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Catarina Muia
Catarina Muia

Most recent articles

Tips for maintaining brewery equipment – An interview with Rhinegeist Brewery Facilities and Maintenance Manager, Justin Farmer
By Catarina Muia | 19 March 2019
Justin Farmer has worked in food and beverage processing more than half his life. As a teenager, he learned from his father. Farmer started at the bottom, but quickly earned the experience and knowledge to work his way into a leadership role, where he is transforming the maintenance and reliability programs of a historic brewery. By Michelle Segrest
Meeting the requirements in a corrosive chemical environment from the perspective of a Lead Piping Engineer
By Catarina Muia | 05 March 2019
The Society of Piping Engineers and Designers (SPED) is an international organization promoting Excellence and Quality in Piping Design and Engineering through networking, training, and certification programs. Stainless Steel World Americas was thrilled to meet with Kerry Millen, a Lead Piping Engineer for a Fortune 500 EPC company, to learn more about her experiences and the diverse range of materials that she is works with. By Sarah Bradley
The role of a Senior Mechanical Engineer – Rotating Equipment at Burns & McDonnell: An Interview with Mike Griggs
By Catarina Muia | 19 February 2019
Founded in 1898, Burns & McDonnell is a global leader in engineering, architecture, construction, environmental, and consulting solutions for a variety of industries, including oil & gas, power, water, manufacturing, construction, and more. Mike Griggs, Senior Mechanical Engineer - Rotating Equipment, has been employed by Burns & McDonnell for the past five years, and attributes his successful career to his flexibility and ability to juggle multiple projects and tasks. By the Editorial Team
Piping engineering for complex oil, gas, and petrochemical projects: An interview with Mahsa Bakherad, Piping Lead Engineer with Orascom E&C USA Inc.
By Catarina Muia | 05 February 2019
Mahsa Bakherad began her career in Iran as a Piping Engineer through an internship program. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Metallurgy Engineering and earning a Masters in Materials Engineering – Corrosion & Protection, Mahsa has gained over a decade of experience working in oil & gas and petrochemical plants. By Sarah Bradley
Leak prevention in a 100-year-old refinery: An interview with Larry Wilkerson, Supervisor of Air Fugitives at the Golden Eagle Refinery
By Catarina Muia | 22 January 2019
Tesoro was founded in 1968 and was focused on petroleum exploration and production. It is now one of the leading independent refining, marketing, and logistics companies in the U.S. After acquiring Western Refining on June 1, 2017, Tesoro became Andeavor. Stainless Steel World Americas spoke to Larry Wilkerson, Supervisor of Air Fugitives at the Golden Eagle Refinery. Wilkerson discusses the main causes and prevention of leaks at the plant. By Candace Allison
Pushing the boundaries of stainless steel fabrication
By Catarina Muia | 08 January 2019
A. Zahner Company is an internationally acclaimed engineering and fabrication firm headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A. This family-owned business is known for its cutting-edge design and metal fabrication for art and architecture, with innovation at the core of the company. Under the management of L. William Zahner, President and CEO, the company began a rapid shift from regional projects to high-profile architecture. By Matjaž Matošec
The 2018 Managing Aging Plants USA Conference & Exhibition was a success!
