Stainless Reflections from Spokane Industries

New SealVac™ Vacuum Fuel Drain System video online!

2012-02-16T09:17:00.000-08:00

Spokane Industries proudly presents a YouTube video thatdescribes the SealVac™ Vacuum Fuel Drain System. This two minute video introduces theSealVac™, demonstrates some of the time-saving features, and offers views ofthe world’s most popular fuel bowser from several angles. To view, simply click on the image. And, for much more information about theSealVac™, please visit www.sealvac.com!

Family Of Tanks Sent To Vancouver Urban Winery

2011-11-14T16:16:00.000-08:00

Spokane Industries just delivered a family of 5 polished stainless steel fermenters to Vancouver Urban Winery, located in Vancouver, British Columbia's Gastown district. The winery will feature meeting space with a touch of class, great food, and fine wines. Scheduled to open in time for the 2011 Holiday season, party goers will be able to enjoy wines drawn on the premises from these beautiful tanks. Spokane Industries wishes Vancouver Urban Winery the very best in launching your new business! Thank you, and Happy Holidays!

HandiFueler™ Commercial Shot At Spokane Airport

2011-11-14T16:02:00.000-08:00

We just finished shooting video for a HandiFueler™ commercial at the Spokane Airport. Kimmo Nevala from Spokane Airways filled in as the "talent" to demonstrate the HandiFueler's™ time and money saving capabilities.

The commercial was produced at Mortimore Productions in Spokane, and is now on our website and on YouTube! It is a great way to experience the equipment in operation, to better understand how the HandiFueler™ can save your organization time and money by boosting operational efficiency!

Wishkah River Distillery Supports "Buy Local"

2011-11-14T10:30:00.000-08:00

Recently, members of the Spokane Industries team visited Wishkah River Distillery in Grays Harbor, Washington. Sue Watts, the owner of the distillery, is making every effort to source equipment and ingredients locally, within Washington state. Lucky for her (and us!), Spokane Industries is located in the state, and happens to build the highest quality custom stainless steel fermenters. We are proud to have provided tanks to Sue's distillery, and to have our "SI" logo on her LOCAL wall! Thanks again, Sue! We look forward to the day when your outstanding spirits are available in stores throughout the region.

SealVac™ Training Video On The Way!

2011-09-27T09:27:00.000-07:00

Recently, Steve Santjer and Bob Moore from Spokane Industries teamed with Dan Mortimore and his video production crew from Mortimore Productions to shoot a long awaited SealVac™ training video. The video was shot at the Spokane International Airport utilizing a Fairchild Air Force Base KC-135R tanker aircraft. Fairchild has a small detachment of maintainers deployed to the airport during Fairchild’s runway resurfacing project. With the assistance of several airmen from the 92d Air Refueling Wing’s Fuel Shop, the Spokane Industries personnel covered SealVac safety, inspection, operation, and troubleshooting. Ray Gross from Mortimore Productions is editing and polishing the video now. We expect to be able to offer it on DVD to our military customers in the near future. Contact Bob Moore (509-921-8861) for more information.

Kevin Tann From Oakenhust (UK) Visits To Learn More About SealVac™ and HandiFueler™

2011-09-27T09:07:00.000-07:00

Kevin Tann from Oakenhust Aircraft Services, Inc (UK) visited Spokane Industries recently to learn more about our fuel products. Oakenhurst recently became exclusive European distributors for the SealVac™ Vacuum Fuel Drain System and the HandiFueler™ Ground Support Service Cart. Oakenhurst and Spokane Industries share similar goals of providing money and time-saving solutions to our customers. While in Spokane, Kevin spent time learning more about the SealVac’s™ operation, some troubleshooting procedures, and programs to develop drain tools for aircraft made by manufactures around the world. The SealVac™ and HandiFueler™ make their European commercial debut at the Oakenhurst display at the MRO Europe trade show in Madrid, Spain in mid October, 2011. Our thanks to Kevin for displaying the commitment to travel from the UK to Spokane to learn all he can about our products.

Scale SealVac™ Model Spotted On The Web

2011-07-29T16:06:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago, I commissioned Aero-Nautique Models to hand-build a 1/10th scale model of our SealVac™ Vacuum Fuel Drain system to display at smaller tradeshows, or anywhere else we couldn’t roll in the real thing. The company has a shop in the Philippines, and craftsmen there, using photos of the real SealVac™, hand-carved the model out of solid mahogany, with tiny details made of metal or rubber. It has always been a real eye-catcher at shows because of its extremely fine detail. We now proudly display it in our lobby on a turntable. Though it was intended as a singular piece, I recently found Aero-Nautique Models had a SealVac™ model displayed on their webpage while doing a web search for something else. It was kind of neat to find the SealVac™ displayed among other great models like B-52s, F-16s, and great US Navy ships! They should be proud of their work!

