Stainless Steel Fabrication And Process Skids Helping Hans Pedersen In The Industry Pharmaceutical Online Interview With Jeff Stevens, Hans Pedersen

The editorial staff at Pharmaceutical Online recently sat down with Jeff Stevens to discuss Hans Pedersen and how the company provides stainless steel fabrication and process skids to get ahead in the industry. Jeff is president of Hans Pedersen in Burlington, WI. Enjoy the discussion.

For more information, or to contact Hans Pedersen, click here.

What are the biggest challenges for Hans Pedersen in today's marketplace?

Gaining ready acceptance of our proven and unique products — mainly our DELTX heat exchanger — this unit far outperforms Plate and Frame and Shell and tube technologies. But sometimes getting people to drive a more efficient vehicle , isn't as easy as what they are used to. This technology wins in every scenario, but is not yet the household name we would like it to be. It will eventually become our flagship — I look forward to that day.

How has the rising prices of stainless steel affected your business?

It has reduced our market share of custom fabricated and simpler items, and encouraged our ascendance into highly engineered projects and value added technical services.

One of the major players in the industry has decided not to manufacture process skids anymore. Have you seen an increase in those types of projects in the past 3-6 months?

Yes, we have, but I don't know how relative this departure was to us. People in the field have enough to deal with, given compliance issues and the hypertensive environments they are in. Having a large player exit should bring attention to our firm as we like to keep things as simple as possible for our customers. We offered this niche advantage to our customers before they closed, however.

What percentage of Hans Pedersen's revenue is generated from the pharmaceutical industry and do you expect that number to grow?

20% and yes, I do expect it to grow. When these firms start realizing the distinct advantage of the DELTX, they will begin doing business with us. We are the only source for this product.

How has the increased number of International manufacturing plants affected sales and marketing?

We are, by no means, intending to conquer the world, and cannot compete in environments that involve manufacturers who pay 4,000 per annum on average to their employees, by doing the same things that they do. It is not our intent to try to. We will continue to come up with unique concepts and study what is out there that is unique. In our arduous effort to always change, I believe we will win in any climate — international or regional.

What specific vertical markets hold the greatest interest for your products group?

Food, pharmaceutical, dairy, beverage, brewery, chemical/petrochemical, and anyone that needs a tank, pressure vessel, process skid, custom fabrication, or perhaps the world's most efficient heat exchanger. We can also help other OEMs with our new waterjet cutting machine.

How would you characterize Hans Pedersen current position in the market?

We are a company well-suited for engineers, maintenance managers, purchasing agents, etc. who are short on time and need help with compliance, engineering — taking the ball and running with it, with the full intent of making the customer look like a hero. We offer a niche with our expertise and can turn on a dime because we are smaller. We like it that way, and (as we grow) we intend to keep the "small company" philosophy that we have embraced.

How would explain your products and services to someone who has never worked with Hans Pedersen before?

It says it on my card- "Process skids and all that goes with them" ... It doesn't matter if all one needs is a simple tank, or a valve, fitting or pump- we can fill their needs. If one has a complete process and is looking for guidance and someone to take over and offer them a broad-based solution we can accommodate, as well.

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