By Catarina Muia | 18 December 2018
The second Managing Aging Plants USA Conference & Exhibition, powered by Stainless Steel World Americas, was held this past November 13th and 14th, 2018 at the Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria Hotel in Houston, Texas. There was a total of 530 people registered for the entire event. By Candace Allison
The importance of stainless steels and corrosion-resistant alloys from the perspective of a Welding and Metallurgy Engineer: Interview with Pradip Goswami, P.Eng, IWE, Welding & Metallurgist Specialist (Part two of two)
By Catarina Muia | 04 December 2018
As an engineer with over 30 years of experience, Pradip Goswami has a wealth of information. Stainless Steel World Americas had the opportunity to speak with him and delve deeper into his experiences and knowledge specifically on the welding side. In this article, we talked about what drew him to this particular field, why the disciplines of welding and metallurgy go hand-in-hand, and what were some of the welding aspects of some of his past engineering projects. Interview by Candace Allison
The multidisciplinary role of a Welding and Metallurgy Engineer: An Interview with Pradip Goswami, P.Eng, IWE, Welding & Metallurgist Specialist (Part one of two)
By Catarina Muia | 27 November 2018
As an engineer with over 30 years of experience, Pradip Goswami has a wealth of information. Stainless Steel World Americas had the opportunity to speak with him and delve deeper into his experiences and knowledge specifically on the welding side. In this article, we talked about what drew him to this particular field, why the disciplines of welding and metallurgy go hand-in-hand, and what were some of the welding aspects of some of his past engineering projects. Interview by Candace Allison
Combatting corrosion in subsea waters: subsea ROV tooling: An interview with ROV Tooling Manager, Matt Matthews, of Delta SubSea
By Catarina Muia | 20 November 2018
A mechanic by trade, Matt Matthews climbed the ranks throughout his career, attributing a great deal of his expertise to experience and hard work. A ROV Tooling Manager for Delta SubSea, a leading provider of Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) services and tooling solutions to the subsea oil and gas industry, Matthews caters to internal company needs, maintaining tooling efficiency to Delta SubSea’s 10 ROV systems located across the world; predominantly in the Gulf of Mexico. By Sarah Bradley
Building the plant: Procurement in the oil & gas industry - An interview with Andre Gafford, Sr. Partner, DeLeon Business Consulting Group
By Catarina Muia | 13 November 2018
With 19 years of experience in the O&G sector and a broad-spanning portfolio that includes procurement and strategic contracting onshore and offshore, midstream, and at the refinery level, Gafford understands the realities of a fluctuating market in addition to the needs of a growing business. Be it valves, hose & fittings, flanges, specialty alloy pipes, or pumps, Gafford has the connections and experience to source the right material for the job and the crews to install it. By Sarah Bradley
Eureka! Mastering the art of subsea ROV innovation tools: An interview with Roger Warnock, Hydraulic Specialist at Delta SubSea
By Catarina Muia | 06 November 2018
Roger Warnock is no stranger to cutting-edge innovation. As a Hydraulic Specialist for Delta SubSea LLC (DSS), a leading provider of Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) services and tooling solutions for the subsea oil and gas industry, Warnock is an expert in fluid power and conveyance technology. Stainless Steel World Americas had the pleasure of meeting with Warnock to discuss his role as co-inventor of the asset integrity device, Eureka. By the Editorial Team
A Materials & Corrosion Engineer’s perspective on stainless steel and corrosion resistant alloys (CRAs): An interview with Ken Kirkham of E²G|The Equity Engineering Group, Inc.
By Catarina Muia | 29 October 2018
On a trip to Houston, Texas, Stainless Steel World Americas had the pleasure of sitting down with E²G’s Group Head and Principal Engineer, Mr. Ken Kirkham who has 37 years of experience as a Materials and Corrosion Engineer in the petrochemical, refining and oil and gas industries. He told us about his broad range of expertise including materials selection, process, corrosion and metallurgy. By Candace Allison
Bringing an end-user perspective to an EPC firm: An interview with Glen Beal, Piping Engineering Section Manager
By Catarina Muia | 23 October 2018
After spending 30 years working as an end-user doing specifications and engineering focused work, Glen Beal took a change of direction and began working for EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) companies. With a vast amount of knowledge about the industry, Glen has taken the time to speak with Stainless Steel World Americas about his new role as Piping Engineering Section Manager. By Sarah Bradley
Knowledge sharing is key: An interview with Dow’s Leading Materials Expert David Barber
By Candace Allison | 08 October 2018
In addition to his role as Global Improvement Leader Materials Engineering Discipline at Dow, the world’s largest chemical company, David Barber has taken on the challenge of Chairing Duplex World 2018. With a wealth of hands-on metallurgical experience built up over nearly 30 years, David is as at ease solving corrosion issues on-site as he is fielding questions on specifications and lifecycle costs. By Joanne McIntyre
Subsea Pumps: A control system advisor explains the importance of material selection for a subsea environment
By Candace Allison | 25 September 2018
Stainless Steel World Americas’ sister publication Pump Engineer recently had the chance to sit down with Mr. Baha Tanju, the Senior Advisor of Subsea Control Systems at Chevron Energy Technology Company to discuss his role of protecting the pumps used in offshore hydrocarbon production. He also shared his thoughts on what he believes the future holds for the subsea pumping industry. By Sarah Schroer
Working with stainless steels and corrosion resistant alloys in the subsea, offshore, and onshore industries
By Candace Allison | 18 September 2018
FMC Technologies and Technip came together in January 2017 to form TechnipFMC, a company dedicated to improving the performance of the world’s energy industry. A global leader in oil and gas projects, technologies, systems, and services, TechnipFMC is divided into three business segments: subsea, onshore/ offshore, and surface. The company employs more than 40,000 people across 48 countries. Stainless Steel World Americas spoke with Dr. Qiang Zeng, a Materials Expert at TechnipFMC.
