Your Relevant Solution

When you think of Parker IPD, you probably think of valves or tube fittings. And while Parker IPD certainly offers these solutions, they also offer more than meets the eye. But what is out there and how do you know if it’s the right solution for your industry?In the latest episode of Your Relevant Solution brought to you by Relevant Industrial Solutions, host Gabrielle Bejarano talks with Greg Lewis, Business Development Manager at Parker IPD Sales, about the offerings and solutions that Parker IPD offers as well as insights on the industry.Bejarano and Lewis discuss…1) What Parker IPD is and what role it plays within the industry2) How composite samplings help show the quality and volume of gas flowing through the meters3) What kind of specialized tools are out there for different industries, including for gas processing and other industries“So, anywhere you have any kind of instrumentation, we don’t supply the actual instrument, what we supply is the means to convey the fluid system to the instrument themselves,” said Lewis. But it’s not just one solution, “Yeah, you know, most people, when we think of Parker IPD we think of tube fittings and valves, but we get into so much more. We get into some filtration, we get into high-pressure fittings that can go up to 150,000 PSI…and we also get into some of the specialty items for, like analyzer systems at plants for stack monitoring and vent control for the analyzers…”A graduate of Texas A&M University in Industrial Distribution, Lewis was hired straight from college to work for a tube manufacturer before moving to Precision Fitting (now Relevant Solutions), and then making his way to the Parker PGI Factory in Houston, Texas. In 2019, he rejoined Precision and is now the Business Development Manager for Parker IPD Sales.

When there’s a problem with your equipment, your solution is to either fix the problem or replace the equipment altogether. It can be pretty costly if you’re always replacing your equipment, or even if you have to fix a part of it. Vacuum cleaners can run into different problems, and vacuum boosters make it easier to fix a major problem this piece of equipment can occasionally face.On this episode of Your Relevant Solution, host Gabrielle Bejarano talks with Joey Limonciello, Product Manager of Blowers and Vacuums at Relevant Solutions, about vacuum boosters and what makes them unique. “They are unique in that you can add them into an existing system and really increase the efficiency and flow,” says Limonciello. “Whereas you don’t have to replace a pump necessarily, you can just add a booster into it.” Additionally, vacuum boosters are compatible with all kinds of pumps, making it an easy solution for many vacuum-related problems.Main points covered in this episode include:1. What makes vacuum boosters a great addition to a vacuum system.2. How vacuum boosters save customers and businesses money.3. Current trends in vacuum purchasing and the problems that result.“The main trend right now that I’m seeing is a lot of customers migrating towards dry screw vacuum pumps,” says Limonciello. “And that is for… a lot of it’s for efficiency, because they’re very efficient, so you’re going to have less horsepower draw on it compared to a liquid rim, and also they don’t have to deal with the sealant fluid.” However, Limonciello points out liquids in the gas stream cause problems for dry screws, resulting in expensive repairs and rebuilds. For this reason and others, vacuum boosters are seen as good and cost-effective alternatives for replacing pumps.

Analytical measurements are critical in many areas of science and industry, as they enable researchers and analysts to make informed decisions about the composition and quality of various substances and products. Overall, analytical partnerships and products can help companies make better business decisions by providing them with access to data and insights that they may not have been able to obtain on their own.In this episode of “Your Relevant Solutions”, host Gabrielle Bejarano spoke in depth with Jennifer McGinnis, the Analytical Product Category Manager at Relevant Industrial about analytical solutions that Relevant Industrial is bringing to customers specifically through analytics partnerships and products.As mentioned by Jennifer, “Water quality is an issue globally, so we deal with water treatment facilities that are for cities and we also deal with the water treatment within the chemical plants, pharmaceutical plants or food safety plants to ensure quality always to make sure it's clean before been put back into the environment for usage.”Jennifer McGinnis, who is the Analytical Product Category Manager at Relevant Industrial, has been with the company for about two years and she supports all the analytical product lines. Project management, sales, technical assistance, and manufacturing support are just a few of the industries in which Jennifer has worked.

