Over a dozen industries rely on Lamberti for necessary chemicals to enhance product quality for their customers.
Heating Challenges in a Complex Chemical Operation
Lamberti provides specialty chemicals to a wide range of industries—from ceramics to agrochemicals and PVC additives. With operations in 17 countries and a client base spanning 14 industries, Lamberti delivers chemical solutions that help customers enhance product quality across the board.
At the company’s Tennessee facility, Lamberti Systems USA, Product Manager Bill Ruder oversees operations focused on ethoxylation and propoxylation technology. The Chattanooga plant produces surfactants, polyols, block copolymers, and combinations of these for use in textiles, oil and gas, cosmetics, ceramics, and agriculture.
To maintain product quality and ensure batch accuracy, temperature control is critical—especially during heating and cooling stages. However, the facility needed a way to heat large storage tanks without disrupting its existing system or production workflow. Installing bulky new equipment simply wasn’t an option.
Turning To A Trusted Company
When Ruder began exploring heating solutions, he turned to a familiar name: Enerquip. Lamberti had a history working with Enerquip to source custom shell and tube heat exchangers for its Tennessee and Texas facilities. Despite Enerquip being based in Wisconsin—over 900 miles away—the company consistently delivered high-quality equipment quickly and reliably.
Lamberti purchased over a dozen shell and tube heat exchangers from Enerquip. According to Ruder, Enerquip’s team stands out for their industry knowledge and responsiveness. Ron Herman, Enerquip’s Director of Business Development, has been a key contact throughout the relationship.
When Enerquip launched a new line of bayonet heaters, Ruder saw an opportunity and reached out to learn more.
A Custom-Fit Solution
Lamberti needed to heat liquids stored in large vessels. After reviewing the setup with Enerquip, Ruder discovered the bayonet heaters were a perfect match. The heaters could be installed directly into the manways at the top of the vessels, allowing for easy insertion and removal—an important factor since Lamberti requires routine equipment inspections.
What made the bayonet heater especially appealing was its in-vessel installation. Unlike traditional systems that require external loops or extra piping, the bayonet heater heats the fluid directly inside the tank. This eliminated the need for any equipment relocation or system redesign, saving time and money.
Additionally, preheating the raw material before it enters the unit allows the fluid to reach its target temperature more efficiently. This reduces reaction time and energy consumption—an added bonus for the facility’s production goals.
Reliable Results
The bayonet heater continues to perform well. It’s easy to use, simple to remove for cleaning and inspection, and reliably heats liquids to the required temperatures without issues.
Ruder is pleased with the outcome and confident in recommending Enerquip to others.
“They’re fast, reliable, and willing to work with you to customize equipment that fits your process,” he said.
Looking for a custom thermal solution? Meet the team and request a quote today.