2009 Readers' Choice Awards: Who Rises to the Call?

More technology providers than ever before were identified by readers of Chemical Processing in the 2009 Readers’ Choice Awards survey. That’s because the survey garnered the highest number of respondents (975) in its now six-year history.

Our readers told us which providers they consider to be technology leaders in 44 categories.

Picking a  single leader probably proved tough for some readers. The survey caused another reader to reflect upon his career. “Some of the categories made me realize how long I have been in this business,” he says.

The Elastomers category in this year’s survey deserves a bit of explanation because some readers selected DuPont Dow as their choice. However, the joint venture of those companies was dissolved a couple of years ago, so we evenly distributed the totals for DuPont Dow between the two.

Making the list is important to vendors as it shows them that their technology is highly regarded by end users. Other vendors, who did not make the list, can use the information to further develop their products so that they may become your choice in the future.

By the Numbers
Emerson Process Management continued the strong showing it’s had over the years, coming in first in seven categories and placing in three others. Emerson also garnered the most comments when respondents were asked to identify one technology provider as the best and explain why. “Emerson Process Systems is the best becausue they are always bringing the most up-to-date products to market. They also provide excellent customer support,” says one respondent, which echoes the views of others.

 Other vendors who earned multiple mentions include Alfa Laval, Fluke and Siemens, each with two first place finishes. ABB, Endress+Hauser, Honeywell and Rockwell Automation all placed highly in multiple categories.

More detailed survey results are located below. If you desire additional information about any of the vendors or products listed, we encourage you to visit http://www.chemicalprocessing.com/vendors/products/index.html and search for bearings, pumps or any other category that interests you. Results from previous Readers’ Choice Awards also are available online:

• 2008 — www.ChemicalProcessing.com/articles/2008/112.html
• 2007 — www.ChemicalProcessing.com/articles/2007/108.html
• 2006 — www.ChemicalProcessing.com/articles/2006/111.html
• 2005 — www.ChemicalProcessing.com/articles/2005/523.html
• 2004 — www.ChemicalProcessing.com/articles/2005/363.html

How Results Were Gathered
Readers received e-mail notices and electronic newsletters or used a link posted on our Web site to complete the questionnaire. The survey was open for responses for just over one month. A total of 975 readers cast their votes about which vendors they consider technology leaders in 44 different categories. Categories were listed, but respondents had to enter the name of the technology provider in a blank text box. By not providing a pre-selected list of companies in each category, the survey avoided bias.

The rankings show the percentage of total responses in each category that a particular company received. A minimum of at least 5% of the votes in a category is required to be listed. Scores within 3% of each other should be considered a statistical tie.

The Results

Bearings   
SKF 32% 
Timken 16% 
Motion Industries 6% 
    
Boilers/Steam Systems   
Cleaver Brooks 21% 
Babcock & Wilcox 15% 

Catalysts   
BASF 18% 
Sud-Chemie 9% 
Johnson Matthey 8% 
UOP 7% 
Criterion 6% 
    
Centrifugal Pumps   
Goulds 38% 
Flowserve 20% 
    
Centrifuges   
Alfa Laval 20% 
Wesfalia 11% 
Bird Machine 8% 
Heinkel 6%  
Kraus Maffei 6% 
    
Compressors   
Ingersol Rand 33% 
Atlas Copco 15% 
Sullair 5%