Spokane Industries Visits The U.S. Army At Fort Rucker, Alabama

2011-06-29T15:08:00.000-07:00

Recently, Spokane Industries team members Bob Moore, Steve Gese and David Tilton commenced a demonstration of our unique aviation fuel maintenance products for the US Army Aviation Center Logistics Command at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Personnel representing maintenance and logistical support of the Army’s diverse helicopter fleet attended the event. Spokane Industries personnel demonstrated the Sealvac™ Vacuum Fuel Drain System and displayed the HandiFueler™ Ground Support Service Cart. Both pieces of equipment were well received, and the audience recognized the efficiency boost each system could provide to their operations. We would like to say thank you to the Fort Rucker personnel for their hospitality, and especially Ms. Renee Smith at ACLC for her help!

Spokane Industries Wins Regional Award

2011-06-01T14:58:00.000-07:00

Greater Spokane Incorporated, the Inland Northwest's only Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council, announced today that Spokane Industries was selected as the winner of the 26th Annual Agora Award for Business Excellence in the Large Business category. We were up against some pretty stiff competition, and are very proud to have been nominated, and won! Spokane Industries is a family owned company comprised of three divisions: Steel Foundry Division, Precision Castings Division and the Metal Products Division. To learn more about what we do, please visit our website and look around. You might be amazed at some of the things we are doing, still proudly Made in USA!

Click below to view a short video about Spokane Industries that was shown at the awards ceremony:

SealVacs™ Spotted From SPACE!

2011-05-06T15:37:00.000-07:00

Here is entry that was a little bit of fun. I thought I would see if I could find some Spokane Industries SealVacs™ in satellite photos taken from space. After a short search, I found some. It was a bit of a challenge, as many known SealVac™ user locations must be keeping their carts in hangars, and out of sight from above. Here are some that I found:

These SealVacs™ are next to a United Airlines 747-400 at United's San Francisco, California maintenance facility at SFO. United utilizes the SealVac on every aircraft in their fleet to boost efficiency in prepping aircraft for fuel maintenance.

See on Google Maps

Here is a large group of SealVacs™ next to one of Boeing's DreamLifter cargo planes at Paine Field, Everett, Washington. Many of these Sealvacs are of the newest model, the Sealvac Plus+™. The Plus+ model can optionally filter fuel from the tank for reuse. Boeing teamed with Spokane Industries to develop this model to use on their 777 outfitting line. They have reported back to us that it saves them a ton of money by reducing valuable fuel waste!

See on Google Maps

Here is a SealVac™ at Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington. It is in use on a brand new 747-8F that is currently undergoing testing for certification.

See on Google Maps

If you locate some identifiable SealVacs™ in satellites shots, e-mail me the location (or Google Earth .kml link) at steves@spokaneindustries.com, and I may post them. Over 500 Sealvacs™ are in use around the world, so they are everywhere one can find military or civil aircraft. Happy hunting!

Ground Support Service Cart Saves Time, Money

2011-05-02T13:58:00.000-07:00

One of Spokane Industries most focused solutions is the HandiFueler™ Ground Support Service Cart. This cart is designed to minimize flight-line driving and the associated wasted time when performing servicing of aircraft ground support equipment (GSE/AGE/AGSE).

Loosely based on our SealVac™ cart, the HandiFueler™ GSE Service Cart takes the service to the equipment, not the other way around, as many bases do now. We built the initial prototype and took it to several US West Coast USAF/ANG bases for feedback, and boy did we get an enthusiastic response! Airmen told us that many bases employ several people per shift just to keep ground support equipment serviced, and much of that time was spent dragging equipment back and forth to a central servicing yard, wasting time and putting unnecessary wear-and-tear on the equipment. The HandiFueler™ was recognized as a great solution to end the "dragging" by bringing fuel, fluid, and tire servicing right to the flight-line. Clearly we were on the right track!

Some of the feedback we received was in the form of many great ideas, all of which were evaluated; most made the cut and are implemented in the product. We like to say the HandiFueler ™was "user designed". No wonder it has proven so popular, and contributed greatly to the efficient operation of many USAF bases AGE shops!

