FlowCast

The Hiller grand opening of its new facility and location marks exciting news for the nuclear power industry.

As the energy demand continues to grow, the nuclear power industry is shifting from large base-load nuclear plants to smaller, more compact designs known as small modular reactors. With this shift comes the need for innovative solutions and technologies that can adapt to these new designs. According to recent data, the nuclear power market expects its value to reach $58.4 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 3.5% from 2021 to 2030, highlighting the importance of staying ahead in this dynamic sector.

So, how are industry leaders adapting to these changes, and what does the future hold for flow technologies in the nuclear power industry?

In the latest episode of FlowCast, a podcast by Trillium Flow Technologies, hosted by Michelle Dawn Mooney, the grand opening of Hiller gets the spotlight treatment. Joining the conversation are Kevin McPherson, a General Manager with Trillium Flow Technologies, and Vince Elias, Global Sales Manager for Hiller, a Trillium Flow Technologies company.

Mooney, McPherson, and Elias discuss the following:

• The history and evolution of Hiller from its inception in the 1950s to its current role in the nuclear power industry

• The driving forces behind Hiller’s decision to invest in facility relocation

• How Hiller is adapting to the changing demands of the nuclear power market with its new facility

Kevin McPherson is the plant manager for US Valves and Hiller under Trillium Flow Technologies. McPherson has been with Trillium for eleven years. He has witnessed the company’s growth and is excited about the potential the new Hiller location brings.

With over twenty years of experience in the nuclear power industry, Vince Elias brings a wealth of knowledge. As the Global Sales Manager for Hiller, he has been instrumental in guiding the company through the industry’s changing landscape.

In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, aftermarket services have become a pivotal aspect of customer satisfaction and business growth. As industries continue to innovate, the demand for efficient, reliable, and high-quality services has surged. A recent study indicates that these services are a significant revenue stream and a key differentiator in the market for businesses. So, how are leading companies adapting to these demands and ensuring that their customers remain at the forefront of their service offerings?

On this episode of FlowCast by Trillium, host Michelle Dawn Mooney dives deep into the developments of aftermarket services with guest Andrea Nicora, the Aftermarket & Services Director for Trillium Flow Technologies. Andrea has a rich background in engineering and a passion for customer-centric services, having over twenty years of experience in the field at different stages. All of this experience allows Andrea to fully explore the nuances of aftermarket services and how Trillium is innovating to meet customer needs.

Key points in this discussion include:

- The segmentation of Trillium's services into three main categories: spare parts, level one services, and L2 services.

- The importance of genuine spare parts and the APS (Advanced Parts Solutions) program.

- The diverse range of rotating machine services offered by Trillium, from refurbishments to technical assistance.Andrea Nicora graduated in mechanical engineering in 1998 and began his career as a project engineer in the shipbuilding sector. Over the years, he has held various roles, including Quality Manager, Supply Chain Manager, and General Manager for services in thermo mechanical engineering. In 2022, Andrea was appointed as the Aftermarket & Services Director for Trillium Flow Technologies in Italy.

The dynamic world of pressure valve technology is continuously evolving. Current trends suggest a shift towards more efficient, reliable, and adaptable systems. Estimates forecast the valve market to grow at a 3.5 percent compound annual growth rate over the next six years, driven by increasing demand in power generation, oil and gas, and manufacturing sectors. Amidst this burgeoning market, a new contender is making waves: StarFlow V.

The critical question is: How does the StarFlow V revolutionize the pressure valve technology market? What sets it apart from existing products in the industry?

On a new episode of “FlowCast” by Trillium Flow Technologies, host Michelle Dawn Mooney talked to Sebastien Vermeulen, Global Product Manager at Trillium. The discussion revolved around the StarFlow V, its role in the market, and what it brings to the table.

The episode also covered:

• StarFlow V’s unique positioning in the market is based on its high efficiency and reliability.
• A comprehensive explanation of the pressure valve technology behind the StarFlow V and how it sets itself apart in the marketplace.
• Insight into the standards and compliances met by the StarFlow V and how these impact its performance and applicability.

Sebastien Vermeulen is a tenured Global Product Manager at Trillium and has been with the company for eight years. With a background in engineering, he moved to a role within the product team, first as inside sales, then as a product manager. Vermeulen's decade-long expertise in pressure valve technology makes him an ideal guest to discuss the StarFlow V's market positioning and potential.

In an era where Industry 4.0 is transforming the approach of manufacturing and maintenance, Trillium Flow Technologies keeps ahead of the trends with continual product enhancements and new product development, including investment in 3D technology. One of Trillium’s latest innovations is its smart flow technology, which provides a broad-based IIoT strategy through a combination of Smart Valve and Smart Pump technology. Addressing the challenge of costly downtime due to asset failure, Trillium now empowers its customers to predict maintenance issues before they occur, reducing operational costs and downtime. According to Andrea Bellingeri, Global Product Director, Trillium’s new technology could save companies up to 35% on parts and significantly decrease downtime costs.

