Global leader in flow, level and temperature measurement since 1964, Fluid Components International (FCI) is celebrating 50 years in business this year. AMS Instrumentation and Calibration, one of the first overseas distributors for FCI, is proud to be associated with the leading technology innovator.
FCI President Dan McQueen comments that the company has come a long way from its origins in oil field flow detection to becoming a world leader in applying thermal dispersion technology to solve flow and level measurement challenges in a wide range of industrial processes and aircraft applications. He adds that FCI’s history of technological innovation, commitment to global customers and the support of exceptionally skilled and dedicated employees have allowed the company to thrive for the past 50 years and will be FCI’s foundation for the next 50 years.
Founded in 1964 by California engineers Malcolm ‘Mac’ McQueen and Bob Deane, FCI initially found success in the oil/gas industry, developing a robust thermal flow switch to detect low flow rates in stripper wells.
In the 1970s, the company followed up with flow rate and liquid level switches and transmitters, and then pioneered thermal dispersion mass air/gas flow meters. Over the next four decades FCI built a reputation for accurate, reliable, rugged process measurement instrumentation in many industries including aerospace, chemical, electric power generation, nuclear and water treatment.
Used in many of the world’s most demanding industries, FCI’s products are recognised for their precision measurement accuracy and repeatability in harsh conditions, where their high performance ensures both end-product quality and operational safety. The company offers a broad range of application solutions from off-the-shelf devices to custom-engineered systems.
FCI’s newest air/gas flow meters combine feature- and function-rich electronics with advanced flow sensors to achieve a truly state-of-the-science flow metering solution. The flow meter’s measurement accuracy is matched by a rugged design that is compatible with caustic, corrosive, humid and high temperature environments. Advantages also include simple installation, virtually no maintenance and long life.
FCI flow switches, featuring an advanced, no-moving parts thermal dispersion flow sensor, are ideal for a wide range of point-level process applications. Their versatile design also allows them to measure flow, level or temperature. The company’s NuTec flow switch utilises a unique non-contacting flow element that separates the sensor from the process media. FCI flow switches are ideal for interface monitoring in mixed density media, such as foams, emulsion layers and slurries.
FCI’s custom designed flow and level sensors for OEM applications are ideal for use in a wide range of industrial equipment where monitoring, high/low alarming, metering, switching and totalising are required. Suitable for gas or liquid applications, these devices feature advanced micro-electronics for direct mass flow measurement in a rugged, no-moving parts design that offers exceptionally high reliability and long life.
Flow conditioners developed by FCI’s Vortab Company provide a low-pressure loss solution to correcting flow profile irregularities that affect the accuracy of flow instrumentation. Vortab flow conditioners eliminate flow disturbances in crowded plants, elbows, valves, blowers and other devices in the pipeline to ensure measurement accuracy.
The FCI Aerospace Division is a world leading manufacturer of built-to-specification flow, level, temperature and pressure sensors designed for mission-critical performance and reliability.
FCI’s world-class fully NIST traceable flow calibration laboratories test and calibrate all FCI products to ensure instrument accuracy with the customers’ actual fluid and process conditions. FCI’s calibration laboratories are ISO9001:2008 certified and AS9100 compliant, and also meet MIL-STD-45662A and ANSI/NCSL-Z-540 requirements.