Acceptable risk: A discussion with John-Paul Schmidt, Piping Stress Leader at Dow Chemical
By Candace Allison | 11 September 2018
Stainless Steel World Americas had the pleasure of speaking to John-Paul Schmidt, Piping Stress Leader at Dow Chemical, about working with clients to design projects, calculating risk, common challenges with equipment, as well as the best and most challenging aspects of the job.
Corrosion expert looks back on 30 years at Shell
By Catarina Muia | 04 September 2018
For many in the international stainless steel and corrosion resistant alloy (CRA) industry, Dr. Sytze Huizinga is a familiar face and expert speaker at important industry events around the world. With his retirement having taken place at the end of 2015, Sytze took time to look back on a rich and fulfilling career and reflect on some of the changes he has seen. Written by Candace Allison & Joanne McIntyre
Electromechanical cables in the oil and gas industry
By Candace Allison | 27 August 2018
Electromechanical (wireline) cables are not components that receive a lot of attention in the oil and gas industry, yet they provide an essential link between the surface and the wellbore in both onshore and offshore wells. Mr. Dustin Dunning from Camesa explained some of the challenges that these highly specialized cables must overcome. Dustin Dunning believes that “EMC is a very niche piece of technology which tends to be overlooked.” Written by Joanne McIntyre
Developing strong working relationships in the refining industry
By Candace Allison | 22 August 2018
Phillips 66 is one of America’s fastest growing energy manufacturing and logistics companies, specializing in midstream, chemicals, refining and marketing and specialties. Operating under the corporate principles of safety, honor and commitment, Phillips 66 operates 13 refineries, nearly 50 storage terminals and thousands of miles of pipelines. We spoke with Greg Ardoin, Category Manager—General Maintenance Supplies, Projects & Procurement for Phillips 66.
Welding Stainless Steels and Corrosion Resistant Alloys: An Interview with Lincoln Electric’s Mike Barrett
By Candace Allison | 14 August 2018
Lincoln Electric is the global manufacturer of welding, cutting and joining products on today’s market. Stainless Steel World Americas travelled to the company’s headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio to speak with Mike Barrett, the stainless, nickel and cobalt expert from the Application Engineering Department. He shared with us his experience working with stainless steels and other corrosion resistant alloys.
The different types of stainless steel used for combined heat and power plants
By Candace Allison | 06 August 2018
The trend away from large coal fired power generation stations will substantially reduce the markets for many stainless steel products. However, despite this, one of the fastest growing sources of energy will be combined heat and power plants. This technology will result in stainless steel product purchases to partially offset the reductions in purchases for central stations. Written By Bob McIlvaine, President, The McIlvaine Company
Stainless Steel in the Hydrocarbon Industry: An Interview with a Mechanical Engineer
By Candace Allison | 30 July 2018
Gopal Murti, a Consultant with the Augustus Group, LLC, began his career in the oil and gas industry in 1971 after graduation in Mechanical Engineering. In the 45 years since, he has worked on numerous projects across a variety of industries, mostly in the hydrocarbon processing industry. Stainless Steel World Americas spoke to Gopal about his impressive career, the types of projects he currently works on and the grades of stainless steel and CRAs he has experience with.
Pushing the boundaries of stainless steel fabrication
By Candace Allison | 24 July 2018
A. Zahner Company is an internationally acclaimed engineering and fabrication firm headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. Ever since it was founded in 1897, this family-owned business has been at the forefront of cutting-edge design and metal fabrication for art and architecture. Under the management of L. William Zahner, who is President & CEO, the company began a rapid shift from regional projects to high-profile architecture. By Matjaž Matošec
An in-depth discussion of CRAs from the perspective of a Welding & Metallurgist Specialist
By Candace Allison | 16 July 2018
Stainless Steel World Americas recently spoke with Mr. Pradip Goswami, P.Eng, IWE, a Welding & Metallurgist Specialist who is currently working in Ontario, Canada. Goswami told us about his educational background, his extensive past working experiences using stainless steels across the world, especially in India, and what he both enjoys and finds challenging about working with these corrosion resistant alloys.
Subsea Pumps: A Control System Advisor Explains the Importance of Material Selection for a Subsea Environment
By Candace Allison | 11 July 2018
Stainless Steel World Americas had the chance to sit down with Mr. Baha Tanju, the Senior Advisor of Subsea Control Systems at Chevron Energy Technology Company to discuss his role of protecting the pumps used in offshore hydrocarbon production. He also provided insight on why it is so important to have material science subject matter experts on staff to advise about selecting the correct material for the job.