How can businesses leverage this technology to improve operations and reduce costs?

In the latest episode of FlowCast, host Michelle Dawn Mooney explored Trillium's solutions and the benefits of their new smart valve technology. Mooney spoke with Bellingeri and Ged Chauveau, Head of Engineering for Trillium Flow UK Valves, to share insights on Trillium's latest offering. The discussion spans a range of themes, from the importance of predictive maintenance to the key features and capabilities of the new smart valve technology.

Main Points from the Episode:

- Trillium's smart valve technology helps predict issues before failure, reducing downtime and costs.

- The new technology offers numerous benefits, including reduced unplanned shutdowns, equipment failures, and operational costs.

- Trillium's IoT-connected valves offer real-time data analysis and a user-friendly interface for tracking asset performance.

Bellingeri is the Global Product Director for Isolation and Control Valves for Trillium and has extensive industry experience in product development and management. Chauveau leads the engineering team at Trillium UK Valves and is instrumental in developing this innovative smart flow technology.

Hydrogen is considered a greener and better alternative to other forms of gas energy production. It reduces emissions and can be produced from many sources, as opposed to only fossil fuels. The hydrogen market has a promising future but there are some key areas that need to be explored with its growth.

Where is the growth of the hydrogen market headed? And how are some companies in the industry contributing?

For this episode of "Flowcast," host Michelle Dawn Mooney interviewed two team members of Trillium: Simon Bradshaw, Global Director of Engineering and Technology, and Sanket Walimbe, Technical Development Manager. The three discussed hydrogen, its value, some of the technical challenges in utilizing it, and how it can see wider adoption across the globe.

Mooney, Bradshaw, and Walimbe further talked about:

• Renewable energy and its rise
• The potential of the hydrogen market and its value chain givens its pros and cons
• The future of the hydrogen market

“The cost of hydrogen is still really high compared to other methods of producing it, but the main ones are gray and black hydrogen, or blue hydrogen, which are generally derived from fossil fuels. ‘Those costs for green hydrogen are likely to reduce significantly depending on innovation and all those things within the marketplace, but it's currently still not cost competitive,” said Bradshaw.

Walimbe added that Trillium is best equipped in preparation for the growth of the hydrogen market.

"All I would say is that we have great intelligence on this topic within our business and product line, and it can also be compatible with the application with certain modifications, and with this in hand, we are keeping an eye on how the economy is taking shape in the future so we can adapt to it as we go on," he said.

Simon Bradshaw is the Global Director of Engineering and Technology at Trillium. He’s been with the company for a year now, and was previously the Director of Engineering at Circor Industries Americas. Bradshaw has been in the engineering industry since 1986 and is a graduate of Heriot-Watt University and also holds credentials as a Chartered Engineer from the Institution of Engineering Designers.

Sanket Walimbe is the Technical Development Manager at Trillium. He’s been with the company for close to two years now and was previously the Principal Engineer at Trelleborg Group. Walimbe is a graduate of Alliance Manchester Business School and the University of Sheffield.

Additive Manufacturing, also known as 3D technology, is revolutionizing our world and performing crucial roles in many industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, design, and architecture. It has so far changed, replaced, and provided faster production and delivery; it is a shortcut to bringing many imaginations to life. According to a report, the 3D modeling market was valued at 13.49 billion (USD) in 2020 and is projected to register a compound annual growth rate of 20.9% over the forecast period.

On this episode, Michelle Dawn Mooney, the host of FlowCast, chats with Bryan Voytilla, the VP of product management at Trillium Flow Technologies, about new product development and how these updates address customers' needs.

"There are a lot of technologies out there, but the one we are investing in is 3D printing technology. We have a lot of projects using 3D printing technologies to redesign components of pumps and valves faster. As a result, we can reduce manufacturing time by over 60%. We feel additive manufacturing, especially 3D printing, will be a game changer for us and how we provide those parts and components for all our products in a very short cycle time."

Michelle then asked Bryan about the specific products and technology used currently concerning the new valve and pump releases. Bryan went on to say:

"One is the 78 full bore safety valve design, which provides a higher capacity versus a reduced port valve. It's a pilot-operated pressure relief valve. Another is smart valve technology. We have developed an algorithm that helps us monitor the performance of the trim of the valve, specifically in a control valve, so we can help predict how that valve is operating in service today and how it's going to operate in the future. That's the most important thing for our customers."

The power sector was also not left out of the discussion, as Michelle wanted to know which developments in the power section Trillium is focusing on right now; Bryan comments:

"Traditional power sources are still being used; we are focusing on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). The idea is to scale down a traditional nuclear power reactor. We are working very closely with the key players in the SMR industry to help develop our products and scale down to meet their needs.

As 2022 comes to a close and 2023 draws closer, it's time for both people and businesses to reflect upon their goals for 2022 and outline goals they may set for 2023. How do companies in the industrial manufacturing space approach their annual reflections and use this to plan for the next year?

