March 12, 2019 | 2 minute read
Welcome to our first John Crane site feature blog post! In this article, we’ll introduce you to our John Crane Pasadena site, and offer further insights into the site’s history, job functions, areas and products of specialty, and how the site stays involved within the local community.
John Crane’s Pasadena site is located about 30 miles south of Houston, Texas, right on the door steps of the Houston Ship Channel (Refinery Row). The area of Pasadena was founded in 1893 by John H. Burnett of Galveston, who named the area after Pasadena, California, because of the perceived lush vegetation the area offered. Pasadena is home to the Armand Bayou Nature Center, which sits on 2,500 acres of land, making the largest urban wildlife preserve in the United States.
Pasadena is also known as the “Strawberry Capital” (by accident). In 1900, the American Red Cross sent Pasadena more than 1.5 million strawberry plants to help residents recover after a hurricane devastated the city, and by the late 1930s the crops had flourished so much that Pasadena became known as the Strawberry Capital of the World, shipping out up to 28 carloads of strawberries every day.
Read a Q&A with Michael Mullen, Gulf Coast Operations Manager, to learn more about what it’s like working in Pasadena.
When did your site open?
The Pasadena site opened in 2010. Previously, the facility was located in Webster, Texas.
How many employees work in Pasadena?
We currently have 141 employees at our site.
What are the major job functions at your site?
The Pasadena site has five major job functions:
- Sales
- Engineering
- Seal Repair
- Seal Assembly
- Manufacturing
What type of customers does your site serve?
We serve the oil and gas, petrochemical, pulp and paper, and power process industry customers.
What type of products do you manufacture and/or service?
Our site manufactures and services mechanical seals (wet seals) and couplings (power transmission). We also repair and service Indufil Filtration Systems. In addition, John Crane Asset Management Solutions operates out of the Pasadena facility.
Are there any major accomplishments at your site that you are proud of?
In August 2017, the Pasadena team responded to customer needs in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey―one of the worst hurricanes in recorded history that caused an estimated $125 billion worth of damage. The storm affected the Pasadena Super Center and also had a major impact on our Corpus Christi, Freeport, Longview and Beaumont service centers. While many employees were dealing with personal loss, they were simultaneously supporting the needs of our customers on the Gulf Coast of Texas. Due to the dedication of our employees, John Crane Pasadena was up and running within just a couple days supporting customers in the area.
What type of team building or community outreach programs do employees participate in?
Our employees actively support two nonprofit organizations—Meals on Wheels and Toys for Tots—and also supported Hurricane Harvey relief efforts in 2017.