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34 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • DECEMBER 2014 75TH ANNIVERSARY PROFILES R. W. Fernstrum & Company is a third-generation, family owned business that manufactures heat exchangers, primarily for the com- mercial marine industry. In addition to its GRIDCOOLER line of keel coolers, it also manufactures and sells Weka Boxcoolers in the Americas and Tranter Heat Exchangers. “The origins of our product lines have been a foundation for our suc- cess,” said Sean Fernstrum, current president and an owner of R.W. Fernstrum & Company, in assess- ing the creation of the company by his grandfather 65 years ago. “The GRIDCOOLER Keel Cooler was developed to solve a cooling problem for landing craft during WWII. My grandfather, Robert Fernstrum, was the chief engineer at Gray Marine and Continental Motors during the war. Gray Marine built landing craft and needed to devise a compact closed-circuit cooling system to meet the needs of a wide range of oper- ating conditions. Existing cooling systems were far too large for landing craft, so Robert developed a solution on his own. His compact keel cooler was the prototype for what would become our GRIDCOOLER Keel Cooler line.” R.W. Fernstrum also offers the Weka Boxcooler, which was a de- velopment of Cees de Kwant in the Netherlands. After reviewing the construction of existing box coolers in the industry, Cees saw the inher- ent weakness in the materials being used in box cooler construction. His solution was to utilize a material that had proven itself in decades of use in other products working in the same environment: copper-nickel. His use of this material and innovative creation of easily applied protective devices make this product line stand out. In addition it offer Tranter’s line of heat exchangers that go back to Ransom Olds and his development of chilled plates used in milk wagons 100 years ago. Today those plates are providing effi cient heating of cargo in applications like petroleum and sulfur barges. Tranter Heat Exchang- ers also provide cooling in applica- tions like live wells on commercial fi shing boats. These heat exchangers along with various plate and frame offerings allow Fernstrum to provide a wide variety of solutions to its customers. 2014 & Beyond “Overall, 2014 has been a positive year for Fernstrum,” said Sean Fern- strum. “There is still growth in the U.S. offshore market; a positive for many in the industry. We have seen growth in other segments as well, tank barges and alternative energy. The changes in the engine tier rat- ings have been a challenge over the last few years; but we are adapting.” Looking ahead the company sees plentiful opportunity. Particularly, the emerging inland market seg- ments and existing offshore segments are at or near capacity for the near future, signs that 2015 along with the next few years should be good for the U.S. commercial marine market. Innovation to Come Fernstrum will focus on reintroduc- ing the Tranter Platecoil line to the inland marine market; a product line that the company represents in the marine industry. “Platecoil is prov- ing to be an effi cient, cost effective heating solution for barges and bulk cargo vessels,” said Sean Fernstrum, “and we are looking to reintroduce this solution to a wider audience in the upcoming year. When evaluating the innova- tion coming from his Menominee, Mich., shop, Sean Fernstrum lays the credit to the company’s employees in executing the vision, year in, year out. “I think our commitment to a hardworking and knowledgeable employee base along with a focus on problem solving are two of our greatest strengths,” said Sean Fern- strum. “It is a formula for success that has proven itself for decades. We sell solutions, not just a product. Our customers’ relationship with us doesn’t end with a signed purchase order, that’s just the beginning of what I hope will be a long and mutu- ally benefi cial relationship.” While the company’s core product line was born out of combat neces- sities created in World War II, the company’s focus for decades has been the commercial marine industry. Starting with shrimp boats in the Gulf of Mexico back in the 1950s, it quickly moved to push boats, tugs and other commercial vessels. While it does have land based applications, the commercial marine industry is clearly the market driver for the company. “The maritime industry is our home,” said Sean Fernstrum. “Over the years, the hardworking people in the industry have become our friends, family. We spent hours work- ing on projects to come up with reli- able solutions for their applications. It is our customers that allow us to continue to strive in the industry.” R.W. Fernstrum: Keeping it Cool “Overall, 2014 has been a positive year for Fernstrum,” said Sean Fernstrum. “There is still growth in the U.S. offshore market; a posi- tive for many in the industry. We have seen growth in other segments as well, tank barges and alternative energy.” Sean Fernstrum President & Owner Founded by Robert W. Fernstrum 65 years ago, R.W. Fernstrum & Company is now run by the third generation of Fernstrums who continue to build and extend its commercial marine heat exchanger business. Sean Fernstrum, President & Owner discusses the future. Photo: Edison Chouest MR #12 (32-41).indd 34 12/2/2014 1:47:31 PM