On today's episode of Flowcast by Trillium Technologies, Host Michelle Dawn Mooney speaks with David Paradis, CEO of Trillium Flow Technologies, to recap the goals Trillium Technologies met in 2022, how they achieved those goals, and what they are planning for 2023.

Mooney and Paradis also discussed…

• The growth and milestones that Trillium has seen in 2022
• Ways Trillium has demonstrated its values and tenets internally and externally
• What Paradis is looking forward to for Trillium in 2023

Paradis explains some of the reasons Trillium succeeded in 2022: "Looking back on 2022, we made more progress on the operational side of the [One Trillium] transformation than we had in a long, long time, and that's just great to see. We've got a great group of plant managers, general managers, and managing directors around the world that really support the initiative and are really excited about the benefits it is going to bring to the whole of Trillium."

Paradis is the Chief Executive Officer of Trillium Flow Technologies and is a skilled business leader in the flow control industry. He has previously served in roles including Divisional President of Flow Control and President of The Weir Group PLC as well as Global Director of Sales & Marketing at Tyco Flow Control Holdings. Paradis earned his BA in Mechanical Engineering and his Masters's in Business Administration from Texas A&M University.

In April of this year, Trillium Flow Technologies completed its acquisition of Termomeccanica Pompe. The merger brought together two titans in the pump industry. Adding Termomeccanica Pompe’s product and service lineup to Trillium’s existing pump offering created a unique opportunity to provide customers with a robust range of complementary solutions.

Host Michelle Dawn Mooney got the chance to speak with Edoardo Garibotti, Managing Director for Trillium Pumps Italy, and Sam Eccles, Product Director for Pumps, about the exciting changes.

Throughout their discussion, Mooney, Garibotti, and Eccles touch on the following:

• Why Trillium and Termomeccanica make such a great fit

• The markets served and their complementary offerings

• An update on how the integration is going at the six month mark

• Some of the challenges faced during the integration and how Trillium Flow Technologies is overcoming them

“The surprise wasn’t that there were challenges, but opportunities,” Garibotti said. “We found the people linking the two companies were linked by the same values. It was the same mentality, and it was quite simple to bring people together and come to a common understanding.”

Edoardo Garibotti’s experience with Termomeccanica Pompe spans a career of twenty-three years, with a total of thirty in industrial supply chain management.

Sam Eccles is an engineer and MBA who joined Trillium Flow Technologies in May 2022. His involvement in the pump industry dates back more than a dozen years, where he worked for CLYDEUNION Pumps and Celeros Flow Technology.

Successful companies are made up of more than just their products; it’s their people, too. At Trillium Flow Technologies, the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion cannot be understated. Reflecting on the value and importance of these core beliefs, Michelle Dawn Mooney hosts a conversation with Trillium’s Vice President of Human Resources, Jessica Stulberg.

Even after only a year with Trillium, Stulberg recognized the human capital aspect of business and its important role in the company's overall success. “We partner with the business, the function partners with the business to see how we can drive success in our strategies through people in the organization,” said Stulberg.

Making diversity, equity, and inclusion a part of Trillium’s core beliefs ensures employee's needs are being recognized, heard, and met; it also positively impacts the communities and suppliers of the business. Stulberg said, “We know that we get better business outcomes when we have diversity of thought, diversity of experiences, and diversity of culture in our organization.”

To help promote these values, Trillium reached out to the heart of the business: people. Stulberg noted, “We created a diversity and inclusion committee that’s comprised of employees and leaders across the organization so they can share their ideas and make impactful changes in our organization.”

The committee has created a Diversity and Inclusion charter through Trillium’s policy statement, developed key initiatives focused on the recruitment of females in STEM and leadership, generated core and basic KPI’s in each operating country, and added basic training on unconscious bias.

Among initiative successes, from 2020 to 2021, Trillium increased the total number of females in the organization by almost 30%, and Trillium’s year-over-year recruitment of women in STEM positions has increased by over 20%.

“We believe we operate in an essential sector with strong tailwinds in terms of the market growth,” Yilmaz said. “Energy security is quite key, as we’ve seen from some unfortunate events we’ve witnessed over the past couple of months. If you look at some of the key sectors we serve, nuclear power, collational power, and oil and gas are poised for growth from an energy security perspective. On top of that, energy transition is still high on the agenda.” In addition, Trillium recognizes the need for solid infrastructure, especially around water and wastewater throughout the globe.

Servicing customers is a top matrix for success at Trillium, and Yilmaz said they are continually looking for new ways to enhance their products and experiences for the customer. “We see a lot of focus on service, especially in being present in certain geographies and supporting the aftersales activities for the customers.”

Navigating supply chain challenges is one area Yilmaz said Trillium recognized as a critical pain point to manage for its customer base. “Being on time for our customers, especially in the energy industry, is key in the criticality of our services and products, so we’re quite focused on that.”

“We are investing in key geographies and key regions and following through our commitments to our customers,” Yilmaz said while noting Trillium deployed various technological advancements in augmented and virtual reality to support customers during COVID when face-to-face interactions were limited.