Howden

HOWDEN

CORNERSTONES OF COMPRESSION: THE NEXT GENERATION OF HOWDEN COMPRESSORS powered by Inside Sustainability

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HOWDEN

I PROFILE

Howden, a Chart Industries Company, is a global leader of compressor engineering with a history of constant innovation. Utilising nearly 170 years’ experience, the company has recently developed the next generation of oil-injected rotary twin-screw compressors. Douglas Latta, Product Director of Screw Compressors, discussed the exciting next generation of W Platform machines, in conversation with Imogen Ward.

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H

owden has one of the largest installed bases of refrigeration and process screw compressors

in the world, serving a wide range of industries including oil and gas, refrigeration, hydrogen, biogas, and mining. Today, in thousands of installations worldwide, Howden’s screw compressors provide high integrity, low maintenance solutions for liquid chilling, direct refrigeration and gas compression applications.

Howden manufactures the industry’s largest and most versatile range of

oil-injected and oil-free screw compressors

of our technology, and we remain

from its global centre of excellence for com-

a market leader.”

pression technology in Renfrew, Scotland.

In the last two years alone, Howden

“We are pioneers of this technology,”

has successfully made six acquisitions,

Product Director of Screw Compressors

enabling it to grow in existing markets,

said Douglas Latta. “Howden manufactured

as well as capturing new segments,

the first ever screw compressor in the 1940s,

increasing aftermarket share and create

and further developed the technology in the

new partnerships. In March 2023, Chart

1960s with the introduction of the

Industries, Inc acquired Howden, which

oil-injected twin screw compressor. This

saw the business increase again in size,

has revolutionised designs of refrigeration

scale and growth opportunities.

and gas handling plants worldwide.

“With over 60,000 compressors installed

We have a strong heritage of screw

globally, our presence covers Europe,

compressor design and manufacturing,

The Middle East, China, India and the US,”

which helped push the boundaries

Douglas explained. “Our size and scale

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HOWDEN

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allow customers to have our specialist service teams help them extend the life of their rotating equipment.”

is essential in developing new products and improving existing ones. It allows us to shape

Crucial compressors

the compressor requirements around the

As the manufacturer of the world’s first

changing needs of our customers.”

screw compressor, Howden is no stranger to thinking outside the box. It has placed

The Howden Superbrand

research and development (R&D) at the

Howden manufactures a range of

centre of the growth plans leading to

compressors, including oil-injected and

many new and improved product ranges.

oil-free screw, reciprocating and centrifugal

Howden’s rotary twin-screw compressor

compressors. In recognition of its market-

has been continuously adapted to meet

leading manufacturing and marketing

the modern requirements of the market.

efforts, Howden was recently awarded

“We went through a period of rapid

Superbrand status in the UK by Superbrands

development, from our first oil-injected

– the world’s largest arbiter of branding.

compressor to developing one of the

This acknowledgement highlights Howden’s

world’s most reliable oil-free screw

ability to provide exceptional customer

compressors,” said Douglas. “We extended

support and product quality as an Original

the capabilities of this product range by

Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

developing new features, which allowed us

“As an OEM, our in-depth expertise

to expand into new and emerging markets.

and quality standards give us strong

“Having begun in the refrigeration market,

product presence which has led to

we now have a strong presence in the oil

brand recognition and loyalty from

and gas industry and plan to continue to

our customers. This Superbrand status

grow our presence into nuclear, biogas,

is recognition of our hard work,” said

waste energy recovery and hydrogen. R&D

Douglas. “Especially the efforts we

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made over the past few years to evolve

the control to shape solutions around

our business model. It’s not just about

their budget and technical requirements.

the products we manufacture and sell,

“We aim to provide bespoke screw

but also who we are in the marketplace,

compressors that suit the individual needs

our digital offerings, service models and

of customers and their specific application.

the long-term service agreements we

Our customers can configure designs,

have with our customers.

materials and control mechanisms,

“This Superbrand status brings together

ultimately empowering them to make

our ability to differentiate our products

their own product selections in a matter

and services from competitors, whilst

of minutes.

continuing to build brand recognition and

“Revolutionising our sales process through

customer loyalty, through the consistent

digital software has provided customers with

delivery and longevity of our products.”

peace of mind in the knowledge that we will

When it comes to the next generation of

match our most efficient and economical

screw compressor products, the company

screw compressor to their requirements,

abides by three main pillars: be smart,

whilst providing valuable specialist advice

bespoke, and be sustainable. “Our smart

and one-to-one guidance remotely.”

compression solutions enable flexibility, reliability and performance through Howden

Forming the future

Uptime,” Douglas said: “Our customers have

The Howden oil-injected compressors

full lifecycle support, backed by our team

have evolved over time: the WRV range

of experts and integrated services, which

uses shell-type journal bearings which are

ultimately future-proof their operations.”

built with double-wall construction for high

When it comes to configurability, this

pressure applications. More than 25,000

was a big step-change in the business,

have been used in various process appli-

according to Douglas: “Our real-time

cations and they can be built to match

Howden Select platform gives customers

API 619 specifications. The WRV has seven

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HOWDEN

I PROFILE

frame sizes from 6.42 to 22.83in (163 to

overwhelmed with the positive

580mm) rotor diameter with several rotor

response from the marketplace.”

length-to-diameter ratios.

