Oseco News - a Halma PR news blog

Wilson to develop and refine rules governing the approval of ASME-approved pressure relief devices

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma (April 18, 2008) –  The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has appointed Alan Wilson of Oseco to the ASME Codes and Standards Committee for Performance Test Code 25 Pressure Relief Devices, beginning April 2008 through June 2012.  As a member of the committee, Wilson will be responsible for reviewing, refining and producing the rules that govern the testing and acceptance of ASME-approved pressure relief devices.

Wilson has 19 years of experience with the rupture disk manufacturer, Oseco.  As Oseco’s R&D and Field Service Manager, Wilson is responsible for managing the development and testing of new rupture disk designs, custom applications, failure analysis and field work.  Wilson is also responsible for sales and customer support, education and trouble-shooting. 

Besides his extensive work experience, Wilson has written and illustrated articles for Chemical Engineering Magazine and The AIChe Technical Manual, and been named as Inventor on several rupture disk patents.  His qualifications include a Master of Business Administration from Oklahoma City University (Oklahoma City, OK) and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Design from Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK).  He has completed additional classes in TRIZ*, Innovation and Creativity, Management Skills, Advanced Emergency Relief System Design, Managing Reactive Chemicals and Dust Explosion Hazards, and Project Management Skills.

“This new responsibility will give me the opportunity to apply my knowledge and experience to developing the rules that maintain a high standard of quality in pressure relief systems,” says Wilson.

* A model-based technique for generating innovative ideas and solutions for problem solving.

Rupture disk manufacturer to showcase products for food and grain, dry goods packaging and storage industries

Leading pressure relief expert, Oklahoma Safety Equipment Co., Inc. (Oseco), will feature its MVRB (Metal Vent Reverse Buckling) rupture panel at the International Powder and Bulk Solids Conference, May 6-8 in Rosemont, IL.

The MVRB is specifically designed for food and grain, dry goods packaging and storage applications.  The rupture panel protects dust collectors, bag houses, conveyor systems, dryers, pulverizers and most other equipment that requires precise overpressure protection. With reduced nuisance failures, the panel life of the MVRB is longer than that of typical panels.

The smooth surface of the MVRB prevents product buildup and contamination, making this panel well-suited for hygienic and sanitary services.  The non-fragmenting design increases process safety in the event of panel rupture.  The MVRB is available in a variety of standard sizes and materials.  Custom sizes, materials, and panels designed to withstand vacuum are also available upon request. 

In addition to the MVRB, Oseco’s full line of precision rupture disks, panels and vents will be on display at the company’s booth, 2442.

Ragosta to grow Halma’s bursting disk business in worldwide markets

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma (January 15, 2008) –  Further committing to the growth of their industrial safety group, Halma Holdings Inc. has promoted Joe Ragosta from president of bursting disc manufacturer Oklahoma Safety Equipment Company (Oseco), to business development director for bursting disks.

As business development director, Ragosta will be responsible for identifying, investigating and implementing opportunities for further growth in the bursting disk and pressure relief markets through acquisitions, strategic alliances, joint ventures and expansion worldwide.  Additionally, Ragosta will work with existing subsidiaries to develop new products and find new markets for bursting discs.

Ragosta has served for eight years as president of Halma company Oseco.  During his tenure, Oseco was chosen from over 40 Halma subsidiaries for the 2007 Company of the Year Award.  The annual award recognizes the company within the group with the best all around performance over the past three years, good governance and strong overall management.  Oseco has demonstrated a continuous investment in personnel development and innovation, resulting in improvements in its manufacturing operations.

Before his position at Oseco, Ragosta was the GM and senior VP of Graver Technologies (Glasgow, DE), a manufacturer of water, chemical, pharmaceutical and food product purification equipment, and president of Ionex Consulting Services (Tully, NY), a consulting business for fluid processing.  Ragosta holds a Ph.D. and Master of Science in Inorganic Chemistry from Cornell University (Ithaca, NY), as well as a Bachelor of Science from Pennsylvania State University (State College, PA).

“I look forward to applying the knowledge and experience in the bursting disk industry that I have accrued over the past eight years to assist me throughout my new appointment.  I’m excited about the challenge of developing Halma’s bursting disk companies throughout local and international markets,” says Ragosta.

New switchover valve minimizes plant shut down time.

