Chart acquires L.A. Turbine

L.A. Turbine is a global leader in turboexpander design, engineering, manufacturing, assembly and testing process for new and aftermarket equipment, with significant in-house engineering expertise.

Expanders are utilised in the following Chart offerings:

• Hydrogen and helium liquefaction.
• Carbon capture and energy storage.
• Industrial gas.
• Natural gas processing.
• Small-scale LNG plants.
• Propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plants.
• Heavy hydrocarbon removal process for LNG plants.
• Petrochemical.

This acquisition aligns with Chart’s inorganic investment principles and contributes to its financial growth and strength through expanded revenue and profit. L.A. Turbine’s capabilities are a natural fit and deliver a competitive point of differentiation for Chart.

In a statement, Chart explained there is a very unique expander required for hydrogen and helium liquefaction which is difficult to obtain in the market due to a limited number of companies that are capable of designing and producing it. Further, within the last three years, the other qualified suppliers have been acquired by companies that only use their hydrogen and helium turboexpanders for in-house dedicated purposes (i.e. discontinuing sales to third parties). These very specialised expanders are difficult to design and produce as they require very high efficiency, in some cases oil free machines, foil bearings for plants producing 10 tpd and smaller, and magnetic bearings for larger helium and hydrogen liquefaction plants. Plus, this part of the liquefier is one of the longest lead-time items at one to two years depending on the configuration. L.A. Turbine has these capabilities in-house and Chart’s ownership of these capabilities will further position the company to win liquefaction projects and deliver them in significantly shorter timeframes.

“It is an exciting time for Chart and L.A. Turbine as we now work together to bring our customers expanded solutions across multiple molecules, including nearly all types of energy sources and multiple industrial gas applications,” said Jill Evanko, Chart’s CEO and President. “L.A. Turbine is one of the only turboexpander engineering and manufacturing companies that can design and produce very specialised expanders; one of the longest lead time items in the hydrogen and helium liquefaction supply chain. With this capability in house, we are further differentiated in liquefaction – not just from decades of experience but also from world class efficiency and now, significantly shorter and guaranteed delivery times.”

“Since our company’s inception, L.A. Turbine’s focus is to be the go-to turboexpander solution provider, as an OEM of highly-engineered rotating equipment designs and process solutions for engineering, procurement and construction clients and end-user operators as well as aftermarket, service and repair. With Chart we can both capitalise on emerging market opportunities while also enhancing and extending the reach of the value chain to our collective customers through our people, technology, infrastructure and financial assets,” added Danny Mascari, President, L.A. Turbine. “In addition, we remain committed to providing the top-of-the-line FX-TURBO aftermarket service our turboexpander customers have come to know and expect.”

This acquisition builds on other recent additions to Chart’s portfolio, including Cryo Technologies’ helium and hydrogen liquefaction capabilities which will also utilise L.A. Turbine’s equipment.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/clean-fuels/01072021/chart-acquires-la-turbine/