• Profile
  • The Hudson Advantage
  • History
  • Locations
  • In the News
  • Management
  • Sales
  • Quality
  • Engineering
  • Material Technology
  • Industries Served
  • Employment
• Products
  • Bearing & Friction
  • Drive Systems
  • Fastening
  • Filtration
  • Fluid Containment & Transfer
  • Insulation
  • Sealing
  • Surfacing
  • Vibration Control
• Publications
  • Solutions Magazine
  • O-Ring Design Guide
  • Shaft Seal Design Guide
  • Hudson TechFiles
  • Capabilities Brochure
• Calculators
  • Unit Converter
  • Fluid Compatibility Guide
• Contact Us

Solutions 4Q07

In Focus

First Articles

Benny & Bruce

From the Top

Product Focus

Cover Story

Tech Session

Solutions Current Issues > Oct.Nov.Dec_2007 >IN FOCUS

IN FOCUS

MATERIAL TECHNOLOGY

Better Quality Through Chemistry.

“It’s simplicity itself,” he said, reviewing the highly complex formula he’d written on the board a few minutes earlier.

For RL Hudson’s Director of Material Technology, Bob Denton, it may seem simple. But the make-up of materials used to manufacture parts for RL Hudson’s customers — and making sure they’re right — is hardly so. That’s why RL Hudson has invested millions in its Material Technology Lab and staffed it with experts of Bob’s caliber.

“The quality of a part comes down to three things: the design, the materials, and the manufacturing process,” said Bob. “Our goal is to meet customer requirements in all three areas.” To achieve that goal, Bob and his staff work closely with RL Hudson’s engineers, suppliers, and quality control team from the time a project is conceived through its acceptance by the customer. It’s a meticulous process that can take Bob from his state-of-the-art lab in Oklahoma, all the way to a factory floor in China.

There, he works hand in hand with RL Hudson personnel and the chemists at the source manufacturer to verify the compounds and processes being used, and the material’s performance as it relates to the end application.

“We know the kind of environment in which a part may be used. Once we determine the minimum standards that must be met, our goal is to tailor materials that can surpass those standards by at least 20%,” he said.

Bob and his staff also spend a significant amount of time in research and development, exploring new, better materials that can benefit RL Hudson’s customers. RL Hudson’s Material Technology Lab is well-suited for research and development, with equipment and laboratory facilities second to none. And when it comes to getting the right tools for the job, RL Hudson doesn’t cut corners, says Bob.

“RL Hudson management is very committed to ensuring the company delivers exceptional quality. And they’re willing to make the investments necessary to do so,” he said.

For more information about RL Hudson’s state-of-the-art Material Technology department, visit the Profile section.

MATERIAL MASTER: Bob Denton is RL Hudson’s director of material technology.