A New Year at Coastal Hydraulics

A Letter From The President of Coastal Hydraulics

As we embark on a new year I wanted to share an update on what has been taking place at Coastal Hydraulics.

2017 was extraordinary as we experienced several months of record revenue, completion of a number of sizable marine industry projects, expansion of our geographic reach, and a series of staff additions.

With the introduction of HVOF industrial coating capabilities two years ago and recent ramp-up in the volume of customers served, we are implementing a more sophisticated work order scheduling software system to speed the pace of operations and better ensure repair completions within our customers’ turnaround expectations.

Further, increased work order volumes required that we grow our staff, and thus we were pleased to welcome several new members to the team:

Our account and project management group expanded with the addition of Scott Raynor, Account Executive. Scott’s prior experience includes more than fifteen years of hydraulic component and repair sales, and his primary geographic responsibilities for Coastal Hydraulics are for the Pee Dee region of South Carolina as well as Eastern North Carolina and beyond.

Daniel Campbell, Hydraulics Mechanic, joined the Coastal Hydraulics organization in the Fall of 2017. He is a certified welder and hydraulics mechanic who has many years of experience serving steel mills, offshore oil rigs, shipyards and other demanding industry segments. He joins us from South Alabama.

Howie Newman came to Coastal Hydraulics recently as a part-time pick-up and delivery specialist. After starting his career in the United States Navy, Howie went on to successfully serve in a series of management positions, including roles with the Boeing Company.

Curtis Dickens, Technical Services Manager, is our most recent addition. He is tasked with supporting our customers and Account Executives with complex troubleshooting, hydraulic and pneumatic systems design, and the proper application of HVOF industrial coatings. Prior to joining Coastal Hydraulics, Curtis devoted twenty years toward managing the maintenance of C-17, C-130, C-5A/B and C-141B aircraft for the United States Air Force.

Michael Brown, Coastal Hydraulics’ Operations Manager, recently celebrated 17 years of service. His dedication was rewarded not long ago with an expanded role to include oversight for all work orders and shop management. Further, Michael has been instrumental in the development of our new scheduling system. He’s exceptionally customer-focused and will continue to be pivotal to our success.

The changes that have taken place and those which are being planned for Coastal Hydraulics are certain to improve our business processes, workflows, and most importantly our customers’ experiences. We look forward to a prosperous 2018 and sincerely appreciate the confidence our customers and business partners place in us.

Kindest regards,

J. Brett Bennett

President

Coastal Hydraulics

2251 Technical Parkway

Charleston, SC 29406

843-572-5714

www.coastalhydraulics.net

posted January 27, 2018

Spotlight on Safety: Safety Awareness Training from IFPS

fluid power society

The International Fluid Power Society offers safety training as well as safety posters and cards to members and non members.

Safety training courses include:

  • Hydraulics Safety Training
  • “In The Line of Fire: Causes and Dangers of Fluid Injection Injuries”
  • “Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility”

Visit the IFPS website to learn more about the safety training materials and courses available.

 

posted November 20, 2017

What is HVOF and Why is it Better Than Hard Chrome?

Coastal Hydraulics’ resident HVOF expert, Curtis Dickens, frequently speaks on HVOF Coating – High Velocity Oxygen Fuel – and why it is superior to hard chrome coatings.  Some highlights of typical questions answered during one of our HVOF presentations are below.  Contact Curtis at curtis.dickens@coastalhydraulics.net for more information or to request a presentation for your company. Learn more about HVOF by clicking here.

What is HVOF Thermal Spraying?

HVOF stands for High Velocity Oxygen Fuel.  An HVOF thermal spraying system uses the combustion of gases to fuel the flame for spraying – Coastal Hydraulics uses ethanol as it generates no hazardous waste or byproduct and is environmentally friendly.

Why was HVOF technology created?

The cutting edge and environmentally friendly HVOF technology provides a safe working environment for associates repairing and coating components.  HVOF also provides a long-term, robust repair solution for hydraulic, pneumatic and fluid power components.

Why replace hard chrome plating?

