Starting on the pump application desk in 1976, Robert Jennings has worked in sales, repair, and troubleshooting pumping systems for over 44 years. Mr. Jennings currently oversees the Hydro’s Pump Optimization initiative for high energy pumps and also is the training instructor for Hydro, Inc.
He has been presenting a series of training seminars that Hydro has been offering to our customers for the past fifteen years and is also a Qualified Instructor for Pump Systems Matter’s course “Pump Pumping System Optimization: Opportunities to Improve Life Cycle Performance.”
Michael started his career in 1974 at Ingersoll-Rand designing pumps for the US Navy SSN 688 and Trident submarine program. He was Vice President of Worldwide Aftermarket Services for Ingersoll-Dresser Pumps. He had profit responsibility for a $370 million-dollar business and control of over 22 repair centers.
Michael went into business as an independent pump consultant in 2003. He worked with many customers in varied markets in the training of personnel, specification development, root cause analysis, and strategic planning and process improvement. Michael is now President of Total Solutions for Hydro, Inc. His job responsibilities mirror his consulting work, supporting customers in reducing their total cost of pump operation.
Glen started his career in the pump industry 8 years ago as a shop engineer for HydroAire SPR with a focus on pump rebuilds, repairs and engineering upgrades. He moved into a lead engineering role with the Hydro Performance Test Lab where he worked closely with customers to investigate and test problem pumps for the Nuclear (safety and non-safety related), Power Generation, and Oil & Gas industries.
As a Reliability Engineer, Glen now supports all functions related to Hydro Reliability Services, the experienced and capable field engineering group from Hydro Inc. In daily practice Glen works with customers on field vibration testing, hydraulic testing, and pump improvement engineering. This includes troubleshooting pumps with excessive vibration, hydraulic performance issues, and reliability problems, and supporting customers around the world . Glen’s educational background includes a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree from Purdue University with a background in design, heat transfer, and fluid dynamics.
With 22 years experience in the pump aftermarket repair business, Kyle is a Category IV vibration analyst and travels the globe troubleshooting complex rotating equipment problems. Kyle serves as the principal resource for vibration analysis for Hydro and specializes in Operating Deflection Shape (ODS) and Experimental Modal Analysis (EMA) testing. Kyle is the General Manager of Hydro Reliability Services. The Reliability Services division of Hydro provides field engineering support and troubleshooting services to customers across the world.
Heinz P. Bloch earned BSME and MSME (cum laude) degrees from the New Jersey Institute of Technology (1962). After assignments in Italy, Spain, England, The Netherlands and Japan, and upon retiring from Exxon Chemicals USA as their Regional Machinery Specialist, he became Owner/Principal of Process Machinery Consulting. He has made presentations at plants and to conference attendees worldwide on machinery reliability improvement, including to audiences of the ASME, AFPM (NPRA), TAPPI, AIChE, SMRP, STLE, Texas A&M (TAMU) Turbomachinery and Pump Symposia; also to over 500 State and private companies in 43 countries in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and North and South America.
He is a Founding Member of TAMU’s International Pump Users Symposium and is an ASME Life Fellow. He received the American Society of Lubrication Engineers’ Wilbur Deutsch Memorial Award (1982); ASME/STS Engineer of the Year Award (1995); ASME Frederick Smarro Plant Engineering Award (1999); ASME Distinguished Service Award (2001) and holds seven US patents on high-speed machinery lubrication and component upgrading.
Mr. Piotrowski graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1974 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has been working with rotating machinery in industry for over 44 years and is considered to be one of the leading authorities on alignment of rotating machinery. He has authored over fifty technical articles on the subject and is author of the Basic Shaft Alignment Workbook, the Shaft Alignment Self Study Guide, and the Shaft Alignment Handbook (now in its 3rd edition). He was one of the contributing authors for the development of the ANSI/ASA Shaft Alignment Standards (ANSI/ASA S2.75 Parts 1, 2, and 3). He has also a contributing author to the 4th and 5th editions of the Shock and Vibration Handbook (ISBN 0-07-026920-3, Chapter 39. Part II: Vibration Induced by Shaft Misalignment).
