David Wilson, PE, LEED AP, Senior Mechanical Engineer at SSOE Group, recently authored this article in Laboratory Design Magazine. The article explores when it’s worth it to consider commissioning for your facility through three case scenarios encountered by an HVAC commissioning expert. What is observed through testing and verification may prevent expensive operational problems from occurring, by detecting flaws and inefficiency prior to the end of the warranty period. The best approach is to be proactive in knowing what you need before it’s too late. Continue Reading →

James Yerke, PE, CEM, Section Manager and Senior Associate at SSOE Group, was featured in this Food Engineering Magazine article that discusses inefficiency and loss/costs caused by physical leaks within a facility, namely air and water, and different tools available to find them and fix them. Leak problems will exacerbate further as time goes on, increasing costs if not corrected. When it comes to leaks, it’s in your best interest to dig into the issue before the issue digs into your bottom line. Continue Reading →

Correct design basis requires deep understanding of raw material characteristics and facility conditions. Mark Hoffman, PE, PMP, Department Manager in Food and Consumer Products at SSOE Group, was recently published in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Magazine. Hoffman has over 30 years of experience in project and engineering management in the pharmaceutical processing, food processing, nutraceutical processing, bio-processing, renewable energy, ammonia refrigeration, and food ingredient industries. In his article, he explains how a consistently dependable environment for raw material storage and conveyance is imperative to practical and profitable production flow in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Continue Reading →

A roundup of tools and services that architects are using to break free from company servers and physical boundaries. Lauren Collier, Assoc. AIA, design technology section manager at SSOE Group, is featured in this article recently published in ARCHITECT Magazine. The article reviews recent industry trends related to cloud-based system use, going beyond file sharing and backup. Companies are beginning to incorporate the cloud into schematic design, project management, energy performance analysis, renderings, and other outsourced tasks. The cloud offers adept speed that releases us from our dependency on less-efficient company servers, and generating productive collaboration. Continue Reading →

Third party assessments can provide crucial insights. Peter Wilmarth, RA, an architect at SSOE Group with over 35 years of experience, offers his thoughts as to how those of us in the chemical industry can gain insight from the West Fertilizer plant explosion in his recent Chemical Processing Magazine publication. The tragic blast occurred in 2013 in West, Texas — killing 15 people and injuring over 160 — and elevated the issue of safety in relation to hazardous industrial processes. Continue Reading →

David Young and Jim Swope, PMP, senior project managers at SSOE Group, wrote a newly published article in Food Manufacturing Magazine discussing the advantages of pre-owned manufacturing equipment and some of the challenges related to its utilization. Between food and personnel safety, operational productivity, and overall integrity, there is a lot to think about in relation to equipment. Choosing the right used equipment can significantly cut costs while also shortening lead time—a winning combination serving to improve the bottom line without sacrificing quality. Continue Reading →