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Cover Story
Alabama Heat Exchangers : Keeping Customers Up
Alabama Heat
Exchangers is an engineered-to-order fabrication and repair company that has been in business since 1986 . Heat Exchanger World spoke to President and CEO Ricky Lightcap , Jr ., to learn more about the family company culture , the different processes and capabilities , and how Alabama Heat Exchangers continues to provide unmatched quality and customization to its clients .
The Alabama Heat Exchanger team prides itself on its history as a family-owned company that continues to cherish family values .
By Charlie Evans & Sara Mathov
A family company was founded Alabama Heat Exchangers is a family business and always has been . “ My mother and father started the company in 1986 . After many years working in the industry and listening to the needs of his clients , my father decided to start his own heat exchanger company . His first job for this new company was re-tubing a heat exchanger in his own garage . Shortly after that , they opened a small office , and a few years later , moved into our current location in Theodore , Alabama ,” said Lightcap . Over the years , the company has grown to have the reputation it does today . “ I started here in high school sweeping floors and doing deliveries , eventually getting to know welding and fitting and taking over the lead in Quality Control ( QC ) for six years , and then moving into the role of CEO ,” stated Lightcap . “ We have grown a lot and continue to do so , but we do not forget our company values and one of those values is family . We hire families . We have always had siblings working here and families working together . It is a different dynamic than most companies , but one we are proud of .”
Processes and specialties Alabama Heat Exchangers offers a variety of services , including drafting and engineering , machining , welding , and fitting , as well as service , repair , and quality control . “ For new custom equipment , we start the design process ,” began Lightcap . They begin thermal engineering , wherein they size the heat exchanger and get approval from the client , ensuring that it is the desired product . From there , it moves onto the purchasing phase , where all the desired materials are acquired . “ Once the materials arrive , QC performs a thorough inspection before issuing to production . Then we begin building , fitting , welding , machining , testing , and finishing until we have a completed custom piece that meets our customer ’ s production needs .” This can also begin further along in the process , as there are many ‘ in-kind ’ replacement exchangers as well as vessels and reactors . The company also regularly performs repairs and alterations to the same type of equipment – in-house or on-site . The company ’ s welding capabilities include a wide variety of alloys , including carbon , stainless steel , nickel , Hastelloy ,
8 Heat Exchanger World February 2024 www . heat-exchanger-world . com