New Orleans Automation Office Overview

Oil States mooring winches control system on the Atlantica Delta in Dalian, China.

Nicholas Kidder, MCC room of a boiler in central Florida for FSE and Florida Crystals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The New Orleans Automation office joined Champion after Ben LeBlanc came on board as a Business Manager in 2004. While Hurricane Katrina posed a major challenge in 2005, the group was able to recover and established a home base in Metairie within a year. Today, the New Orleans team consists of one business manager, five automation engineers, and one office administrator. They are always improving, but their main specialties include Allen-Bradley and Siemens PLC expertise, and DeltaV DCS and Honeywell DCS know-how. They also provided long-term international support for multiple clients.

The New Orleans office serves various industries including the oil and gas, marine, chemical, and sugar industries, to name a few. A cross-section of their many customers includes Triyards Houston, LLC; Oil States Industries, Inc.; Rain CII Carbon, LLC; Zatarain’s, and Entergy.

One of the largest and most notable projects that the New Orleans Automation team completed was the Versabar/Devon Energy Deck Lift System project in 2006. During this project, Champion designed a control system that synchronized 32 hydraulic cylinders to lift an offshore production platform. The system needed to synchronize the position of all eight platform legs within a very small range to prevent structural damage. Champion completed work for the first platform lift in October 2006. The force required to lift the platform was estimated at 1,900 tons! The second platform was successfully lifted the next month.

One of the New Orleans team’s current projects, with Supreme Integrated Technologies, requires them to automate a moon pool lift and recovery system (MLARS) for an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) housed on a NOAA survey vessel. The MLARS is an opening where the AUV enters and exits; the AUV is a large self-controlled vehicle that will be used to explore and map the ocean floor. The team’s work will ensure that the AUV can enter and exit the survey vessel safely and reliably each time it goes on a mission.

New Orleans Champions are truly automating the world one system at a time – their portfolio features a healthy percentage of international work. One of the first international projects included the design, configuration, and commissioning of a wood-fired boiler system for Propal’s pulp and paper mill in Columbia. Today, you can find New Orleans’ engineers designing and automating a combustion control system for bagasse in a sugar mill based in La Romana, Dominican Republic.

From providing a combustion controls system in La Romana, to providing controls support in Guangzhou, China, New Orleans puts Champion on the map of integration companies with international experience many times over. They’ve traveled extensively and contributed Champion’s name to successful projects in the following countries:

  • Rio de Janerio, Brazil
  • Sao Paulo, Brazil
  • Orange Walk Town, Belize
  • Guyana
  • Santiago de Cali, Columbia
  • Dalian, China
  • Guangzhou, China
  • Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico
  • La Romana, Dominican Republic
  • Villahermosa, Mexico
  • Singapore
  • Vung Tau, Vietnam

When they’re not providing crane operations control systems in Vietnam or troubleshooting problems at home, the New Orleans team spends time with their families, a few folks compete in competitive racing, and they all participate in bowling nights.

OIL STATES 7000L CRANE ONBOARD THE LIFT BOAT ROBERT, DURING OFFSHORE OPERATIONS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.

CAB OF THE 7000L ONBOARD THE LIFT BOAT ROBERT, DURING OFFSHORE OIL RIG SALVAGE OPERATIONS FOR OIL STATES.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Champion’s New Orleans office by the numbers (Since 2011):

BY STATE

BY CUSTOMER

BY INDUSTRY

TYPE

LA – 47%

Factory Sales & Engineering – 21%

Marine – 35%

Fixed Fee – 46%

International – 27%

Oil States Industries, Inc. – 14%

Manufacturing – 26%

T&M – 40.5%

TX – 15%

Hydraquip Corp – 12%

Coke Calcining – 7%%

Service Calls – 13.5%

MS – 7%

Triyards – 8%

Pulp & Paper – 3.5%

 

Gulf of Mexico – 2%

Rain CII Carbon LLC – 7%

Agriculture – 3.5%

 

 

Service Awards – Celebrating Service & Excellence (Mar 2016)

10 Year Service Award Recipient

John Pellerine
Automation Engineer III
Lake Charles Automation
10 Years in March

5 Year Service Award Recipients

Sorin Blaga
Automation Engineer III
Salt Lake City Automation
5 Years in March

______________

Kevin Buelow
Automation Engineer II
New Orleans Automation
5 Years in March

______________

Rosalyn Scott
Office Administrator
Baton Rouge Automation
5 Years in March

1 Year Service Award Recipients

Jennifer Nez
Office Assistant
Houston Telecom
1 Year in March

______________

Ethan Schexnider
Manufacturing Technician I
Manufacturing Team – Southern Region
1 Year in March

This Month in History (Mar 2016)

MARCH

March 17th: Celebrated as Saint Patrick’s Day commemorating the patron saint of Ireland. On this day everyone is a little bit Irish- It’s Saint Patrick’s Day!

