Jon Newton

Jon Newton was an important part of introducing a new carbon block product offering. He worked closely with the customer, documented the delivery and set-up of the unit, and tested it in the field. Jon became directly involved with the opportunity when he offered to drive the Filtration Business Unit Manager to the customer site for a sales call in February. Even though Jon is the Data Integrity Manager in Kent, WA, it made sense for him to go along because of his background in filtration and his long-standing relationship with the customer.

A Pacific Northwest customer was seeking a cleaner method of treating wastewater. Valin introduced the potential of using a benzene skid that was still in the proof of concept phase. The unit is specifically tailored toward benzene and hydrocarbon removal and could be used by companies doing remediation or facilities that treat water before going through the sewer system. The customer agreed to help Valin test the unit and in return find a solution to their current process.

The unit finally shipped and installed in May after a long lead time on parts and the interruption of COVID-19. Once the skid shipped, Jon jumped in with additional support by making sure the skid arrived at the customer site intact by inspecting the containment housing and filter elements. From there, it took several hours to maneuver the skid into the containment tank after being told that the bulk carbon vessel was permanent. This meant moving the unit into place very carefully with very little room for error. It had to fit within a very defined area with tight measurements. Throughout the entire process, Jon provided extensive documentation by photo journaling and in written form. The information provided the filtration team a clear understanding of the arrival and lessons learned in the field.

Once the skid was properly placed Jon did a full system pressure test. He made sure there were no leaks, and everything operated correctly. He then worked with the plant manager and one other employee instructing them on how to pressurize the system and provided design enhancement suggestions. After installation, Valin was notified of a potential bypass problem. Jon visited the customer site again and did a complete system change out. Jon again documented in writing and with photos what he discovered. It was revealed that the filters were not performing as expected and Jon returned the filters to the manufacturer for further analysis and review.

The system has been producing better test levels than what the customer expected, and the updated proof of concept is now better than before proving to be a mutually beneficial partnership for both.

In conclusion, Jon’s efforts allowed this project to move forward during the current COVID-19 crisis while providing valuable field documentation. Jon continues to be an important liaison between the customer and Valin as the unit continues to perform. The plant manager at the water treatment facility had the following to say about Jon’s efforts and support.

His engagement with the customer has kept Valin’s representation during the proof of concept phase, both positive and professional to the highest regard. Jon’s support and actions exemplify the employee-owner mentality and Valin is fortunate to have him as a valuable team member.