Mr. Piotrowski is an active member of the Vibration Institute. Since founding Turvac Inc. in 1982, John has trained over 7500 people in shaft alignment principles and methodology, been a consultant to several major shaft alignment equipment manufacturers and participated in alignment service work in a wide variety of industries. He has designed training demonstrators for alignment and balancing, shaft alignment measurement systems, shaft alignment software programs, invented the Ball-Rod-Tubing Connector system used to measure off-line to running machinery movement, and performed several controlled alignment / vibration tests. But above everything else, John loves what he is doing and wants everyone who is involved with rotating machinery to understand this broad and fascinating topic.
Paul is a Chartered Engineer with over 40 years of experience working with White Metal Bearings in the UK. He has a degree in Metallurgy from the University of Leeds and has done post graduate studies to become a professional member of the Institute of Cast Metals Engineers.
Most of his career was spent at J H Richards in Birmingham manufacturing and repairing white metal bearings for OEMs and Power Stations. From 2018, Paul has been a Technical Support Engineer for Coleherne problem solving for clients around the world. He regularly uses his 15 years’ experience of bearing training to deliver that knowledge, in person, to engineers, mechanics, and operators. When he is not at work, Paul can usually be found at the gym or on the ski slopes.
Robert graduated from Wright State University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Since graduating, Robert has been working with rotating machinery and training personnel in shaft alignment. He has also been certified in Level II Shaft Alignment. Robert is passionate about growing his knowledge of alignment and spreading what he has learned to others.
Brad brings over 34 years of experience in the pump industry to his role as Product Manager at HydroAire. Prior to joining HydroAire in 2014, he spent 29 years as the Facility Manager at ITT Goulds Pumps' Baton Rouge Service Center, demonstrating extensive knowledge of manufacturing and service operations.
Currently, his expertise lies in OEM proficiency across all nuclear pump models, including CCW, SW, Boric Acid, Containment Spray, Condensate, Heater Drain, and Booster Verticals. Brad holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management Technology from Southeastern Louisiana University. This combination of academic background and hands-on experience makes him a valuable asset to the HydroAire team.
In 1981 David entered the US Navy Nuclear program as a mechanic. He was the mechanical division supervisor and QC inspector for ten years and was an instructor at various nuclear facilities for 3 years. During that time, David was responsible for the maintenance of the pumps and other mechanical components on the submarine.
David started with HydroAire in 1994 as a Technical Field Advisor and has worked in the field on a variety of OEM pumps. David has also been the lead instructor for the hands-on courses since about 2011.
John Roberts is a Senior Engineer in Hydro's Global Engineering Services group with a master’s in engineering. Starting his career as an apprentice pump fitter, he worked up to Lead Engineer at SPX before joining Hydro. John has service and site experience throughout the world, with significant time spent in OE and the aftermarket. He is one of Hydro's resident experts on reciprocating pumps and brings a wealth of knowledge and practical experience.
Werner Barnard is the Director of Global Aftermarket Reverse Engineering and Parts Manufacturing at Hydro Inc. Werner is an Engineering Professional with 25 years’ experience in the fields of R&D, manufacturing, and operations management. Werner also has experience in Engineering management and overseeing complete product life cycle from data capture, design (2D & 3D), planning, manufacturing, and quality control. Werner has an Honors Degree Bachelor of Science (Engineering, Materials and Metallurgy)
For the past 17 years Sergio has established himself as a Pump Improvement Engineer PIE with advanced mechanical and hydraulic design knowledge of Centrifugal and Rotary Pumps (twin screw, gear) design, operation and installation, maintenance and troubleshooting, as well as extensive experience as a pumping systems analyst. During this time Sergio has dedicated a lot of his efforts towards the mechanical design for pump upgrades. He is also a former decoking equipment and hydraulic decoking system specialist and has extensive knowledge of reciprocating pumps. Other activities include seven (7) years on decoking equipment designing, three (3) years leading an R&D team in a mechanical laboratory, 21 years’ experience in Oil and Gas pumps, 4 years’ experience with Power Utility Plant pump overhauls, 11 years’ experience in steel mills pumps, 21 years’ experience in professional hands-on mechanical work, 4 years pump field service and 3 years as official trainer of decoking equipment for global technicians.
As Director of Engineering Solutions, Sergio is nowadays in charge of pump improvement projects which span multiple industries and pump types.