Explaining the term ‘platform’,

With the long-standing success of

Douglas added: “All the screw compressor

the Howden WRV oil-injected screw

model sizes are an upscale or downscale

compressor product line, the company

version of each other, that’s the reason

has recently released the next generation

why we have adopted a platformisation

of these machines. “The upgraded

approach. This means our customers are

W Platform range is available in all frame

essentially buying the same machine

sizes and combines the experience and

design no matter what size or output

heritage of the existing WRVs, but offers

(from specification to stock holding, oper-

our customers a lighter weight machine

ation and understanding maintenance).

with improved performance,” explained

“Many decades ago, when our screw

Douglas. “Our latest screw compressors,

compressors were created, they were

deliver energy savings of up to seven

designed without the technology we have

per cent and performance efficiency

today. By using modern techniques and

increased by five per cent.

a parametric design, we can rapidly

“We’ve also made the compressor easier

introduce to the market new products

to package and maintain, with up to 30 per

developed from our proven base design.

cent weight reduction. This brought several

Ultimately, this platform approach will further

crucial performance improvements,

increase our ability to serve customers

successfully reducing CO2 output by

faster, stay competitive, reduce costs,

an impressive 20 per cent. We eagerly

improve quality and achieve long-term

planned this product launch, and we are

growth and sustainability.”

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Since there are still many

Douglas said. “We successfully released

situations where oil-free

a full range of almost 20 of these across

technology presents the best

multiple compressor sizes, material types

approach, Howden continues offering oil-free screw compressors.

and operating philosophies, serving a wider market than before.”

The company has plenty of experience with platforms, having previously released the

Sustainable solutions

next generation of oil-free compressors.

Sustainability is a top priority for most

The oil-free compressor line extends to

players in the market, and Howden is no

seven models with vertically split casings

different. “In 2020, our carbon footprint

having rotor diameters from 5.03 to 20.08in

was just under 28,000 tonnes,” Douglas

(127 to 510mm) and discharge pressure

said. “We are committed to halving this

ratings up to 653 psi (45 bar). In addition,

by 2030 and to become carbon net zero

larger 20.08 to 32.13in (510 to 816mm) rotor

by 2035. We will achieve these targets

machines with horizontally split casings

by switching to carbon-free energy,

rated at 130 psi (9 bar) extend the maximum

focusing on energy conservation and

flow capacity to 54,150cfm (92,000m3/h).

the continual development of more energy

Howden typically supplied oil-free screw

recovery initiatives.”

compressors as complete packaged systems for critical process applications.

After spending five years redesigning and

This commitment has also been incorporated into the fundaments of the machine designs, plus a focus on

developing these products in partnership

diversifying into new and more sustain-

with City University of London, Howden’s

able markets, according to Douglas:

latest oil-free screw compressors have

“Our approach to smart compression

been available since 2020. “The oil-free

brings together engineering, innovation

options have a higher specification,”

and performance efficiency for a more

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HOWDEN

I PROFILE

sustainable screw compressor product

Futures, we help disadvantaged and

and a future with zero emissions.”

under-represented people in our

The company is assessing the energy

communities realise their full potential

output of all its factories and, for example,

through education and skills develop-

is evaluating the practicality of solar panel

ment,” Douglas explained.

and heat pump installations. However,

With only 16% of engineers being women,

Howden feels the most effective step

Howden recognises the need to support

is to keep advancing the efficiency of

more programmes to drive gender

its machines, which has a positive

parity. In the hopes of improving female

impact on both customers’ and Howden’s

representation within Science, Technology,

environmental goals.

Engineering and Mathematics, Howden runs engineering workshops for girls in

Bright Futures at Howden

local schools.

Through the launch of the Environmental,

“Research shows the earlier you engage

Social and Governance (ESG) strategy

with people, the better,” said Douglas.

in 2021, the business has championed

“So, we run workshops focused on younger

diversity, fairness and equality of

students. We’ve been running this project

opportunity within the workplace.

for quite a while, and we encourage gender

“We are determined to build a positive

diverse hiring. We hope to reach a point

and enduring legacy in the communities

where we have an equal staff gender

where we live and work,” said Douglas.

ratio. We currently have five women on our

“The success of our employees and our

apprenticeship programme in Scotland, and

local communities are what ultimately

we are hoping this number will increase.”

strengthens our business and advances

After encouraging workers to volunteer

a more sustainable world for all.”

through the Bright Futures programme,

In 2022, Howden established the Bright

Howden’s hardworking employees logged

Futures programme – a global community

an impressive 45,000 hours of volunteer

volunteering scheme. “Through Bright

work globally, on various Bright Futures

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Projects and activities with a potential

growth agenda is certainly not going

reach of over 100,000 people.

anywhere and will only strengthen as

“In Scotland, we have supported homeless

we drive forward with our sustainability

charities and run Christmas toy appeals,”

ambitions – making sure we create

Douglas said. “We have also helped a lot of

products that help customers improve

local schools and communities – particularly

their carbon footprint.

in deprived areas. We run educational

“Our product objective is clear – as markets

site tours, museum trips and we deliver

evolve, so do we. We see change as an

engineering programmes to bring our

opportunity and use our passion for solving

work to life for the younger generation.

complex problems to create innovative

We encourage our employees to partake

solutions. With Chart’s acquisition of

in volunteer work and are aiming for at

Howden, we continue diversifying our

least a quarter of our workforce to

product range to offer the maximum value

actively volunteer through our Bright

partnership to customers, whilst staying true

Futures programme.”

to our fundamental company values and

Going forward, the company plans to

enabling our customers’ successes.”

n

continue growing. “We’ve been on an upward trajectory over the past few years, gaining market share, across a broad range of markets. We are much more diversely spread than we were six years ago, which makes for an exciting time for our business,” Douglas concluded. “Our

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