March 10, 1862: The U.S. government issues paper money for the first time. Prior to the Civil War, some 8,000 banks issued currency, which created an unwieldy money supply and facilitated rampant counterfeiting.1

March 29, 1886: Coca-Cola is invented by Atlanta pharmacist, Dr. John S. Pemberton. Want to know what the beverage tastes like around the world? Club Cool in Epcot features a range of Coca-Cola products from various countries, where visitors can taste flavors like Sparletta from Zimbabwe, which tastes like raspberry cream soda, or VegitaBeta from Japan, which is non-carbonated apricot and passion fruit flavored.2

March 12, 1912: The Girl Scouts of America were founded by Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low in Savannah, Georgia. Did you know that Taylor Swift, Carrie Fisher, Barbara Walters, and Venus and Serena Williams were a few of 59 million+ women who were Girl Scouts? It’s cookie season! The organization sells about 200,000,000 boxes of cookies each year!3

March 4, 1959: Barbara Millicent Roberts, aka “Barbie Doll,” makes her debut. Throughout her life, Barbie’s diverse employment included stints as a flight attendant, a pilot, a doctor, an astronaut, and a NASCAR driver. Standing about 11.5 inches tall with disproportionate body parts unrealistic to any human being, she recently got a makeover to reflect more representative measurements.4

References
1 http://www.history.com/news/8-things-you-may-not-know-about-american-money
2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Club_Cool
3 http://www.girlscouts.org/content/dam/girlscouts-gsusa/forms-and-documents/about-girl-scouts/facts/GSUSA_facts_gs_15.pdf
4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbie

Employee Spotlights (Mar 2016)

Share a time when “Spring Forward” caught you off guard?

I do remember a “caught off guard” incident related to Spring Forward. So the first workday after time change, I left for the office to attend a meeting. While driving, I checked my car dashboard watch (not updated) and realized that I was too early to the office so I stopped to get some breakfast for my team just to find out that everybody was waiting for me to show up to start the meeting. (I hope the breakfast calmed them down.)

March Madness or Spring Cleaning, preference and why?

It’s a tough one, but I will choose Spring Cleaning as it brings the family together to get things done in the house.

St. Patrick’s Day or Easter memory?

I think St. Patrick’s Day will be my pick. The Houston office is known to celebrate that day every spring.

Your favorite movie?

Hindi Movie – Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983)
English Movie – Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

Something interesting about your home town?

There are many interesting things about my hometown, Mumbai, but I will list one which does fascinate me the most, and I would like to visit again and again to capture its magnificence—the Gharapuri Caves near Mumbai. It’s a World Heritage Site as declared by UNESCO. The following is the link: http://whc.unesco.org.

What phobias do you have?

I would say maybe none. I am learning to get rid of them.

Share a time when “Spring Forward” caught you off guard?

I don’t recall ever forgetting about the time change; however, one year I changed the clock the wrong direction. Subconsciously, maybe I wanted two more hours of sleep. I was a bit late to church that Sunday.

March Madness or Spring Cleaning, preference and why?

Spring Cleaning. I enjoy being in an environment that is clean and has that fresh feeling that spring brings. I have gotten carried away and spring cleaning turns into home improvement DIY projects.

St. Patrick’s Day or Easter memory?

My most prominent Easter memory is from a few years ago. The kids were playing football in the yard, and my son ran into the bedroom window. His hand went through the glass and a shard went into his wrist. Fortunately, it did not hit any major veins, but it severed a nerve. He has had several surgeries since and will probably never regain full function of all his fingers.

Your favorite movie?

There are a few that come to mind: Star Wars (1977),
The Godfather (1972). My favorite is Casablanca (1942).

Something interesting about your home town?

My hometown of Patterson, LA is known for the Cypress Timber that was once abundant. My grandfather operated one of the last sawmills in the town.

What phobias do you have?

Fear of heights. I do my best to overcome this fear, but I have found it is easier to block it out while ascending the height. Then once I am up there, my body tenses up, and I can’t move. It is quite difficult to gain my composure and come back down.

Share a time when “Spring Forward” caught you off guard?

