a 24 Hour Tech Hotline, annual onsite maintenance, and field service for emergencies.
L-K Industries embraces STEM initiatives – evident by their employees’ academic credentials and their commitment to providing cutting edge technological services to their clients. Beyond the work day, the company continues to dedicate time, energy, and resources to the next generation of STEM experts: local students. Read about connections to a local STEM charter school in the next edition of L-K Log.
Past – Present – Future
The Miller-Weber of Texas team, in their fully-accredited ISO 17025 laboratory, produced the T-SPEC 9 and ASTM S 59F thermometers for the first time at the Houston facility! There was a lot of excitement, and the thermometers came out perfectly. The glass-blowing and etching facility produces high quality thermometers, performs instrument calibrations, and will add production of additional glassware later in 2017.
Accreditation Process Creates Higher Standards
In the summer of 2016, L-K Industries proudly opened its newly accredited ISO/IEC 17025 Lab as a result of acquiring Miller-Weber, Inc. Known fondly as the New York thermometer company, Miller-Weber joined L-K Industries, renowned oil testing equipment manufacturer, and relocated to Houston, Texas to become an official part of the L-K Industries’ family. The alliance results in L-K’s ability to offer both manufacturing and accredited calibration under one roof: a unique and highly desirable combination.
Established jointly in 1999 by the International Standards Organization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), ISO/IEC 17025 is one of the most well respected accreditations for testing and calibration laboratories. Accreditation is limited to labs that are willing to undergo a rigorous third-party assessment. This process creates an uncompromising standard of quality.
The company’s focus on accreditation and standards ensures that customers have a high level of confidence in the calibrations performed by Miller-Weber Texas (MWTX). Key attributes include those in the list below.
In addition, each calibration certificate issued by MWTX contains the measurement results, the measurement uncertainty, and/or a statement of compliance with an identified metrological specification. For clients, the most important outcomes of L-K’s efforts are the exponential benefits they receive. “Beyond the international distinction, recognition, and inherent credibility gained from the accreditation process,” says Owner/Engineer Eric Calderon, “are the benefits for those we serve. We can confidently offer those who purchase our merchandise a testing and calibration service that’s truly valuable. For customers who demand a higher standard, we can deliver.” The lab certifies temperature from – 80 to 405°C, density from 0.6250 to 1.910 relative density or specific gravity (SG), gravimetric calibration up to 100 ml, and rotational speed up to 6,000 rpm.
- Established traceability of its own measurement standards and measuring instruments to the International System of Units (SI) by means of an unbroken chain of calibrations;
- Application of procedures to estimate the uncertainty of measurement for all calibrations performed, and the assurance that the calibration uncertainties are sufficiently small so that the adequacy of the measurement is not affected;
- An ASTM Fellow on staff as the Laboratory Technical Manager;
- An unblemished inspection record with zero findings in the laboratory’s history.
PAST – Present – Future