Engineering Design Services

STRATCO, Inc. (formerly Stratford Engineering Corporation) has been a household name in the lubricating grease industry since 1928. In addition, STRATCO has also designed equipment for gasoline alkylation since 1938. They have become the largest provider of alkylation units in the world. STRATCO’s technology and equipment is installed in 60 countries on 6 continents and has evolved into a one-stop shop for manufacturing processes in a variety of industries, providing engineering services and equipment. More than 40 different types of products have been made using our STRATCO® Contactor™ reactor technology.

The Contactor™ Reactor

The STRATCO® semi-continuous grease process is proven exceptionally well-suited for manufacturing various types of lubricating greases, including lithium, calcium, sodium, aluminum complex, mixed greases, polyurea, etc. The reaction process is similar to the conventional kettle process but is significantly more efficient and effective, which allows the manufacturer to minimize unit manufacturing costs while producing a high-quality product.

Advantages of The Contactor™ Reactor

Improved Yield

The high shear rate of the mixing apparatus gives a more uniform dispersion of soap into the oil. This higher dispersion yields a thicker grease, which translates into more grease per thickener. Thickener content for a standard lithium-based grease can often be reduced between 30% and 50% over a standard kettle operation.

Reduced Production Time

The high circulation rate of the Contactor™ reactor permits rapid heating of the mixture to saponification temperature.

Versatility

The design permits heating or cooling with a circulating heat transfer oil and operates under pressure or vacuum conditions.

Pressure Operation

Certain types of greases are best made under controlled pressure reaction conditions, which conserves energy and inhibits “foaming”. This, combined with the high shear rate, offers complete saponification.

Direct Finishing

Moving the grease mixture at maximum velocity through the impeller has been shown to be a key factor in homogenizing and finishing greases.

Multipurpose

All standard calcium, sodium, lithium, and complex greases can be produced in a single Contactor™ reactor, as well as aluminum complex, polyurea, and calcium sulfonate greases.

Operational Savings

Reduction in production time, labor costs, and raw materials can result in a payback of less than one year.

Consistency & Uniformity

The high heat transfer coefficient and high circulation rate results in tight time-temperature control. This, in turn, results in a high level of repeatability and consistent product quality between batches.

Environmentally Friendly

Because of the effectiveness in mixing and heat transfer and reduced energy consumption, the process significantly reduces carbon emissions in the manufacturing process.

Flexibility

Flexibility for either batch or continuous processes and/or several processes (heating, cooling, pressure, atmospheric, vacuum) in a single vessel.

Applications for the Contactor™ Reactor

The STRATCO® Contactor™ reactor is extremely versatile and efficient. Any process that requires mixing of dissimilar liquids or reactants that may or may not require heating or cooling can be efficiently and effectively accomplished in the STRATCO® Contactor™ vessel.

Example Processes:

Saponification: Chemically reacting acids and alkalis to form “soaps”
Blending asphaltic emulsions
Manufacturing adhesives
Production of pharmaceutical creams and specialty drugs

Grease Manufacturing Process

The heart of the STRATCO® lubricating grease manufacturing process is the proprietary STRATCO® Contactor™ reactor. The outstanding feature of the Contactor™ reactor is its high turbulent circulation in a closed cycle path. The combination of high internal flow velocity and greater heating surface compared to a conventional kettle vessel is key to making it such an effective reactor.

Modified Asphalt Contactor (MAC) Reactor

The STRATCO® Modified Asphalt Contactor™ (MAC) reactor is designed to blend modifiers and fillers with asphalt cement / bitumen to produce modified asphalt for the paving, bitumastic roofing, or building industrial applications.

Maintenance

Spare Parts, Refurbishment, and Service

The key to maximizing the life and efficiency of your STRATCO® Contactor™ reactor is proper maintenance. This includes not only proper lubrication but also the prompt repair or replacement of wearable parts. STRATCO offers replacement parts, repair services, and complete refurbishment to ensure that your Contactor™ reactor is maintained in the greatest operating condition.

Why you should use genuine STRATCO® OEM parts:

Prolongs life of seals, bearings, motors, and impellers
Protects shaft from wear
Optimum raw material dispersion and heat transfer to minimize energy costs and maximize quality

Our critical dimensional tolerances are less than 0.02mm because it matters.

For current pricing on STRATCO® OEM parts or complete Hydraulic Head assemblies, please contact us today.

Mobile Water Purification Unit

The STRATCO® Mobile Water Purification Unit is completely contained within a sixteen-foot enclosed trailer that is easily pulled by an ordinary truck. Self-containment and flexibility were the intent when fabrication was started. With a few adjustments, the membranes can be changed to softening membranes or seawater membranes. The pre-filter housings can also host several different micron-sized filters, from 1 micron absolute to 20-micron nominal. The control system can also be modified to suit any customer’s needs, from simple controls to complete automation. The flow rates can also be customized by adding or removing membrane banks. STRATCO® can custom build any flow rates a customer might want. A smaller more compact unit is being designed that will have higher flows but in a smaller package.