I installed a FactoryTalk Historian just before the “new daylight savings schedule\Time Zone” patch came out. Apparently this was required for the historical data timestamps to follow the machine’s daylight savings schedule and time zone. When “Spring Forward” arrived, all data timestamps were off by one hour.

March Madness or Spring Cleaning, preference and why?

I prefer Spring Yard Cleaning. I like to be outdoors. Mowing grass to me is actually a form of therapy. I watch basketball if/when the Houston Rockets are in the playoffs.

St. Patrick’s Day or Easter memory?

When I hear “Easter,” it’s rare that I don’t start thinking about Toledo Bend. For Easter, from toddler to teen, I would go with my parents and siblings to Toledo Bend. We’d always first attend Good Friday Mass. Then we’d all (five kids) pile in my Dad’s yellow pickup and head up to the camp which was located between Big Bass and Buckeye landings. We’d snorkel, scuba, and fish (with rods and spears) in the lake which was always cool and clear that time of year. Albeit a bit alien, underwater was the most peaceful and beautiful world I’ve experienced. There were swarms of perch, brim, and bass swimming in and out of submerged logs and bridges. We’d always walk back to the camp with a stringer or game bag full of fresh fish. Most Easter Sunday Masses we attended were in Many. (Many is a small town in western Louisiana.) Dress was formal and Mass “old school.” All other times, we’d attend an outdoor Mass at Red’s Point which was about a half hour away from the camp. I remember how cool it was that we could wear shorts or bathing suits at these services.

Your favorite movie?

Lord of The Rings Trilogy
The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002) and The Return of the King (2003)

Something interesting about your home town?

Lake Charles is still small enough to be considered “country” yet large enough to enjoy city life. We’ve got everything we need and located not too far from decent hunting/fishing spots.

What phobias do you have?

Boredom.

Share a time when “Spring Forward” caught you off guard?

It catches me off guard every year.

March Madness or Spring Cleaning, preference and why?

March Madness, honestly I do not like cleaning.

St. Patrick’s Day or Easter memory?

My son’s first Easter. He did not understand why he had to look for the eggs. He got so mad because older kids in the family were just bending down and picking up eggs full of candy. He kept bending down in the same spot and wasn’t getting any. (That could be one of the things that is funny if you were there, but I have never laughed so hard in my life.)

Your favorite movie?

Taken (2008)

Something interesting about your home town?

Absolutely nothing interesting about Tyler, TX

What phobias do you have?

Spiders and IT the clown

Baton Rouge Champions Ride for a Cure

Nearly 30 million people live with diabetes today. Millions more are pre-diabetic. It is certainly an epidemic that touches nearly every life.

The American Diabetes Association’s 25th Tour de Cure in Louisiana will take place on April 16, 2016, along the scenic Tammany Trace in Mandeville. Currently, 35 teams and 200 riders will show their support to those who are affected by diabetes. Funds raised through the ADA provide community-based education programs, protect the rights of people with diabetes, and fund critical research for a cure.

The Baton Rouge Automation team is committed to sponsoring this great cause by raising a goal of $2,000. Their reasons for participating in the ride vary. Some ride for affected family or friends. Others ride for the reminder of prevention. Some simply ride for the pursuit of a cure.

William Sulzer, Team Captain:  “Diabetes runs in my family on my father’s side. My grandmother passed away due to complications from it, and my uncle is currently battling it as well. Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable, so it’s important to me that I never become complacent with my health and one day find myself a victim. Participating in this event helps me stay aware but, more importantly, it allows me to raise money to put in the hands of scientific research.”

Rosalyn Scott:  “I support the Tour de Cure to honor my late daddy (2012), grandmother (2008), and grandfather (2000) who all meant the world to me.”

Angel Theriot:  “My grandpa passed away three years ago due to complications from diabetes, and my mom was recently diagnosed with Type 2. I’m riding for them and to bring awareness to the fact that Type 2 diabetes is manageable and reversible, but ultimately preventable, with the right combination of food and exercise.”

Garrett Kopcso:  “Life has two participants: spectators and players. Any way I can help in participating in this ride in raising money and awareness, I am more than happy to do. I’ve always enjoyed riding road bikes, and I’ve never ridden the Tammy Trace. Heard a lot about it and looking forward to the ride.”

By gathering donations for this important cause, they know it will make a difference. The team especially wants to thank Mehrdad Ghorashi for his generous donation!

