E-Tech Inc Information

Kentube was founded in the early 1960's by Ken Anderson. At that time, Kentube did finning for the refinery market using MIG type welding. Because of the high temperatures and rigorous service in the typical refinery, Mr. Anderson developed a method of attaching fins using high frequency, resistance welding. This is the same process as used in manufacturing welded boiler tubing (SA178A, for example.) Using this method of attachment with its inherent strong fin-to-tube bond resulted in a better, longer lasting product. In fact, the finned tubes we manufactured were known as "Kentubes", a term still heard today. In the mid-60's, Kentube branched off into fabricating heat exchangers, particularly in the refinery business. Also, using our code stamp (#4,072), we ventured into the utility business fabricating huge economizer sections through such companies as Riley Stoker, Combustion Engineering and the like. When the first oil crisis came in the mid-70's and fuel oil prices quadrupled, Kentube began designing and building packaged economizers for both the retrofit market and for the boiler manufacturers. Previously, the boiler OEM's designed and built their own. At the same time, Kentube was purchased by Tranter, then out of Michigan, who later was bought by Dover. At the end of 1985, Tranter sold its interest in Kentube and we were purchased by a holding company that eventually was known as Fintube Limited Partnership. In 1989, Kentube, then a single entity, reorganized into two separate divisions: Kentube Finned Products and Kentube Fabricated Products (later changed to Kentube Engineered Products). In January 2000, Fintube Limited Partnership was bought by Lone Star Technologies. Lone Star Technologies is also the parent company of Lone Star Steel, Bellville Tube and Fintube Technologies. Since our acquisition, we have accelerated our research and development in the heat transfer arena and nearly tripled in size our fabrication facilities. Today Kentube Engineered Products is still the industry leader in the ...