Sailing away...Corrosion expert looks back on 30 years at Shell
By Candace Allison | 03 July 2018
For many in the international stainless steel and corrosion resistant alloy (CRA) industry, Dr. Sytze Huizinga is a familiar face and expert speaker at important industry events around the world. For over thirty years he has provided corrosion expertise to Shell, researching new solutions that have helped to propel the oil and gas industry. With his retirement having taken place at the end of 2015, Sytze took time to look back on a rich and fulfilling career. By Joanne McIntyre
The role of a Senior Mechanical Engineer – Rotating Equipment at Burns & McDonnell
By Candace Allison | 19 June 2018
Founded in 1898, Burns & McDonnell is a global leader in engineering, architecture, construction, environmental, and consulting solutions for a variety of industries, including oil & gas, power, water, manufacturing, construction, and more. Mike Griggs, Senior Mechanical Engineer - Rotating Equipment, has been employed by Burns & McDonnell for the past five years, and attributes his successful career to his flexibility and ability to juggle multiple projects and tasks.
How a Supervisor of Air Fugitives Prevents Leaks at the 100-Year-Old Golden Eagle Refinery In California
By Candace Allison | 13 June 2018
Stainless Steel World Americas had the recent pleasure of speaking with Larry Wilkerson, Supervisor of Air Fugitives at the Golden Eagle Refinery in Contra Costa County, California. He was delighted to discuss how he ended up in an environmental role, the main cause of leaks at the 100-year-old plant, and the measures that are taken to prevent them from occurring.
Submit your abstract for the 2018 Managing Aging Plants USA Conference today!
By Candace Allison | 24 April 2018
The 2018 Managing Aging Plants USA Conference & Exhibition will be held November 13 & 14, 2018 at the Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria Hotel in Houston, Texas. Kenneth Kirkham, Principal Engineer with The Equity Engineering Group, Inc., and the Steering Committee are now accepting abstracts for Presentations until June 15, 2018.
Potential for the Industrial Internet of Wisdom to boost stainless steel sales and margins
By Candace Allison | 04 April 2018
Stainless steel manufacturers are often handicapped by the fact that they typically sell products to an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and not to the end-user. This limits access to critical information, which helps determine the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). The equipment manufacturer has generally been more interested in first cost than TCO. By Robert Mcilvaine, President, The Mcilvaine Company
The competitive position of stainless steel: The first in an ongoing series
By Candace Allison | 27 March 2018
Since 1950, the melting production of stainless steel has increased almost fifty-fold, outperforming practically all other major metals and alloys. In the first of this ongoing series, industry insider Peter Cranfield has dug through historical production data–and his own memory banks–to explain this phenomenal and sustained growth. By Peter Cranfield, Consultant, World Bureau of Metal Statistics
Part three in a three-part series: Data security—your greatest risk management challenge
By Candace Allison | 20 March 2018
A single online search for the term Big Data (also known as the Internet of Things or Internet 4.0) pulls up 300,000,000 Internet references (yes, that’s millions) in just two-thirds of a second. The sheer volume of accessible information depicts the double-edge sword of data: its scope is overwhelming, both in terms of business potential and business risk for stainless steel manufacturers, fabricators, and distributors. Written by Jeff Eiben, Principal Owner, River Point Technology
Part two in a three-part series: ditch the silos and optimize the supply chain
By Candace Allison | 13 March 2018
For stainless steel manufacturers and the broader manufacturing sector, 2018 could be a stellar year for improving efficiencies and reducing costs. The reason? Supply chain optimization. Written by By Jeff Eiben, Principal Owner, River Point Technology
Safeguard your business success with the power of real-time data
By Candace Allison | 27 February 2018
Manufacturers and distributors in the stainless steel industry are not exempt from the reach of rapidly advancing technology. Those who hesitate to invest in and implement a robust IT infrastructure and sound data practices will eventually be left to watch as the competition passes by. By Jeff Eiben, Principal Owner, River Point Technology
Eureka! Mastering the art of subsea ROV innovation tools
By Candace Allison | 20 February 2018
As a Hydraulic Specialist for Delta SubSea LLC (DSS), a leading provider of Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) services and tooling solutions for the subsea oil and gas industry, Mr. Roger Warnock is an expert in fluid power and conveyance technology. We discuss the various challenges of working in subsea salt water depths and his expertise in hydraulic applications.
