Industry Profile: Phil Mahoney
Valve Magazine talks with Phil Mahoney of A. W. Chesterton Company about his industry experience and what he does for fun.
Phil in Moab, Utah, in the Fisher Canyons area during a camping trip.
Source: Phil Mahoney
What inspired you to pursue a career in the world of valves and actuators?
I started my career as a marine engineer on various ships, so I had quite a bit of hands-on experience with valves and actuators. My next job was working in a shipyard doing repair work, and a lot of that was specific to valves. From there I started working for A.W. Chesterton, a manufacturer of all types of sealing devices including various compression packings for valves. More than 30 years later, I’m still involved in this industry segment and learn something new every day.
Why did you decide to get involved with VMA?
I’ve been active with the Fluid Sealing Association for about 20 years; that was my introduction to the benefits of participating in a trade association— working collectively on challenges to our industry, creating educational content on sealing devices and learning from my colleagues from other companies. Chesterton is in the supplier category, and many VMA members are our customers so it was a no-brainer to join the association. The VMA’s membership is a great source of knowledge and ideas, and VMA’s focus on addressing industry challenges via the Government Affairs Committee and creating and delivering educational content for new engineers entering the industry to seasoned end-users is a huge value from my perspective.
Are there any exciting projects or initiatives you are working on that you’d like to highlight to our readers?
The issue of PFAS as it relates to the sealing industry has been a focus of mine for several years. The VMA has been involved in this area, providing feedback and information to legislators and regulators on the importance and safety of fluoropolymers and fluoroelastomers in industrial applications. The breadth of knowledge and active participation from VMA members in this initiative is impressive.
How do you stay abreast with changes in the valve/actuator industry?
Besides participating in various industry standards associations like the American Petroleum Institute and the Manufacturer’s Standardization Society, Valve is a great source of information on the industry. A number of my colleagues regularly share articles from the magazine on topics of interest to our internal engineers and our sales specialists that are focused on valve and flange sealing. (Editor’s note: We did not ask Phil to say this, but appreciate the feedback!)
What do you think the biggest challenges are for valve manufacturers? For end users?
From my perspective, working for a supplier to valve manufacturers, I see two distinct challenges. One is keeping up with constantly changing specifications (industry standards and end-user requirements) requires constant attention to ensure compliance. The second is the need to find and entice new engineers and technicians to join our industry.
Are there any emerging trends or technologies that you are particularly excited about?
The IoT technologies available today offer myriad options that can be incorporated into sealing technology applications. The data that we can gather with these systems will help us diagnose performance issues on all kinds of equipment, and we can use that data to help our end users increase the reliability and performance of their systems.
What advice would you give someone who wants to explore a career in our industry or one of our end markets?
Talk to people! The best way to learn about an industry is from those who work in it. Contact a trade association like the FSA, the Valve Manufacturers Association, the Hydraulic Institute, etc. They can put you in contact with people who work in the industry and would be happy to tell you about what they do and the impact their work has on their customers.
Is there a piece of advice you were given that has stuck with you?
Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions and don’t be afraid to fail. In our line of work, much of what we know about processes, equipment design and operational experience does not come from classes, it comes from experience. Find out what others on your team know about a problem or challenge. There may be problems that take a few iterations of a solution to solve. Many customers will work with you to develop and validate that solution. In my experience, if you communicate the challenges and risks with a new application, they accept that and will work with you to help solve the problem.
Tell us a little bit about what you do outside of work — family, hobbies, etc.
I’m a big music fan and like to go to concerts wherever I go. I also like camping with my teardrop trailer and would love to do a lot more of it this year.
Do you have a secret talent that would surprise or delight our readers?
Nope. 😊
RELATED CONTENT
-
DBB and DIB: Which is which?
The term “double block-and-bleed (DBB)” carries a lot of misconception when it’s used to describe valve functionality.
-
Process Instrumentation in Oil and Gas
Process instrumentation is an integral part of any process industry because it allows real time measurement and control of process variables such as levels, flow, pressure, temperature, pH and humidity.
-
Misconceptions Regarding Control and Isolation Valve Standards
All on/off isolation valve standards are not created equal and cannot be applied unilaterally to all valves.