With the gradual expansion of the industrial filtration industry, the rotating equipment market is also seeing a boom. Naturally, the concern for the environment will also be a major priority when it comes to oil. As companies aim to find greener, safer, and environmentally friendly solutions, there are some equipment that can meet this goal.How can improved technology, such as the kidney loop system, become a solution in reaching that goal?In an episode of Your Relevant Solution, Roger Frakes, Vice President and General Manager at Switch Filtration, discussed the filtration industry and what solutions are currently being looked at in order to create and sustain greener initiatives.Frakes also mentioned …1. The growth and expansion of the industrial filtration and rotating equipment markets2. New systems and technologies from Delta-Xero that can support inline filtration3. How the new kidney loop system will be groundbreaking in creating greener solutions“One of things that we end up changing oil for is the environment that these turbines and engines are in. We’ve got salt, air, we've got land-filled gas that has glass in it, and all that stuff gets compressed in the engine and it blows by and gets down into the oil. So, it's the environment of the rotating equipment. If we could keep and filter the air and filter the oil down to those levels, we wouldn't need this, but it's impossible; so there’s got to be another solution and with these kidney loop systems that Paul’s developed, we’re going to be able to attack that and have a greener environment with being able to continuously use the oil. And one of the key things that struck me about this, as well as not only does it go down such micron ratings, but it does not affect the additive package in some of the synthetic oils that are required for the high temperatures of the oil, so it's a game changer to have this technology out there,” said Frakes.Roger Frakes is the Vice President and General Manager at Switch Filtration and has been since 2018. He is also an alum of Michigan Technological University.

Problem-solving is a way of life. It is a skill that everyone will employ, either daily or multiple times a day, in their everyday lives. According to some career experts, it is also necessary to find the right job or career. So, a position created explicitly for solving various problems for many industries is essential. Relevant Solutions is the designated answer and resolution for problem-solving regarding product issues and concerns. The company's goal is not only to offer parts for product issues but also to fully incorporate solutions for every aspect of the said problem. And this business motto and purpose benefit its employees, as well as its customers. On "Relevant Solutions," Tyler Kern talked to Lance Bradshaw, the Honeywell Business Unit Manager at Relevant Solutions, about the role of his job, his experience, and how being a problem-solver has extended beyond the company.Kern and Bradshaw also discussed …1. Relevant Solutions can sustain itself given supply chain shortages and COVID-192. How the company is distinct from other similar organizations3. The impact of the pandemic on Relevant Solutions and its effect on industries and its SmartLine Anytime program“... Because of the COVID situation — the supply chain issues, we’ve become the mainstay for many of these companies to allow their processes to run and allow us all to have the oil and chemicals that we need in our great society here in America. So, without Relevant Solutions, we may be seeing higher gas prices, [and] we may be seeing fuel lines at the pump like we did in the 70s. Relevant Solutions just in the aspect of our SmartLine Anytime program has really had an impact on Americans' quality of life, and it goes far beyond our SmartLine Anytime program,” said Bradshaw.

Filtration purifies air and liquids by adding a barrier layer between the air and liquid. An example of this process in the home setting is using a filtration system to purify water. While this process may not seem "glamorous" to most in the home setting, it plays a critical role in industrial businesses and can make or break efficiency and operations.So, what makes filtration such a big deal for industrial businesses?On today’s episode of Relevant Solutions, Host Gabrielle Bejarano speaks with Ashley Goodnough, Filtration Project Manager at Relevant Solutions, to discuss filtration trends in the industrial sector. Bejarano and Goodenough also discussed…1. How filtration can enhance industrial processes2. Ways companies can become more sustainable and environment-friendly3. Goodenough's background and how she has been able to apply it in the industrial filtration industry successfullyGoodenough explained that, like filtration in the home, it is not always necessary in industrial applications, but it can improve processes and efficiency. She explained, "Can you get by without changing it or adding a filter? Probably, but is your process going to be as good as your end product going to be as good? Say you're in the food and beverage. If you're not filtering out those contaminants, your food isn't going to last as long on the shelves. And so, while it may seem really tedious to have to do it or not the most critical point of your process, it is still really important for the end user or the end good.”