The stainless steel purchases made for coal fired power plants
By Candace Allison | 13 February 2018
Fifteen coal-fired plant operators will spend $75 billion/yr for flow & treat products along with related services in 2018 (1). An estimated one percent or $750 million will be spent on stainless steel materials. The top five operators will purchase over 36% of the total $153 billion/yr. The products included are those used to treat or control any gas, air, or liquid. Written by Robert Mcilvaine, President, The Mcilvaine Company.
Meeting the requirements in a corrosive chemical environment from the perspective of a Lead Piping engineer
By Candace Allison | 06 February 2018
The Society of Piping Engineers and Designers (SPED) is an international organization promoting Excellence and Quality in Piping Design and Engineering through networking, training, and certification programs. Stainless Steel World Americas was thrilled to meet with Ms. Kerry Millen, a Lead Piping Engineer for a Fortune 500 EPC company, to learn more about her experiences and the diverse range of materials that she is working with on her current project.
A moment with: Eugene L. Broerman, Pump Summit Americas 2018 Steering Committee Member
By Candace Allison | 31 January 2018
Stainless Steel World Americas is pleased to present a discussion with Eugene L. Broerman, Principal Engineer in the Fluid Machinery Systems Section at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas. Eugene will play a key role in the Pump Summit Americas conference, taking place on June 26th-27th, 2018.
Predicted changes in the stainless steel market for 2018
By Candace Allison | 24 January 2018
There is a big change on the horizon for the stainless steel market and those stainless steel suppliers navigating the waters, based on present conditions, will be well advised to chart a new course suggests Robert Mcilvaine, President, The Mcilvaine Company in this market report.
A Materials & Corrosion Engineer’s perspective
 on stainless steel and corrosion resistant alloys
By Candace Allison | 16 January 2018
The Equity Engineering Group, Inc., founded in 2002 with corporate headquarters in Shaker Heights, Ohio, is an employee-owned engineering firm. Its main focus is on providing specialized engineering consulting services for new and aging infrastructure primarily in the refining, petrochemical, mid-stream and oil & gas industries. In this article we speak with Ken Kirkham, a Materials and Corrosion Engineer.
Industry 4.0 and emerging technologies in the industrial equipment market
By Candace Allison | 02 January 2018
If you went to bed last night as an industrial company, you’re going to wake up today as a software and analytics company,” Jeff Immelt, Chairman and CEO of industrial titan GE, proclaimed in 2014. In his article, Anand M Gnanamoorthy, Industry Manager, Process Equipment Team, Frost & Sullivan discusses the birth and relevance of Industry 4.0.
Combatting corrosion in subsea waters: subsea ROV tooling
By Candace Allison | 19 December 2017
In this interview with ROV Tooling Manager, Matt Matthews, of Delta SubSea he explained how a mechanic by trade he climbed the ranks throughout his career, attributing a great deal of his expertise to experience and hard work. Written by Sarah Bradley
Weld defects and failures—quantifying fitness-for-service: How finite element mathematical simulations can mitigate risk and cut costs
By Candace Allison | 09 November 2017
Fatigue in welded steel components is often initiated by mechanical vibration, corrosion, and thermal cycling. Fitness-for-service analysis is the most viable step in determining the safety and financial risk factors related to component repair or replacement. This article shares insight about managing risk specific to weld failures. By Dr. William J. O’Donnell, Founder, O’Donnell Consulting Engineers, Inc.
The essential role of non-destructive testing in evaluating stainless steels and corrosion resistant alloys
By Candace Allison | 13 October 2017
Nondestructive testing (NDT) or nondestructive evaluation (NDE) encompasses a wide group of analysis techniques to evaluate the properties of a material, component or system without causing any damage to the original material. Stainless Steel World Americas had the opportunity to speak with Ms. Ana Benz, a Chief Engineer who works out of IRISNDT’s Edmonton, Alberta location.
Tackling corrosion in urea processes
By Roy van IJzendoorn | 15 August 2017
An interview with Mr. Kirk Ofei from Stamicarbon, who enjoys working on challenging and interesting projects that test his intelligence and qualifications and increase his knowledge.
Acceptable risk: A discussion with John-Paul Schmidt, Piping Stress Leader at Dow Chemical
By Candace Allison | 01 January 0001
Stainless Steel World Americas had the pleasure of speaking to John-Paul Schmidt, Piping Stress Leader at Dow Chemical, about working with clients to design projects, calculating risk, common challenges with equipment, as well as the best and most challenging aspects of the job.

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