The hard chrome plating process produces large amounts of toxic waste, including hexavalent chrome which is a known carcinogen.  The EPA and OSHA have mandated more stringent stack emission levels as well as lowering of permissible exposure limits for workers.  The use of hard chrome plating has increased costs and risks for businesses.

What are some other benefits of HVOF coatings?

In addition to environmental and safety benefits, HVOF coatings provide many benefits to customers.  Some of these include:  high density with low porosity; improved corrosion barrier; higher hardness ratings (1400 on Vickers scale whereas chrome is 930); improved wear resistance (HVOF coatings last 3 times longer than chrome, seals last approximately 200% longer); high bond strength; thick coatings; smoother than other sprayed surfaces

Give some examples of industries that use HVOF and the parts and components that can be HVOF sprayed.

Many industries can benefit from HVOF coatings.  In particular, we have seen dramatic results in the marine industry (cargo handling, ship building and repair), the power industry (2 re-seals and a polish over the course of 2 years with HVOF verses 4 re-seals and 4 re-chromes on the same chrome plated part), and heavy equipment such as cranes and construction equipment.  Fluid power, hydraulic and pneumatic repairs in cylinders, corner groups, strut rods, linkage pins, and rotating shafts have benefitted greatly from HVOF coatings in our experience.

How can I learn more about HVOF coatings for my applications?

Call me, Curtis Dickens, at 843-572-5714. Email me at curtis.dickens@coastalhydraulics.net, or visit our website at www.coastalhydraulics.net

 

posted October 2, 2017

The Importance of Preventive Maintenance of Hydraulic Systems

An informative article on Reliability Web outlines the importance of preventive maintenance of hydraulic systems and notes that the lack of proper maintenance is the leading source of hydraulic component and system failure.

Click to read the article – Maintenance of Hydraulic Systems

Coastal Hydraulics offers preventive and corrective maintenance of hydraulic systems and components to keep machines operational.

  • Protect Machinery During Summer Heat
  • Keep Machines Running and Profits Increasing
  • Maintain Machines for Optimal Performance
  • Increase Machinery Lifespan with Routine Maintenance
  • Avoid Downtime and Costly Repairs

Learn more about Coastal Hydraulics’ capabilities by watching our video or contact us with questions or to request a quote.

posted June 17, 2017

Hydraulics & Pneumatics Experts – The Coastal Hydraulics Team

Coastal Hydraulics TeamAt  Coastal Hydraulics, we know that our company’s success is due to our team of dedicated and experienced professionals. We are proud to be an ISO 9001:2008 registered company since 1999.  With over 200 years of combined hydraulics and pneumatics experience under one roof, the experts at Coastal Hydraulics are sure to find the most efficient solutions for your hydraulic and pneumatic needs.

Our team members hold many certifications from the International Fluid Power Society including: Industrial Hydraulic Mechanic, Mobile Hydraulic Mechanic, Mobile Hydraulic Technician. Coastal Hydraulics also has technicians who have completed the Mobile Crane and Rigging Inspector training and are certified by the Crane Inspection and Certification Bureau. In addition, we have welders who are Section 9 qualified by the American Society of Engineers and approved by the American Bureau of Shipping.

Learn more about our team and our company – click here to visit our website.

posted September 15, 2016

Coastal Hydraulics Adds HVOF Coatings to Services

Coastal Hydraulics has a new offering to customers: HVOF (High Velocity Oxy Fuel) coatings to replace hard chrome coatings. The innovative technology is new to the hydraulics and pneumatics industries, and Coastal Hydraulics is the only company in the Carolinas and Georgia to offer HVOF coatings.

Some of the benefits of HVOF coatings include:

  • Prolonged part/component life
  • Improved resistance against wear and chemicals
  • Improved part/component performance
  • Decreased machinery down time
  • Reduced whole life cycle coating costs
  • Lower environmental impact than other coating options

Learn more about HVOF coatings and our in house capabilities by visiting our website – coastalhydraulics.net.

posted September 12, 2016
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Coastal Hydraulics
843-572-5714 (available 24/7)