MCE: The Valve Expert Behind Bourbon’s 24/7 Production Uptime
MCE provides a broad range of OEM and end-user customers with comprehensive flow control, filtration, fluid power, automation, rotating equipment, and inventory management products and services. MCE’s cadre of solution providers have the capabilities to serve a wide range of applications within almost any industry.
MCE specializes in tailored solutions to keep plants running at full production, with the specialized knowledge and responsive service to resolve issues affecting uptime.
Key Products and Services: Flow control products (valves, industrial ball valves, butterfly valves, pneumatic and electric actuators, regulators, and associated components) and valve automation services.
Industries Served:
- Distilleries
- Food and beverage manufacturing
- Automotive paint production
- Chemical processing
- Power generation
- Refining
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing
The following success story demonstrates MCE’s commitment to ensuring customer success.
The Challenge: Distillery Experienced Costly Downtime Due to Critical Steam Trap Failures
A major bourbon distillery was experiencing issues with large float and thermostatic steam traps from another vendor that had been failing within months of installation.
These failures created a risk of catastrophic downtime, as the distillery runs a continuous, steady-state process. This distillery’s production schedule is both seasonal and continuous, running 24/7, 365 days a year. Any failure or interruptions in the steam feed to the stills would halt the entire plant’s operation, triggering a complete shutdown and halting production of up to 2,000 barrels per day.
What’s in a barrel?
- A barrel of bourbon typically yields about 200 bottles (750 ml).
- Prices for a barrel can span from $6,500 to $11,500 (influenced by factors such as brand reputation, flavor profile, bourbon age, and barrel uniqueness.)
As a result, this distillery was on pace to lose millions of dollars per day.
Downtime isn’t just inconvenient — it can impact product availability and plant production plans for years to come, creating a domino effect of major financial risk.
“Without production running, this bourbon distillery could lose 1,500 – 2,000 barrels a day.”
– MCE Outside Sales Representative
Solution: MCE Provides More Robust Steam Trap System
The distillery turned to the MCE flow control team for their deep technical knowledge and industry expertise.
The team brought in a steam system manufacturer to thoroughly evaluate the problem and determined that the original traps were undersized and suffered from excessive pressure drops and increased velocity, which eroded the internal components.
Together, they specified a larger, higher-capacity thermostatic steam trap with:
- Larger orifice sizes to reduce pressure drop
- Improved flow handling for steam condensate recovery
- Increased capacity to handle condensation without erosion
- Greater durability for long-term operation in a 24/7 system
The planned plant downtime also required custom flange modifications and pipe fitting to accommodate dimensional differences between trap models—a common consideration in retrofitting steam systems.
Results: Reliability Restored—and Future Failures Prevented
The new thermostatic steam trap is projected to prevent these unnecessary and costly downtime events, avoiding the loss of up to 2,000 barrels a day.
The MCE flow control team continues to help the distillery proactively assess and prepare for future needs, checking inventory, advising on upcoming outages, and recommending component quantities. MCE supports their operations by:
- Stocking critical products to reduce lead times
- Providing honest insights into tariffs and material shortages
- Offering alternatives when OEM solutions fail or fall short
- Working with manufacturers to ensure timely calibration documentation, programming, and onsite service
The distillery values MCE for helping to protect 24/7 bourbon production uptime and assisting on critical upgrade plans for the future.
MCE’s Expertise: Building Trust That Distilleries Count On
What makes us different?
Our team has deep industry experience. MCE consultative relationship with the distillery began years ago when the team helped solve recurring valve failures—especially on mash valves critical to production. By engineering a tailored flow meter solution and providing local support through a single manufacturer, MCE helped the facility achieve long-term reliability. With the combination of engineering knowledge and technical sales experience, MCE has become a trusted advisor—often called before issues are even fully defined.
The MCE flow control team's deep understanding of the instrumentation, valves, flow, pressure, and steam systems is something our customers rely on. To such an extent that our customers often call us before they even define their problem, trusting us to evaluate the process and recommend the right solution.
MCE's Solution-Forward Partnership
Consultative Sales Approach
Success in projects like this isn’t about pushing products — it's about listening, evaluating the process conditions, and developing custom-fit solutions. Our ability to speak engineer-to-engineer is another significant part of that process.
“The more value you provide, the more customers open up about their actual pain points,” said an MCE flow control team member. “We don’t just walk in with a catalog. We show up, ask questions, evaluate the process, and recommend something that will last.”
That consultative approach, built on years of technical experience and relationship development, has helped MCE to gain deeper involvement in engineering decisions, moving from order takers to specification partners.
Going Beyond the Product to the Solution
MCE's portfolio enables it to offer more than just valves. Our capabilities include full process solutions, including flow, pressure, level, and temperature instrumentation.
- Multi-Line Representation: MCE’s access to a wide array of products (valves, sensors, controllers, etc.) allows comprehensive solutions from one source.
- Inventory and Procurement Support: We hold stock for customer needs and help clients avoid long lead times and tariff-related delays.
- Strong Manufacturer Relationships: Our deep partnerships with leading manufacturers enable proactive communication about pricing, availability, and alternatives to maintain uptime.
Industry Expertise
Distilleries face complex challenges when selecting vendors, products, and services that align with their highly technical needs. These highly specialized industries require hands-on experience and deep industry insight from their supply partners, and decision-makers seek more than a product seller.
With experience rooted in engineering and a career spanning oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, water and wastewater treatment, and mining, MCE’s flow control team has the technical depth and application knowledge their customers need for peak performance. This experience is complimented by MCE's broad portfolio of products, services, and technical support that extends beyond valves and automation.
Ease of Doing Business
MCE simplifies procurement through a single trusted partner, resulting in more streamlined operations, reduced costs, and enhanced overall efficiency.
As one MCE team member stated, “Through the eyes of a buyer, it’s easy to do business with us because we can source many items with direct representation. We’re also not limited to one manufacturer or the other. Our broad capabilities allow us to offer the right solution for their exact needs.”
Responsiveness and Dependability
MCE delivers coordinated, end-to-end solutions that make sense. Accessibility, quick turnaround, and direct involvement in problem-solving are primary reasons our customers turn to us for their procurement needs.
“People don’t have time to do ten different jobs anymore. They heavily rely on people they can trust. It’s not just about what you say you’ll do. Trust grows with follow through.”
Why Partner with MCE?
MCE’s approach is built on trust, technical expertise, and solutions — not just products. In industries where downtime can affect production for a decade or more, we are a partner you can trust.
MCE helps manufacturers achieve greater operational efficiency. Their capabilities go beyond valve and automation support, enabling them to serve a broader range of OEM and end-user customers with comprehensive filtration, fluid power, flow control, rotating equipment, and inventory management services.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Broad Range of Products
- Product Specification and Customization
- Onsite Support and Expertise
- Support After the Sale
- Inventory Management Services
Reach out to schedule a consultation.