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma (October 3, 2007) – Leading rupture disk manufacturer Oseco will be exhibiting pressure relief technology at the Chemical Processing Industry’s Chem Show, October 30 - November 1 at the Javits Convention Center, New York, New York.  The highlight of Oseco’s exhibit at booth number 1539 will be the Deltaflow, a new switchover valve that minimizes plant down time in overpressure situations.

In pressure vessels and piping, relieving over pressures before they reach potentially dangerous proportions safeguards personnel from injury and equipment from damage.  However, when a rupture disk bursts to relieve an over pressure, it can mean process downtime.  Oseco has solved this problem with the Deltaflow, allowing customers to use dual relief devices and eliminate process shut downs. When the disk on one side of the Deltaflow breaks, a reserve disk can be placed into service immediately by actuating the valve.  The ruptured disk can then be replaced without system shut down.

In addition to the Deltaflow, Oseco’s full line of precision rupture disks, rupture panels and sensors will be on display at the show. Visitors may register to win a DVD player at the company’s booth, 1539, until the winner is drawn on the last day of the show.

Local company recognized by British parent for outstanding growth
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma (September 25, 2007) – Leading rupture disk manufacturer, Oklahoma Safety Equipment Co., Inc., (Oseco) has been named Company of the Year by its parent company, UK-based Halma plc.  The annual award recognizes the company with the best all around performance over the past three years from within the global protection and detection technology group.

Oseco was chosen from among nearly 40 Halma subsidiaries from all over the world.  While one of the criteria is significant growth in sales and profits, the award also takes into account good governance and overall management.  Oseco has demonstrated a continuous investment in personnel development and innovation, resulting in improvements in its manufacturing operations.

“I was especially honored that Oseco was chosen for this award knowing the caliber of the competition within the Halma group,” said Oseco President Joe Ragosta.  “It is definitely a reflection of the hard work and exceptional contributions of our staff.  With the talented, dedicated team of employees we have in place, I’m excited about our prospects for continued success in the coming years.”

In addition the Halma Company of the Year Award, Oseco was recognized as one of only four companies in the group to generate five consistent years of profit growth. 

Carr Company, Controls and Instrumentation, and Trinova to take on new geographic areas.

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma (September 13, 2007) – Leading rupture disk manufacturer, Oklahoma Safety Equipment Co., Inc., (Oseco) has recognized the success of three of its representatives with expanded United States sales territories.  The Carr Company, Controls and Instrumentation, and Trinova will continue to provide sales and service for the company’s rupture disks, rupture panels, and other pressure relief products in their newly assigned areas.

The Carr Company has provided service to Oseco customers in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts since 2005.  Their territory has been recently expanded to include Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.  The Connecticut based manufacturer’s representative firm promotes industrial safety through overpressure protection; process instrumentation measuring pressure, temperature, level & flow; tank blanketing; flame arrestment and deflagration venting equipment.  Contact: sales@carrcoltd.com; 860-657-3466.

Controls and Instrumentation (www.cicpro.com) has provided service to Oseco customers in North and South Carolina, eastern Tennessee, Georgia and Florida since 1999.  Virginia has now been added to their territory list. The North Carolina company has specialized in vapor control, hazardous material handling and liquid process equipment for over 20 years.  Contact: sales@cicpro.com; 704-786-1700.

Trinova (www.trinovainc.com) has provided service to Oseco customers in Alabama since 2003.  The company will now also cover parts of Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas.  Trinova is headquartered in Alabama with a team of sales and service experts situated in the regions they serve. The company has been helping customers with measurement and process challenges for more than 60 years with products, services and hands-on training.  Contact: sales@trinovainc.com; 251-378-7837.

Columbine Controls, I&C Sales and Niagara Controls to sell company’s pressure relief products.

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma (August 24, 2007) – In response to growing product demand, leading rupture disk manufacturer, Oklahoma Safety Equipment Co., Inc., (Oseco) has appointed three new representatives to provide sales and service support to customers in the United States.  Columbine Controls, I&C Sales North and Niagara Controls will carry Oseco’s line of rupture disks, rupture panels, and other pressure relief products.

Oseco’s customers in the chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, power, food & beverage, plastics, defense, and pulp and paper industries can now benefit from a knowledgeable, local contact.  Representatives are factory trained by Oseco in the latest rupture disk products and technology.

Columbine Controls of Centennial Colo. will serve customers in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, Utah and Idaho.  The company’s sales team has provided expert service to the power, oil and gas, municipal water, mining, and engineering industries for nearly 20 years. Contact: columbine@msn.com; 303-680-0775.  

