Vortex, Salina, KS, this month celebrates 40 years of designing and manufacturing slide gates, diverter valves and iris diaphragms for use in gravity flow, dilute phase and dense phase pneumatic conveying applications.

 

Founded in 1977 by Loren Neil Peterson and his son-in-law Lee Young, the company got off the ground with its patented Vortex Orifice Gate – the first valve designed specifically for handling dry bulk solid materials. Since then, it has established more than 20 innovative valve designs which are being used by more than 20,000 factories in 80 countries to handle thousands of material types. Vortex valves can be completely customised for individual applications or special installations.

 

In 2006, Vortex opened an international office in Darlington, UK, to establish business activities in African, Asian, and European markets. When the UK office was opened, it had only a handful of customers – which led to many obstacles in establishing business. Despite this, the company knew it could find its niche in new markets if it could assist customers with specific processing problems, while also delivering excellent service and fast response. 

 

In February 2013 Vortex acquired PMC Unlimited, enabling it to enter the international market for telescopic loading chutes. Since then this product line, which has undergone radical redevelopment, has proved to be a rapidly growing asset to the Vortex portfolio, with its retractable loading chutes currently installed on six continents. www.vortexglobal.com

 

 

Vortex staff commemorate the 40th anniversary in front of the company’s Salina headquarters