Precision Helps Co2 Nexus Launch New Technology

Denver, CO – July 19, 2011 – We are thrilled to announce today the introduction of our groundbreaking liquid carbon dioxide based fabric and textile cleaning machine. CO2Nexus is a Denver, CO-based company dedicated to developing equipment and consumables that use liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) to clean fabrics and textiles. We are a spin-out of the premier worldwide CO2 R&D entity – FeyeCon Development & Implementation B.V. We are also pleased to announce our partnership with Denver-based Revolution Cleaners, who will field the first dry cleaning unit at their Denver plant.

Liquid CO2 – the same substance that puts the fizz in every carbonated beverage – has excellent solvent properties and is intrinsically sustainable, since it is in-exhaustible, cheap, non-toxic, non-hazardous, non-flammable, and cannot spill into the soil or groundwater. Chemical based solvents currently used in the dry cleaning industry are being phased out and/or have health and liability risks. Water based laundering methods are taxing already severely depleted water resources, especially in the Western U.S.

The CO2 used in the CO2Nexus systems is recycled from existing industrial processes and as such is completely carbon neutral.

CO2Nexus will also field a system later this year targeting the industrial laundry market, in partnership with one of the largest U.S. based service providers in that market. Industrial laundry uses water as the primary cleaning solvent.

Richard Kinsman, CEO of CO2Nexus comments: “Chemical and water based dry cleaning and laundering methods have real consumer marketing and environmental-health liabilities that will only get worse. At the same time, the performance, operating costs, sustainability and consumer marketing benefits of CO2 are attractive and will continue to get better, which is why we believe it to be the best long term option. Our association with FeyeCon on the technology side, and with the primary service providers at the industry level assures us that we have both the scientific and practical basis to implement the technology.”

CO2Nexus will offer commercial units starting in Q1 of 2012.

Denver-based Precision Pipe & Vessel, LLC will serve as our manufacturing partner. Mr. Kinsman: “PPV has tremendous know-how and a real track record in gas processing equipment and components. They bring tremendous value to our organization and we are proud to be partnered with them.”

Edward Pizzarello of Revolution Cleaners confirms their involvement: “We’re excited to be able to install the first unit in our facility. Revolution Cleaners has been on the leading edge of CO2 cleaning in Denver for over 6 years. CO2 has been our only cleaning solvent, and we’re thrilled with the opportunity to move to the next generation of CO2 cleaning technology.”

State and federal agencies have established grant based incentives to encourage the adoption of CO2 based systems, beginning in CA. Other states are anticipated to follow.

About CO2Nexus Inc.

CO2Nexus Inc. designs and sells equipment that uses recycled liquid carbon dioxide (CO2 ) to replace water and chemical based cleaning solvents in dry cleaning and industrial laundry.  Liquid CO2  – the same substance used to “fizz” beverages –  is an intrinsically excellent cleaning solvent and, unlike other solvents, is in-exhaustible, cheap, non-toxic, non-hazardous, non-flammable, and leaves zero secondary waste. www.co2nexus.com

About Revolution Cleaners

Revolution Cleaners cleans exclusively with recaptured, liquid carbon dioxide (CO2 ) & water (H2O); positioning themselves as the most experienced dry cleaner in Colorado using these methods. CO2  and H2O are naturally effective cleaning agents for a wide range of garments and household items. The absence of heat in Revolution’s  cleaning process ensures that stains come out more readily and garments have a longer life. With Revolution, your clothes are cleaner, softer and fresher than with traditional dry cleaning methods. www.revolutioncleaners.com

About Precision Pipe & Vessel

Precision Pipe & Vessel (PPV) is a Denver-based fabrication facility with extensive experience in gas processing, alternative energy and the cleantech industry. They offer top notch engineering, fabrication and product development services to clients across the US. With a track record of successfully serving customers for over 30 years PPV has proven themselves to be a reliable and effective fabrication facility. www.precision-pipe.com

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MBWA

One of my favorite things about working here at Precision is that we practice  Manage By Wandering Around.  (MBWA as Introduced by Peters/ Waterman in the book, In Search of Excellence)  While the authors were doing research for the book they interviewed HP President John Young who explained what the term meant and its importance to HP especially during times of explosive growth.  Reflecting back on the concept of MBWA and first learning of its meaning Peter’s writes, “MBWA … Managing By Wandering Around … quickly became our favorite “excellence” idea! Technically, it meant staying in direct touch (damn the bureaucracy!) with the folks who do the work. Metaphorically, it stood for all/much of what was wrong with American management—McKinsey & Harvard Business School-style—as we confronted the Japanese challenge in areas such as product quality. That is, “big business” had become an abstraction. It was a “by the numbers” affair, where front-line “personnel” were pretty much interchangeable parts in a well-oiled “machine” and where “strategy” was considered far more important than primitive ideas such as quality and service and turned-on folks. Of course by then the bearings had lost most of their oil and seized up!”

Ok, I know what you are thinking and you are right, we’re not a giganto conglomerate that has thousands of people working for us at multiple locations!  Yes, this is true, but what is even truer is that on a daily basis small companies must fight against losing their nimbleness, effectiveness, and..well, their human touch.  We believe in measurement and standards, but not at the expense of losing touch and becoming irrelevant.  We believe in knowing our employees, not intrusively, but in such a way that they know they are a valuable member of our team.  We believe in getting out of our offices and wandering around.