If you or someone you know is battling diabetes and you’d like to donate to the ADA, please place your donations through the Baton Rouge Automation Team’s donate page. If you’re in the area and want to join the team for a nice bike ride along the Tammany Trace, email William Sulzer for more information.

Thank you for your support!

The ADA holds the BBB’s “Wise Giving Alliance Seal for National Charities,” and all donations are tax-deductible.

CURRENT EVENTS (Mar 2016)

Mar 10

UNO’S SPRING 2016 JOB FAIR
11:00am – 3:30pm – event will be held at the University Center – Grand Ballroom and Gallery Lounge (2nd floor). The New Orleans Office will showcase our exciting career opportunities during this event.

Mar 16

ISA’S 57TH ANNUAL CONVENTION   
March 16th – 19th, 2016 in Atlanta, GA – event will be held at the Hilton Atlanta Hotel. For more information and updates about program and events during the ISA Convention, click here.

Mar 23

SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY 2016 TECH CONNECT CARRER DAY
9:00am – 12:00pm – event will be held on the First Floor Lobby areas of Fayard Hall. The Baton Rouge Office will showcase our exciting career opportunities during this event.

Mar 30

2016 SIEMENS OIL & GAS INNOVATIONS CONFERENCE
March 30th – 31st, 2016 in Houston, TX – event will be held at Minute Maid Park. Champion will be an exhibitor during this event, For more information about the Siemens O&G Innovations Conference, click here.

Apr 16

2016 LA TOUR DE CURE BENEFITING THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION
Mandeville, LA – Tour de Cure, a cycling event, will take place in Mandeville along the scenic Tammany Trace. The BR Office will be sponsoring a team to participate in this event. For more info, click here.

Apr 19

2016 CSIA EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE
April 19th – 22nd, 2016 in Puerto Rico – event will be held at the Gran Melia Golf Resort. CSIA is the premier organization of control systems integrators. For more information about the CSIA Executive Conference, click here.

Easy Corned Beef & Hash Recipe

Irish flavors come together in this delicious corned beef and potato dish.

What do you do with the leftover corned beef and potatoes you have from St. Patrick’s Day? Do not throw it away. You can treat your family to the easiest, best corned beef hash recipe. Irish flavors come together in this delicious corned beef and potato dish. This easy stovetop recipe, uses leftover cooked corned beef or deli corned beef. If you like, turn the hash into a classic American breakfast by serving with a poached or fried egg, hollandaise, and chopped chives on top.

4 servings | Prep Time: 15 minutes | Total Time: 45 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 teaspoons canola oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, finely minced
  • 1/4 cup green bell pepper, chopped
  • 4 cups diced cooked Yukon Gold potatoes, or frozen hash-brown potatoes
  • 2 cups chopped lean corned beef brisket (8 ounces, see Tips & Notes)
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 large carrot, coarsely shredded (optional, for color – Leprechaun’s gold)
  • 1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • Salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 4 large eggs (optional)
NUTRITION:

Per serving: 320 calories; 13g fat (4g sat, 6g mono); 240mg cholesterol; 36g carbohydrates; 15g protein; 3g fiber; 493mg sodium; 695mg potassium.

Carbohydrate Servings: 2.

Exchanges: 2 starch, 1/2 vegetable, 2 medium-fat meat, 1/2 fat

PREPARATION:

  1. In a large cast-iron skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium. Add onion, garlic, and green bell pepper. Sauté until onion is translucent. Do not brown, 5 to 8 minutes. Add potatoes and cook, stirring, until they brown in spots and become crusty, about 8 minutes more. Stir in corned beef and broth and cook, scraping up any browned bits, until liquid is absorbed, approximately 5 to 8 minutes. Add parsley and season with salt and pepper.
  2. Meanwhile, fill a large skillet with 2 inches salted water and bring to a gentle simmer. Break eggs, one at a time, onto a saucer and slide into the simmering water. Poach eggs until set to desired firmness, 4 to 5 minutes.
  3. Divide hash among 4 plates. Place eggs on top of hash (optional).

TIPS & NOTES:

  1. Corned beef can be purchased at your supermarket deli. Be sure to specify lean: it has 1 gram fat per ounce and an ounce of regular corned beef has 5 grams fat.
  2. If you like the corned beef hash browned and crispy, cover and cook on low heat an additional 5 to 7 minutes on each side, until brown and crispy.

FUN FACT:

  1. Corned beef is not considered an Irish national dish, and the connection with Saint Patrick’s Day specifically originates as part of Irish-American culture.