New innovation lab for Dover
December 24, 2019
Dover Precision Components, an integrated provider of performance-critical solutions for rotating and reciprocating machinery, is breaking ground this week on a new Innovation Lab this week. The nearly 12,000 sq. ft. facility is being constructed directly north of the company’s Pearland Operations in Houston, Texas.
This capital investment represents an ongoing commitment to research and development, the company said. In particular, the Innovation Lab will centralize test rigs for hydrodynamic fluid film bearings and reciprocating compressor components previously housed in Pewaukee, Wis., and Knoxville, Tenn.
As demands on equipment continue to grow and evolve, these test rigs allow Waukesha Bearings and Cook Compression to validate designs and analytical methods and test products under demanding operating conditions. In addition, they equip R&D engineers to develop new application solutions, the company said.
“Dover Precision Components prides itself on its long history of innovation because we know that our patents, design breakthroughs and material advances are not only establishing our industry leadership but also delivering customer success,” said Marcell Ulrichs, Dover Precision Components president. “This new Innovation Lab will further support the development of next-generation technologies in partnership with our customers.”
The Innovation Lab capabilities will include performance testing of journal and thrust bearings with oil or process lubrication over a wide range of loads and speeds; damper design characterization and enhancement; performance and accelerated life cycle testing of reciprocating compressor components; flow characterization of compressor valves; dynamic testing of packing case leakage; competitive benchmarking; and advanced materials development.
The Innovation Lab is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2020, with test rig commissioning to follow. Dover Precision Components supplies performance-critical solutions for rotating and reciprocating machinery across the oil & gas, power generation, marine, industrial, chemical and general processing markets. Brands include Waukesha Bearings, Bearings Plus, Inpro/Seal and Cook Compression products, including hydrodynamic bearings, active magnetic bearings, system and bearing protection, and reciprocating compressor valves, sealing technologies, pistons and rods.