Nobody in our company does this better than our President, who regularly practices MBWA and often times finds himself in the middle of lending a hand to one of our employees.  (And on occasion our customers)  There is no substitute for MBWA; it is the lighthouse that steers the small business away from the shoreline of irrelevancy that it is headed for.  Engage in MWBA today…seriously, get up and go wander!

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Utilizing an ASME Specialist

It wasn’t too long ago that I walked onto a refinery job site that Precision Pipe was supply equipment to.  At this site I saw an interesting event about to transpire.  A welder who was not associated with our company was getting ready to light a torch next to a vessel we had just delivered the day before. It appeared to me that he intended to cut into the vessel. Surprised to be seeing this, I quickly made my way over to him to see what he was doing.  He informed me that the construction manager (from a well respected and large engineering firm) instructed him to make a modification to the pressure vessel as a solution to a piping problem.  I asked him to stand by for a second so that we could discuss with plant manger the implications his modifications might have.

The welder became rather irritated with me and informed me he had his directions and he intended to follow them.  For those of you that are unfamiliar with the ASME code, let me explain the implications of this kind of modification in the ASME code world. First, if the welder had actually brought his torch to the shell of the vessel he would have undone the ASME certification on that vessel.  In other words the vessel would have no longer been a certified ASME pressure vessel and the customer would have wasted several thousands of dollars on that pressure vessel.  As the manufacturer I would have been required to remove the name plate from that vessel the moment I saw the flame come into contact with it. Second, that vessel would have no longer been acceptable to use on the job site as it was being implemented at a refinery in an ASME mandatory site and State.  Lastly, Precision would have likely had to of retaken possession of that vessel, repair it according to ASME standards, re-certify and qualify the vessel as meeting the ASME code.  The vessel would have also required a second name plate identifying it as an “R” or “Repaired” pressure vessel.

The reality of the situation was, the construction manager was under immense pressure to complete the project and at that point he was willing to cut corners.  What he didn’t anticipate was getting caught in a major blunder which would have added greater delays and expense to his project.  Anything worth doing is worth doing right and this is especially true for engineered products like ASME vessels. Knowing what the proper proceeders are for welding and modifying an ASME pressure vessel is imperative.  In this situation, the only way to modify the vessel is following the ASME code by using a qualified ASME shop with an “R” stamp.  Any welding or cutting on an ASME pressure vessel must be performed by a qualified shop that is in good standing with the National Board.  The pressure vessel will have to be reinspected by a third party authorized inspector and may need to have X-ray and hydrostatic testing to keep the ASME certification and name plate.

As an ASME qualified shop we encourage anyone to use us or another code shop as a resource to answer any question you may have on qualifications, modifications, and inspection of ASME pressure vessels, Heat Exchanger, or Boiler’s.  We would rather take a few minutes to understand and explain what your options are according to the code then risk an accident or injury .  In addition, if we can simply answer your question this a a free service we offer to any prospective customer.  If you are a plant manager and you are unsure if you can use any certified welder?  Give us a call and we can walk you though what it takes to maintain your ASME certifications.  If you have an ASME pressure vessel, Heat Exchanger, or Boiler that needs work or an addition of a nozzle or coupling.  Call us we can tell you what you must do to add the new components in a safe and code qualified manner.

As it turns out I was able to get the welder to wait a minute.  Explaining to him the consequences of his modification calmed him down long enough to bring in the decision makers.  The plant manager, the construction manager (having tucked his tail between his legs), and I all discussed the changes that were necessary and it was ultimately decided a ‘T’ in the process piping was the most effective work around for the problem.  Having an ASME specialist onsite that day saved thousands of dollars, countless hours, and potentially the integrity of the plants operational safety in the future.  Don’t be shy to email or call us or any other ASME qualified shop to discuss your project or equipment with ASME name plates. Your local rig welder or fabrication shop may be good, they may be able, they may even have a piece of paper that  say’s they are certified to make a weld. However, it is imperative you at least speak with a shop that is ASME qualified before you make any welds on a certified ASME pressure vessel.

http://www.Precision-Pipe.com

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Project Leadership – Inspire

Undoubtedly, there are many formulas, methods, and styles used to help us take a project from start to finish with success.  We usually stick with what works best for us and utilizes our strengths.  Have you ever thought about what made a certain project really successful – or, a disaster?  Of course you have!  Have you found that you tend to spend more time and effort studying why a project flopped then why it was a success?  We obviously want to learn from our mistakes, but we shouldn’t chalk up our successful projects to flawless execution of the project plan and then dismissively move on without further examination.  More often than not, we find there were other factors involved to make a particular project a success and we must learn how to repeat success on a consistent basis.

Today, I want to focus on one reason some projects do better than others…Inspiration.  Inspiration is the catalyst to your project plan’s success.  In our world today, the “Why” is sometimes just as important as the “How”   In other words, it’s important to communicate to the project team why this particular project is important to the client, how it will benefit the client, and why caring about the client is particularly important  to your organization.  When we communicate effectively to our project team, we inspire them to look outside the walls that surround our business and connect to a project with greater ownership and sense of urgency.

Another form of inspiration comes from the Project Lead’s ability to become a servant-leader.  Asking team members, “What can I do to help?”  or taking action by jumping in can boost productivity ten-fold.  As I type this post, our QA/QC Manager is working alongside project team members to ensure that we send a project out ahead of schedule.  He is taking himself out of his everyday routine to help his team members achieve success and build the confidence they need for future projects.

What can you do to add inspiration to your project, today?  Inspire those within your team through vision, servant-leadership, and by showing them that they are valuable to the team.

http://www.precision-pipe.com

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