MANUFACTURING SUPERIOR QUALITY

As the Largest SWRO energy recovery device Manufacturer in the World*, our manufacturing facility is in high demand. ERI® remains focused on producing the most reliable and superior equipment, consistently. The emphasis on acquiring only the highest quality materials combined with tested production processes allows us to make the most efficient and elegant energy recovery device available today.

ERI has developed a host of manufacturing capabilities and expertise that range from working with high alloy stainless steels and exotic metals such as AL6XN, hastelloy and titanium to the heat treatment and precision machining of ceramics.

Quality is the single most important part of ERI's manufacturing and testing process. ERI's PX® devices and booster and pumps are manufactured to extremely precise tolerances. To achieve these dimensional requirements, ERI employs special coordinate measuring machines to check ceramic clearances on a 100% sampling basis. Each ceramic set receives a serial number and its dimensions are recorded in ERI's digital database. All components and raw materials go through a detailed receiving inspection process that ensures that materials meet precise compositional and dimensional specifications. Finally, each PX® and PX® Booster Pump is wet-tested and subjected to full hydraulic performance evaluation. During these tests each unit is visually inspected for any flaws or leaks and all key characteristics are measured and recorded, including pressure, flow and efficiency. 100% performance testing may seem extreme, but it ensures that the customer will receive reliable, high-quality, high-performance equipment.

Engineering Testing Center
Tested. Reliable. Efficient.

Heat treatment of ceramics materials is an art. The sintering process requires weeks of heat treatment to achieve the hardness of 9.0 in a material identical to sapphire. This process is critical to achieve the smooth tough surface, which will sustain many years of operation in a harsh seawater environment. Once the ceramics have been formed properly, they need to be cooled slowly and evenly to avoid cracking in the process. The rotor sets shrink significantly and are then machined using advanced CNC technology and diamond tooling to micron tolerances.

Next, our engineers implement precision quality assurance of complex geometries. Hydrodynamic bearings do not work in seawater if the tolerances are not perfect.

After all these operations are finished, every PX® and booster pump are wet-tested in our testing center. We generate data verifying its efficiency, pressure drop, lubricating flow, and other critical information. We keep this performance data in our database for every PX® and PX® booster pump we ship and general performance information is included in the Manual so the client may use it for their reference.

Our state of the art facility in San Leandro, California, ERI Headquarters, was recently expanded to accommodate the growth in sales and research and development efforts.

Materials Selection & Quality Control

Since the PX® has only one moving part, our selection of only the best materials is critical to ensuring our products withstand time and elements of an SWRO plant. The PX® provides years of continuous service with no periodic maintenance. Its critical components are made of tough, non-corroding, engineered corrundum (aluminum oxide). In fact, most PX®'s after being taken apart for inspection find no evidence of deterioration whatsoever. Hence, no service or maintenance has been required or foreseen for most PX® devices.

Engineering and Manufacturing work closely to ensure all quality assurance and controls are successfully implemented.

*Industry Desalination Report as of December 2005