F.S. Repair Underscores Commitment to Quality Repair & Resale at A Good Price with Abanaki
Distribution Leader Installs Model 8 Oil Skimmer on Coolant Tank to Ensure Clean, Safe, and Cost-effective Operations for their Customers
F.S. Repair, Inc., a family-owned and operated business in Kingsley, Iowa, has been serving customers since its incorporation in 1987. Specializing in industrial repair, machine shop services, welding and fabricating, gearing, CNC capabilities, and wastewater recycling solutions, the company is dedicated to delivering the highest level of customer satisfaction. With over 100 years of combined experience between founder Floyd Sitzmann and his two sons, Craig and Jamie, F.S. Repair continues to provide expert service and innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of its clients.
Their company goal is to deliver quality products at a responsible and affordable price throughout the Midwest. So in 1995 when F.S. Repair’s customer began experiencing a common challenge to the bottom-line in both cost and quality—coolant contaminated with oil—Jamie took action.
Wastewater Recycling, Key to Quality
Jay Sitzmann’s customer faced a problem common in the tanning industry. A leading poultry company sought an efficient, cost-effective way to eliminate and dispose of unacceptable levels of oils and greases in the wastewater from the plant’s food processing operations.
Jamie searched the Internet for a solution they could use. He wanted an efficient, cost-effective way to remove contaminants, maintain high quality, reduce cleanup costs, and eliminate any associated liabilities. He found that one of the easiest ways to achieve all these goals was to install an oil skimmer. After further research, he discovered Abanaki, a leading supplier of oil skimmers, and chose the low-maintenance, easy-to-use Abanaki Model 8 Oil Grabber. This flagship product specifically targets applications with a high risk of oil and grease in wastewater recycling.
Lowering Hydrocarbon Levels, Quickly & Easily
With the help of the Abanaki technical staff, whom Jamie calls “second to none,” he chose to distribute the Model 8 to his customer. Its belt-driven design relies on the specific gravity difference between oil and water. Since water has a specific gravity of one and most oils have less than one, the oil floats to the water’s surface where it can be removed. The Model 8’s belt action breaks the water’s surface tension to attract and collect the floating oil. A motorized head pulley moves the belt through a set of wiper blades, which wipe oil from both sides of the belt and direct it into a proper disposal container.
This type of belt oil skimmer requires minimal operating space while delivering maximum pick-up capacity. Because the Model 8’s belt materials repel water, it picks up almost nothing but contaminant. Jamie reports that the Abanaki unit, which can separate oil at a rate of up to 40 gph, appealed to him for its ability to deliver “significant” savings in both time and money.
Low Maintenance Benefits to Boot in Wastewater Recycling
The Model 8 also operates with virtually no maintenance. Flanges on the tail pulley let it roll freely inside the belt without becoming dislodged. It requires no bearings and does not need fastening to the tank. Its stainless steel belt material allows it to perform well in high temperatures without added expense. In turbulent conditions, an optional tether and cage assembly keeps the tail pulley from becoming dislodged.
How’s it working for F.S. Repair’s customer?
According to Jamie, the experience has been good from start to finish: “The people at Abanaki were extremely helpful in advising the right solution at the right price. Since the Model 8 went into service in 1995, their customer has only replaced the belts. It’s proven to be a very reliable belt oil skimmer with good benefits,” he says.