And while we were at it, we didn't forget about safe operation. The HandiFueler™ was designed from the ground up to be easy and safe to operate. More about this safety oriented design can be viewed here.

The Spokane Industries HandiFueler™: Boosting efficiency and saving time and money in an era where this is a prime procurement requirement!

Made In U.S.A. Making A Comeback?

2011-04-22T16:55:00.000-07:00

When we attend trade shows, it is expected that a portion of the attendees to be interested in where our products are manufactured. Typically, though, the discussion begins with price.

So it was a refreshing surprise when attendees at the recent BrewExpo America trade show in San Francisco visited the Spokane Industries booth. A huge percentage was interested to know that our fermenter tanks are made in U.S.A. Many said it was a priority; either they wanted to support U.S. businesses, and/or they had negative experiences with inferior quality imported tanks. Some absolutely insisted on tanks made in this country, at almost any cost.

So, for the record: All of our products, be it for breweries, wineries, distilleries, or any of our other stainless steel products that serve military and commercial aviation, agriculture, water, and bio-products markets, are made right here in Spokane, Washington, U.S.A. We buy as many parts, supplies, and services from local suppliers as possible. We source our steel primarily from North American mills, whenever possible. We are happy (and proud!) we could clear that up!

Airbus Military Newest SealVac™ Customer

2011-04-15T13:43:00.000-07:00

Spokane Industries thanks our newest SealVac™ Vacuum Fuel Drain System customer: Airbus Military, Seville, Spain. Airbus procured the Sealvac™ primarily to enhance fuel maintenance capabilities for the new A400M military transport.

The A400M is a four-engine turbo prop transport plane. It was designed as a director competitor of the Lockheed C-130 transport. Size-wise it is positioned between the smaller C-130 and the larger C-17.

Steve Gese, Spokane Industries, Metal Products Division Shop Foreman, and Bob Moore, Fuel System Sales, was requested by Airbus to conduct SealVac™ product training at their facility in Seville. Training included incorporating our operational manual with the assembly process and testing procedures. This was done by several Airbus engineering personnel. Actual defueling with the SealVac™ was performed by fuel technicians. This entailed actually drawing fuel from the wing sumps.

The A400M development nations include: France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom, Turkey, Belgium, and Luxembourg. To date around 174 planes have been sold. Airbus is hoping to deliver the first aircraft in 2012.

While we were conducting the training, Airbus was performing cold test over the Alps. Airbus is now in process of securing all governmental and military approval and certification.

This successful training will lead to maximum utilization of the SealVac™ and potential future business. Airbus hopes to produce thirty aircraft per year and the SealVac™ will play an integral role in the process.

Dry Fly Distilling Named Best in Country

2011-04-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

This weekat the recent American Distilling Institute (ADI) conference in Portland Oregon, BillOwens, ADI President announced that Dry Fly Distilling in Spokane, Washington waschosen as Distillery of the year.

The ADI recognizes over 300 distilleries aroundthe country in its membership. Dry Fly was chosen for several reasons includingits top performance among its peers with distribution to over 30 states,multiple awards and excess of $1.5 million in sales in its short three yearlifespan.

Dry Fly Distilling Inc. produces award winning Vodka, Gin, and Whiskey, using locally sourced ingredients from farms around Washington State. In addition to producing distilled spirits, Don Poffenroth, co-owner of Dry Fly, mentors and instructs those who are interested in the challenging business of craft distilling.

Spokane Industries is proud to call Dry Fly Distilling a great customer! They employ several Spokane Industries stainless steelfermenters, and other custom tanks in their distillery. Congratulations to the whole Dry Fly team from Spokane Industries!

USCG Station Elizabeth City Receives SealVac™

2011-04-14T12:46:00.000-07:00

Recently, Spokane Industries delivered a Sealvac™ Vacuum Fuel Drain System to the maintainers at USGC Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina. This 600 gallon fuel drain system will be used to perform fuel tank maintenance on HC-130J and H-60 helicopters. Coastguardsmen from several states traveled to be part of the introduction and training provided by Spokane Industries personnel.

The patented SealVac™ system can speed fuel drain operations by up to 600%, while preventing hazardous fuel exposure to personnel, all without spilling a drop on the ground. It operates on compressed air, can attach to four drain sumps at once, and is mobility ready. Over 500 are in use worldwide by military units and commercial operators.

We thank and salute our Coast Guard hosts, and may your aircraft spend more time ready for their critical lifesaving missions, and not broke in the fuel hanger! For more information about the remarkable Sealvac™ system, please visit our website.