CK Power, power units and Hayes mounting solutions keep McElroy Manufacturing’s assembly line and fusion machines humming
Art and Panny McElroy founded McElroy Manufacturing Inc. in 1954 in the Tulsa, Oklahoma, area, and during the past seven decades, they and subsequent generations of the family have built the company into a leading manufacturer of fusion and fintube machinery. McElroy products are employed throughout the world across a wide variety of markets, including the oil and gas industry, residential gas, landfill, mining, utility, and traditional water and sewer applications.
“We’re known worldwide as a market leader for high-performance, highly reliable equipment, that’s backed by our manufacturing capabilities and training, so we provide an overall package to customers to help in their success,” said Geoff Koch, Vice President of Product Development and Quality. “Our fusion products were introduced in 1969, and we offer a line of machines that fuse thermoplastic pipe from half-inch to 78-inches in diameter. They are offered in a variety of configurations and work in both traditional underground markets as well as inside a building.”
McElroy Manufacturing uses a combination of CK Power, power units with Kubota engines and Hayes mounting solutions in multiple McElroy fusion products. CK Power is a Kubota engine distributor, providing sales and service while delivering 24/7 emergency support and quality-engineered, tailored power solutions. Hayes is a world-renowned power transmission component manufacturer that specializes in couplings, bearing supported stub shafts, engine housings and more with standard products and custom-engineered solutions. Each are divisions within CK Power Family of Companies, allowing their teams to work seamlessly together to provide customers with all-in-one solutions.
CK Power Family of Companies and McElroy Manufacturing’s relationship began in 2017 and continued over the years because their CK Power and Hayes divisions can meet McElroy Manufacturing’s requirements, which include an onboard generator to provide electrical power to its fusion products’ heaters, making the mounting solution unique. The integrated power unit consisting of a Kubota engine and a Hayes mounting solution allows McElroy Manufacturing to connect its generators where needed and provide electrical power to the rest of the machine as required.
“We wanted a power plant for our equipment that provided the capabilities we needed in a small package, and a Kubota engine satisfied that in several of our applications,” stated Koch. “Kubota was chosen for its overall combination of size, power density and the options that best fit our tight packaging requirements. The value we get out of the engines allows our customers to reliably run their engines all day long. Kubota’s quality matches that of McElroy equipment, giving our customers the long machine life they expect.”
Koch continued, “In addition, the Hayes mounting solution allows us to mount up other accessories for those pieces of equipment. What stands out the most about CK Power’s Kubota engine and Hayes mounting solution combination is the integrated power plant it gives us.”
Close collaboration
CK Power Family of Companies and McElroy Manufacturing’s engineering teams have worked closely together over the years to ensure the successful integration of CK Power, power units featuring Kubota engines and Hayes mounting solutions in McElroy’s fusion machines, which are designed so that the engines can be mounted directly to the machine’s frame.
“Another reason we trust Kubota engines is due to the strong relationship and collaboration we see with CK Power and Kubota,” said Koch. “They have proven to us that they will deliver and meet our specifications. McElroy and CK Power go through an upfront review on our engine selection to look at options and configurations. Through the prototyping process, we ensure that we get the performance we want and that all the parts fit into the equipment. As we begin to build our first production units, we do a final review of those configurations and options to, again, ensure everything matches and we’re able to proceed with a regular rhythm in production. From start to finish, CK Power and Kubota are working together to make it happen.”
CK Power and McElroy Manufacturing’s engineering teams further collaborate on a regular basis to ensure McElroy Manufacturing has the inventory it needs and any issues are addressed promptly.
“CK Power works with our purchasing and planning departments to make sure our requirements are met through upfront forecasting and determines needed volumes, so that McElroy maintains a certain amount of stock within CK Power’s facilities,” said Koch. “CK Power is a trusted supplier of ours, and it works extensively with McElroy, so we have the engines and mounting solutions on hand to keep our factory floor supplied and running as we demand.”
Koch added, “It’s a definite advantage for McElroy to be able to work with CK Power Family of Companies, which provides multiple solutions that integrate seamlessly. We have had exceptional results in the field in terms of quality from the Kubota engine operation, overall application and performance. I’d encourage other manufacturers to look to CK Power for its ability to provide the combination of solutions they may need. The CK Power Family of Companies reflects McElroy’s values, and we appreciate the engagement from its different areas to make sure our needs are met.”
