Since 1993, Equipment Group International (EGI) has provided tools, rental equipment and advice related to the construction and maintenance of heat transfer equipment.

While waiting for the global and market recovery, the period of the introduction of the pandemic allowed EGI to seize the opportunity to develop internalized initiatives. Primarily focused on educational concepts, EGI began to help clients speed up onboarding processes, develop a familiar curriculum, and give individuals the confidence to succeed in the field.

Industrial facilities and contractors are currently facing a great shortage of properly trained labor. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals are leaving the industrial maintenance industry and seeking increased career stability and long-term predictability. This vacuum generates an increased loss of tribal knowledge and expertise, which then becomes unavailable for the next generation of labor. This problem has persisted for some time; it is crucial that the industry recognizes the need to provide the necessary advice and education. The workforce of today and tomorrow is not unintelligent, but simply unfamiliar with its new industry, environment and techniques.

Educational initiatives

Completed in fall 2020, EGI has constructed a classroom and laboratory for demonstrations and hands-on training courses. These additions to the site have created a calm and comfortable environment to provide proper training and instruction. Primarily, the training focuses on retubing bundles; machining of tubes and pipes; and the drawing, rolling and capping of tubes.

Prior to offering training courses, common concerns about worker training included miscommunication, incorrect use of tools, and poor application. People in the field were unfamiliar with the heat transfer equipment. EGI training capitalizes on the importance of breaking down terms and language into simple concepts. Whatever the configuration, exchangers have only one intrinsic function: to exchange thermal energy from one medium to another while keeping each unit separate from the other. If a piece of equipment does not meet this simple standard, it is simply an expensive beat anchor with cross-contamination products.

Basic training

Aware of this, part of the training was organized according to several important parameters which are essential to communicate for a successful project development. Regardless of the proposed activity, a project walkthrough typically requires identifying the following tube characteristics: outside diameter, Birmingham wire gauge wall thickness, material / alloy specification (welded or seamless) , sheet thickness and material / alloy specification, and seal strength or weld.

The course begins by educating students on appropriate terminology and configurations, as well as a general overview of interchanges. The following module follows the progress of a typical retubing job with an emphasis on weld removal processes, types of tooling and various approaches. Likewise, the additional tubular cutting and retubing steps are discussed. The pragmatic app gives students a basic roadmap for any job. The repetition and application of critical questions results in meaningful project development which can be refined as more field experience is gained.

EGI is the largest stock distributor of the Curtiss-Wright EST Group of Pop-A-Plug products in the world. To ensure proper sizing, selection and installation of the Curtiss-Wright EST Group Pop-A-Plug, training by a certified Curtiss-Wright EST Group instructor is provided to customers.

A significant portion of the training is devoted to the Tube Wall Reduction Formula to ensure that participants understand its relevance and importance. EGI’s spacious lab offers students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in pulling, rolling, deburring and cutting tubes. Upon completion, all participants receive a certificate of completion relating to the completed course.

For more information visit www.equipmentgroup.com or call (800) 341-0577.