In the highly specialized field of valve automation, VanAire is more than just a manufacturer. The company is one of the key leaders of engineering excellence while also being a beacon of company culture. Setting the tone in the valve industry through its commitment to continuous improvement, quality, and harboring a culture that values curiosity and lifelong learning, VanAire sets an industry benchmark for transforming the valve industry.
Valve World Americas had the pleasure of speaking to Tony Lambert – Co-Owner, Steve Soderman – Co-Owner, CEO, Quality Manager and Eric Miller – Co-Owner & Vice President of Manufacturing regarding VanAire’s legacy of quality, fostering a collaborative culture, educational initiatives, and superseding industry standards.
By KCI Editorial
Commitment to Continuous Improvement
After working closely with several customers and valve distributors in the early 1990s, Richard VandeVusse, the founder of VanAire, started the company’s manufacturing journey. For over thirty years, its focus on providing reliable solutions that exceed customer expectations and its eagerness to continually improve its process has made it one of the leading sources for the valve and automation industry.
When asked about the company’s secret to continuously surpassing customer expectations, Tony Lambert, Co-Owner & Vice President of Automation explained its approach to customer feedback. “Embracing technology changes and questioning established processes have become our bread and butter,” he said. “Approaching customer feedback with an open mind is the reason why VanAire does not simply say ‘this is the way we have done it for years’. It is because we revisit our processes, even if one customer provides us with feedback that can improve the way we do things,” he added. Customer feedback is a driving force for change. This mindset ensures the company remains at the forefront of innovation, continuously improving its engineering abilities and services to meet the changing needs of the industry.
Today, VanAire has grown to employ over 90 individuals who collectively work together to provide world-class valve automation hardware. The company has 15 3D CAD stations and over 30 CNC machines in its 45,000sq ft ISO 9001:2015 registered facility, including robotic welders, laser cutting systems, machining centers, turning centers, press brakes, and more. VanAire partners with leading valve and actuator manufacturers and their distributors across North America and beyond. “Our valve kits weigh between roughly a pound to over a ton, and are used in industries across the board,” added Steve Soderman, Co-Owner & CEO. As a full-service provider dedicated to valve mounting kits, VanAire’s objective is to remain as one of the key leaders in top-of-the-line customer care and the best quality, design, and delivery. “When we refer to our solutions as ‘engineered products’ it is not just a catchphrase,” Soderman stated. “We wholeheartedly believe in the notion that every asset should be optimized to meet the needs of its application,” he said.
Fostering a Collaborative Culture
VanAire’s success is deeply rooted in its company culture, which prioritizes the recognition of each team member’s role and skill set. The company values relationships within the team and makes certain that culture is a key consideration when growing the team. “It is important to speak to people like they are people, rather than just candidates,” noted Lambert, emphasizing the importance of hiring people who share the company’s values. The close-knit nature of VanAire’s team has been crucial in navigating challenges such as the loss of the company’s founder in 2008 and supply chain issues during COVID-19. “The strong bonds among the team members have fostered resilience and a shared commitment to success. We have more love for what we do when we know that the outcome is successful. It drives in repeat customers,” added Soderman.
At VanAire, the importance of curiosity, asking questions, and lifelong learning is also another key element that is considered crucial in manufacturing. “We like surrounding ourselves with inquisitive people, it shows their desire to learn. Asking questions has become the stepping stones of becoming an expert in your field; whatever it is that our employees are doing, whether that be a brake press operator, product development, or a packaging person,” Lambert added.
Innovative Educational Initiatives
VanAire’s commitment to education and community engagement is exemplified by its “Teach the Teachers” program. This initiative invites students, parents, and educators into the VanAire facility to learn about the opportunities in manufacturing. Recognizing that not all students may see college as the right path, VanAire aims to educate them about the diverse career opportunities available in the industry. “The program also focuses on soft and life skills, ensuring that students are prepared for the real world. It is a great opportunity to open people’s eyes to our world,” said Lambert.
The driving thought behind this event had a lot to do with how the company can incorporate fantastic opportunities to use the students’ already existing skills, likes and dislikes. “Sometimes with academia, it is hard to know what opportunities are available. This program enables us to educate the educators and parents about the opportunities in manufacturing as well,” said Eric Miller, Co-Owner & Vice President of Manufacturing.
Communication has always been important throughout history, and it is important for people in the community to know that this is something the company offers. “Sometimes people are intimidated to get into the world of trades and become skilled workers, this event makes that gap smaller,” said Lambert.
“We like surrounding ourselves with inquisitive people, it shows their desire to learn. Asking questions has become the stepping stones of becoming an expert in your field; whatever it is that our employees are doing, whether that be a brake press operator, product development, or a packaging person.”
“Approaching customer feedback with an open mind is the reason why VanAire does not simply say ‘this is the way we have done it for years’. It is because we revisit our processes, even if one customer provides us with feedback that can improve the way we do things”.
A Legacy of Quality
Quality is more than just a deliverable at VanAire, it is the essence of the company. “Our Quality Management System (QMS) encompasses procedures, working guidelines, training, and more; all of which contribute to the overall success of the company,” said Miller. The company’s QMS is integral to VanAire’s business management, making certain that everything that comes from the company not only meets the highest of standards, but also sets a new precedent for the industry in its entirety.
“We make sure that the customer receives what they asked for and it works the first time, every time,” added Lambert. “In the event of a mistake, VanAire’s troubleshooting processes are designed to swiftly identify and address any issues, further solidifying their reputation for perfection. The importance of choosing reliable and robust material for valve brackets and automation equipment not only mitigates failure or frequent damage, but also showcases the company’s investment in quality production. The increasing complexity of manufacturing emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and feasibility analysis, VanAire looks at valve automation differently from the rest of the industry.”
“In 1999, we had wonderful success with brackets and coupling in Michigan, we were building an immense reputation and were receiving a lot of business. It was during this time that we had decided to move some of our manufacturing capabilities to Houston, as the niche market continued to grow there,” said Lambert. “When we made it down to Houston nearly thirty years ago, many people were not aware of us. Despite this, we made it a point to reach out to other key industry players. This experience was new for us, and we knew that it would be a learning curve when it came to being able to deliver our capabilities to the valve capital of the world,” said Lambert.
Additionally, the company prides itself on being a part of several boards. “The first global standard ISO 12491 came out in 2011 and since then standards put forth by the API have been released to the industry. VanAire is proud to be a part of these boards,” added Lambert. The company provides services not only for the oil and gas and chemical industries, but they also provide services for cryogenic applications, aerospace, high temperature, high pressure environments and more.
Final Words
VanAire’s commitment to innovation, culture, and quality has made it a leader in the valve industry. By fostering a collaborative environment, setting industry benchmarks, and paying it forward to the community, VanAire continues to make significant strides across the board. As the industry becomes more complex, VanAire remains dedicated to delivering high-quality solutions and service that not only meet but exceed expectations. Their journey is a testament to the power of a strong company culture and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the profiled company and may not reflect the position of Valve World Americas.