MCE: Creating a Partnership Built on Responsiveness and Results
The MCE Flow Control Solutions team serves 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 solutions provide the capabilities to serve a wide range of applications within almost any industry.
Industries Served:
- Steel and aluminum plants
- Distilleries
- Food and beverage manufacturing
- Automotive paint production
- Chemical processing
- Power generation
- Refining
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing
MCE valve and actuation experts provide the specialized knowledge and responsive service to resolve issues affecting uptime. The following success story demonstrates MCE’s commitment to ensuring customer success.
The client: A small, highly technical shop that designs and manufactures fuel gas trains for applications such as furnaces in steel and aluminum plants, large-scale boiler houses, and thermal oxidizers.
The Problem: When Precision Isn’t Optional
A long-time manufacturer of fuel gas trains required a supplier that provided parts and responsive support, fast delivery, precise documentation, and engineering expertise.
The small, yet highly technical company builds specialized gas delivery and safety systems (fuel gas trains) to support high-temperature industrial processes in heavy manufacturing, energy, and environmental systems. These fuel gas trains require thermal mass flow sensors and other instrumentation for gas skids used in steel and aluminum plants.
This firm also build custom pressure reduction skids and process heat systems that require complex chemical compatibility, instrumentation, and precise flow control.
What is a fuel gas train?
A fuel gas train is a system of valves, regulators, pressure switches, and safety devices that control the delivery of fuel gas (like natural gas or propane) to industrial burners or furnaces. It ensures the fuel is delivered at the correct pressure and volume, and with the necessary safety controls.
Often used in:
- Steel and aluminum plants
- Large-scale boiler houses
- Thermal oxidizers
- Any process where high heat is needed to dry, cook, or chemically alter materials
The client needed critical thermal mass flow meters to ensure the correct pressure and volume and was frustrated by an unresponsive manufacturer’s rep and a lack of technical support.
That’s when the manufacturer of the thermal mass flow meter reached out to an MCE Outside Sales Representative known for hands-on service and application expertise.
Due to the sensitive nature of the business, the shop owner was adamant that they needed fast delivery, complete documentation, accurate sizing, and responsive support for time-sensitive installations. He also expected a partner he could reach quickly.
Solution: MCE’s Expert Engineering and Seamless System Upgrade
After an on-site evaluation, the MCE rep quickly understood the customer’s growing needs.
When the customer decided to increase flow velocities in a 2-inch oxygen line, the thermal dispersion flow meter they were using couldn't handle the higher flow rate (over 50,000 SCFD) due to limited resolution and turndown range. This inadequacy could lead to increased inaccuracies and potential failure over time.
The MCE rep recommended a shift to inline vortex meters, which could accommodate the full range of operating conditions and were designed for higher flow rates and velocities. Smith highlighted the other benefits of a vortex meter: a lifetime sensor warranty, no moving parts (which reduced failure risk), better accuracy, and a lower total cost of ownership.
Smith realized that this change would create sizing issues resulting from the increased velocity. To address this, he coordinated with the manufacturer to:
- Re-span the meter’s range
- Recalibrate for new flow conditions
- Provide software and tools for on-site adjustments
- Develop a new procedure
- Provide reprogramming and calibration tools (with necessary software)
This quick, coordinated response with the manufacturer ensured the customer could make real-time updates without delaying production.
The Advantages of Partnering with MCE
Multi-line Representation
MCE isn’t tied to one manufacturer. Our deep partnerships with leading manufacturers enable direct, proactive communication about pricing, availability, and alternatives to maintain uptime.
This flexibility allows us to tailor product recommendations to the application or need.
As a result, the initial engagement expanded to include multiple manufacturers’ products. Beyond the initial flow meters supplied to the customer, we now provide gauges, needle valves, differential pressure transmitters, isolation ball valves at controls, mutual FM assemblies, and more.
Aside from a full breadth of products and solutions, MCE also offers inventory and procurement support. We hold stock for customer needs and help clients avoid long lead times and tariff-related delays.
Engineering and Application Knowledge
With years of engineering and technical sales experience, MCE’s sales reps, engineers and technicians speak the customer’s language. Their team has a deep understanding of instrumentation, valves, flow, pressure, and steam systems. This ability to engage engineer-to-engineer strengthened the customer’s trust and accelerated the problem-solving process.
Customized End-to-End Solutions
MCE's portfolio enables them to offer complete engineered systems across systems. Their expertise extends across full process solutions, including:
- High-temperature industrial processes
- Chemical compatibility for acids, bases, and VOCs
- Pressure reduction and process heating systems
While some parts of this customer’s processes are standard, especially for common gases like natural gas, oxygen, and methane, there are many scenarios that often involves custom solutions.
These solutions may encompass various line sizes, media, and complex systems like pressure reduction or specialty chemical skids. Different gases and chemicals (like acids, bases, and VOCs) may require different materials, piping, and instrumentation, making data and system design more complex for specific customer needs.
Reliable and On-Demand Support
MCE’s client is pleased with the level of service and support received from the MCE team. That’s because MCE prioritizes accessibility, quick turnaround, and proactive problem-solving. That, in turn, earns client loyalty, strengthening MCE’s partnership with the client.
When phone and conference calls weren’t enough, members of the MCE team have flown to the location to provide onsite support with the following:
- Documentation compliance
- Field adjustments
- Troubleshooting
Consultative Selling Approach
MCE’s sales rep emphasizes the company’s value of consultative, solution-based partnerships over transactional interactions. MCE focuses on building trust and long-term relationships by understanding the customer’s process and proactively solving problems.
“Before we even talked about orders, we made sure to ask the right questions. This triggered our customer to do a deep dive in his process to uncover the scope of his process, including conditions, temperatures, ranges, and protocols. It’s important. When creating a relationship with an industrial customer, especially when their applications are highly complex, they need to know that you have their best interests in mind.”
– MCE Outside Sales Representative
Why Work with MCE?
Our 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.
The MCE flow control solutions team helps manufacturers achieve greater operational efficiency. Our 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 from us:
- Collaboration Across MCE Technology Groups
- 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.
