Compressed Air Best Practices - February 2008 - (Page 36)

| 02/08 Compressed Air Industry BULK HANDLING | DEKKER VACUUM Compressed Air Best Practices interviewed Rick Dekker (President & CEO) of Dekker Vacuum Technologies. ces interviewed w (President r Technologies. Good morning! Please share the history of Dekker Vacuum Technologies. Good morning. The roots of our company start with my father, Jan Dekker, who was heavily involved with oil-sealed liquid ring vacuum systems used in the gold mines of South Africa. This was in the mid 1970s when gold prices were going up. Vacuum systems (in the mines) were optimized by improving vacuum levels using oil instead of water and by adding vacuum boosters. He then came to the United States in 1979 to open up a vacuum division for Sullair. I joined him in 1993 as an application engineer with a different company until we founded Dekker Vacuum in 1998. Why did you start Dekker Vacuum? When we started Dekker Vacuum, we saw an opportunity because the vacuum industry was very old-fashioned in how it serviced its customers, both before and after the sale. Customers complained about mediocre customer service levels, parts availability, after-sales technical support and repair. Rick Dekker, President & CEO of Dekker Vacuum Technologies Dekker was therefore founded with a strong focus on providing excellent customer service before and after the sale. This philosophy has hit home with customers and has driven our strong sales growth over the years. The firm reached profitability after only twelve months of operation and the Company has now reached $12 million in annual sales. In 2007, Dekker was listed on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies in America. We are headquartered in Michigan City, Indiana in a 45,000 square foot manufacturing facility. Please describe the management philosophy at Dekker Vacuum. CO2 O Full plant audits of vacuum systems are a growing trend. My father (Jan Dekker) is one of the worlds’ leading authorities on vacuum applications. I also began my career as a vacuum applications engineer. When my father sold his shares to me in 2004, I was faced with a decision of whether to focus on management/leadership or to become the “vacuum guru” like my father. I realized I couldn’t do both. We decided that I should focus on the strategic direction of the company and to assemble an “A-Team” in management, while ensuring that the organization receives the tools and support required to be successful. Meanwhile, our vacuum expertise in application engineering has flourished through the leadership of our Vice President Jerry Geenen, the applications engineering group and the continued involvement of my father as a consultant and advisor. Jerry is an integral part of the organization and we wouldn’t’ be where we are today without him. 36 www.airbestpractices.com http://www.airbestpractices.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Compressed Air Best Practices - February 2008

Compressed Air Best Practices - February 2008 Contents From the Editor Utility-Air News February Audit of the Month: Dense-Phase Transport System Wreaks Havoc on Compressed Air System Real World Best Practices: Material Conveying with Pneumatic and Vacuum Systems Industrial Vacuum Cleaners Use Compressed Air in Portland Cement Manufacturing Processes The Numatics Air Preparation Group The Ins and Outs of Vacuum Generators Dekker Vacuum Technologies Do Your Meetings Sabotage Your Profits? Resources for Energy Engineers Wall Street Watch Advertiser Index Job Market

Compressed Air Best Practices - February 2008

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