I&C Sales North (www.icsalesnorth.com) of Southgate, Mich., will serve customers in Michigan.  The company has over 25 years of experience representing manufacturers of process instrumentation and controls.  Their knowledgeable service begins with thorough application analysis and equipment recommendations and continues with after sale service and repair.  Contact: info@icssalesnorth.com; 734-283-6599.

Niagara Controls will serve customers in upstate New York.  A division of Collins Pipe and Supply Company, Niagara represents several world-class manufacturers of industrial valves and engineered products.  Contact: sales@niagaracontrols.com; 716-853-6400.

Serving customers in Europe, the Middle-East and Northern Africa
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma (June 14, 2007) – Oklahoma Safety Equipment Co., Inc. (Oseco), a leading manufacturer of pressure relief devices, is maximizing customer service in Europe, the Middle East and Northern Africa with the appointment of Serge Becker as Sales Manager.

Becker will serve customers and distributors throughout his region from his base in London, England, offering technical and sales support for Oseco’s complete product line.  He will work closely with end users to help them select, install, and use the company’s rupture disks, rupture panels, and pressure relief accessories. 

Becker will also continue to develop Oseco’s distributor network within his assigned territory.  He will be responsible for training new and existing distributors, ensuring a thorough understanding of Oseco’s products and applications in order to provide the best possible technical advice to end users.

In addition to fluency in English, Dutch, German and French, Becker  brings a high level of technical sales experience to his new position at Oseco.  Most recently, he served as Export Sales Manager for pelletizing equipment manufacturer, AMN Group (Notre Dame de Gravenchon, France).  During his six years with AMN, Becker managed key accounts and a network of distributors and agents in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.  In addition, he played an instrumental role in establishing the company’s US sales and maintenance operations. 

Becker earned Masters and Bachelors degrees in International Business Administration from IFI (Institute of International Business Studies - Group ESC) (Rouen, France).  Prior to IFI, he completed Economical Studies at Thomas a Kempis College (Zwolle, Netherlands) and obtained his primary education at RSG (Steenwijk, Netherlands).

“Serge’s strong multicultural experience and multilingual fluency will be great assets in establishing enduring customer relationships,” said Oseco President, Joe Ragosta.  “His technical experience with precision engineered products and systems, coupled with his understanding of differing cultures, are a great fit for this position.”

Free CD has detailed product information and customer service tools in six languages

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma (May 14, 2007) – To serve its growing global customer base, Oseco has issued the third edition of its CD catalog with expanded language capabilities and content.  The disk contains detailed information in six languages about Oseco’s custom engineered rupture disks, rupture panels, and other pressure relief products, as well as educational articles, software downloads and streaming video.

The CD catalog navigates much like a standard website and is compatible with most browsers. A table of contents links to PDF files of in-depth product data, illustrated throughout with product photos, diagrams, and specification charts.  In addition to the English language catalog, select product information is also available in Chinese, German, French, Japanese and Spanish.

The catalog’s technical articles introduce customers to Oseco’s products and provide information for Kr ratings and other important measurements.  Streaming videos provide insight into Oseco’s manufacturing and custom product engineering processes. 

Copies of the CD catalog are available free of charge from Oseco.  To request a copy, call 800-395-DISK (+1 918-258-5626 outside the US), or e-mail info@oseco.com.  For additional information about Oseco’s products, certifications, and representatives, visit www.oseco.com.

Evans to assist customers on West Coast, in Western Canada 

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma (March 19, 2007) – Oklahoma Safety Equipment Co., Inc. (Oseco), a leading manufacturer of pressure relief devices, has increased customer contact with the appointment of Bob Evans as Regional Sales Manager, serving customers on the American West Coast and in Western Canada.

As Regional Sales Manager, Evans will provide customer service, training and technical support to Oseco’s customers and representatives for the company’s rupture disks, panels and sensing products.  Oseco’s products are custom engineered and manufactured to suit a variety of applications, including pharmaceutical and food manufacturing, agricultural and petrochemical plants.

Evans’s previous experience includes four years at Hilti (Tulsa, Okla.), a construction tool and fastener company.  While at Hilti, Evans directly managed major accounts, supervised a team of six inside sales employees, and provided on-site support for customers.  Evans holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Marketing from Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, Okla.), where his currently pursuing a Master’s of Business Administration.

“I look forward to applying the hands on customer service experience I gained at Hilti to provide Oseco customers with the high level of support they’ve come to expect of Oseco,” Evans says.