Burner management systems ensure the safe operation and control of combustion equipment. The systems help prevent explosions and other undesirable events. A crucial part of any burn management system is flame detection. Flame detection is the first line of defense.Jeff Lorfing has spent 32 years in the process control industry. He started as a technician, worked as a control systems designer, spent some time in sales, and is now the Cumbustion Business Manager for Relevant Solutions. Flame detection is code driven. It simply detects if there is one in the chamber. It ensures that whatever is going into the burner will be positively combusted. It provides vital insights on the burner. “Flame detection starts to tell us a bit about the health of the burner,” said Lorfing. If there is a mechanical issue with the burger, flame detection will be one of the first things that signal a problem. “What I’ve seen when it comes to flame detection… is that it gets the most attention when it shuts down,” said Lorfing. Many issues with flame detection start with misapplication. Products must be built specifically to work with the system it’s applied to. Today, flame detection is very robust and tunable. Correctly tuning it is crucial. There is a spectrum of systems they’ll work with, and as long as they coincide with the fuel, the flame detection will work great. Issues arise when flame detectors are “misapplied with the technology and the fuel, or they haven't been configured properly for the application,” said Lorfing. Those two components should be checked first if there is any issue with the application. Knowing what the system requires and why is essential to the overall reliability of the burner. When flame detectors are applied correctly, it increases safety, cost, cost, and efficiency.

Finding answers and delivering results is what Relevant Industrial is all about. As an industrial business in a competitive market, Relevant Industrial has learned to adapt in order to grow. Jeremy Wilcox, VP of Business Development for Fluid Connectors at Relevant Industrial, sits down with host Tyler Kern to discuss Relevant Industrial’s key differentiators in the market.PF&G, otherwise known as Precision Fitting and Gauge, came together with Relevant about two years ago. This “precision fit” helped boost company output and expertise while Wilcox expanded on staff skills, “My role…is really to manage the overall health of our division. We have remarkable talent within our sales team.”Not only does the team help educate customers on services and products which Relevant offers but, Wilcox said, “We really want to understand what those needs and pain points are with our customers.” Through the management of four Parker Stores, in addition to four hose manufacturing facilities across the company, Relevant Industrial helps meet the needs of clients in a new way.“Really, it helps the guys who need something quick and fast,” explained Wilcox. With an in-person experience, the customer can walk in and grab what they need or have a hydraulic hose component made for them, “We’ll be able to build them right there on location and help them immediately,” noted Wilcox.Building a strong and positive relationship with vendors is also key to Relevant’s mission, “The relationship with our vendors obviously is every bit of important as our customers,” said Wilcox.“Really what fluid connectors group is, you know, it’s a very vast portfolio of products,” noted Wilcox, “All the way from, you know, our hydraulic components which is hydraulic hose, adaptors, valves…to big industrial large bore hoses.” These components are used by a variety of different industries, including transportation and food and beverage.But one of the actions that really sets Relevant Industrial apart from traditional distribution is also being an alternative fuels distributor for MRO products, like CMG (compressed natural gas).

To meet the needs of the industrial automation and manufacturing industry, Relevant Industrial supplies best-in-class parts, pieces, services, and solutions. Dave Baxter, Vice President of Business Development, Engineered Solutions at Relevant Industrial, spoke with Tyler Kern about Relevant’s EPG solutions and capabilities.For Baxter, it all boils down to flexibility. Relevant wants to provide a total solution for a customer and the best overall solution. “From our engineering practice perspective, we can utilize different technologies that we wouldn’t normally have contractual distribution requirements to sell and bring those technologies in,” Baxter said.All the various industries Relevant works with day in and day out give their engineering teams the exposure and experience to solve any challenge. “Having exposure to all these different industries allows a group like Relevant Industrial, who has these experiences, to leverage different kinds of things that you would think would never fit in another industrial marketplace, but you can leverage that to create a brand-new solution that nobody’s ever even thought about,” Baxter said. “It forces us to get outside of the box.”Relevant’s deep background in distribution paid off when the pandemic hit, and supply shortages became the norm across all industries. “We were able to go in and look at what are the things that our customers specifically need, and we increased our inventory in a great way,” Baxter said. “We brought in a lot of things that our customers had needed over the last couple of years when supply chains really tightened up.”An example of Relevant in action is a customer who wanted to build a sizeable bio-gas plant two years ago. While the plant’s location was Minnesota, the engineering occurred in many places. This large dairy plant needed to solve its manure issue. Baxter said Relevant worked through engineering solutions to help automate processes to utilize the fuel capabilities of the generated manure.