From dairy farms to offshore production platforms, AW-Lake delivers precision flow with bespoke solutions 

Industry leading provider of industrial flow solutions, AW-Lake, sees enduring success through innovation and diversification. The company’s legacy started over 40 years ago, as General Manager, Chris Husson, begins: “AW-Lake is a combination of two companies, both of which are monitored and managed by the same leadership group. We got started back in the late 1980’s, as a distributor for AW-Lake’s German sister company, KEM Küppers. The sister operation produced gear meters and turbines, and AW-Lake grew into electronics. 

“AW Company was founded in the mid-80’s, designing our own electronic components, including sensors, displays and controllers to compliment the flowmeters

designed by KEM Küppers, which included Positive Displacement Gear Meters and Turbine Flow Meters. At about the same time, Lake Monitors was established by Jack Lake, manufacturing variable area meters and paddle wheel turbine flow meters. 

“Then, in the mid 2000’s, we all were brought into the TASI Group, now known as TASI Measurement, alongside 15 other companies working on flow measurement and temperature instrumentation. We’ve continued growing from there. AW-Lake and KEM Küppers have since expanded into Coriolis meters, which we were able to do thanks to some investment from TASI. 

“Our portfolio also includes vortex meters, mag meters, ultrasonic meters, and many more. We have an industry-leading selection in terms of breadth and quality. In addition, our products reach a wide range of markets and make up vital components for a lot of our customer base. 

“As flow measurement specialists, our core product range includes variable area meters, paddle wheel flow meters, turbine flow meters, positive displacement spur gear flow meters, and helical gear flow meters, in addition to our specialist range of Coriolis meters, which are some of the highest accuracy meters available on the market today. 

“To support our core offering we have a range of accessories and electronics, including Bluetooth enabled linearizers, which are vital in maintaining accurate measurements. We have more niche product lines as well, such as the ProScan range, which is designed specifically for use in the dairy industry to measure milk fat. 

“We also provide a range of support services, including calibration and troubleshooting for customers struggling with their flow measurement process. They don’t even need to be using our products. As flow measurement experts, we’re capable of helping our customers with a wide variety of challenges and applications. 

“Our focus in the coming months and years will be on greater product customization. We’re growing our research and development budget to jump on opportunities throughout the industry. We’re looking to partner up with other manufacturers, especially those in the chemical industry, so that we can create measurement tools for a range of difficult to manage substances,” he details. 

Customizable options 

Listening closely to customer feedback and the demands of an ever-evolving market has helped maintain AW-Lake’s long-term success. As Chris asserts: “Back when we started, our biggest market segment was the automotive industry, with most of our clients using our tools to measure paints. Many have now shifted to using metering pumps, so we’ve had to find opportunities in other industries. We transitioned our focus onto oil and gas producers, and that turned out to be a very successful move for us. 

“Now, the data industry is booming, and data centers are a rapidly growing market. Their technology relies on a water-cooling component with very specific measurements, so our products are a great fit. It’s all about listening to the customer, but also reading the industry at large, and making strategic maneuvers based on the information available.” 

Creating custom solutions for major clients has catalyzed company growth in recent years, as Chris details: “For us, we’ve seen a lot of growth as the result of offering more customizable options. Many of our more recent projects have been focused on this area of development, and we’ve seen a tangible uptick in customer satisfaction and intake since then. 

“When planning new product development, we prioritize the specific needs of our highest-volume customers. Additionally, we’ve increased our investment in customer service, as this has improved customer retention and loyalty across the business. 

“Conducting market research has been instrumental as we work to diversify our product offering. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive – customers often request small but meaningful product enhancements, or appreciate the simple things we offer, like a real person at the other end of the phone line as opposed to an automated message, for example. 

“Giving fast and thoughtful responses to queries help customers feel valued, and it means they can come to us with their concerns rather than looking elsewhere. We have an amazing team of in-house engineers, and they work with our salespeople to support our customers however they possibly can. They assist customers overcome challenges, solve problems, and ensure our products are used to their fullest potential. 

“We pride ourselves on offering something unique. Our products are not just off-the-shelf solutions, they are specifically designed with useability, function, and accuracy in mind. When we consider the growth trajectory of the business, we’re really thinking about how we can improve our offering to our client base. For our latest project, we’re collaborating with our sister company to redevelop our Coriolis meters, focusing on improving accuracy and expanding capabilities. 

“In terms of product development, I’d like to enhance our gear meters with a more modular design. This kind of approach allows for faster product integration and easier adoption from customers, which means we could see a very fast turnaround on new products. Beyond that, I’d like to redevelop our turbine line with modularity and customization in mind,” Chris concludes. 

Having remained at the cutting edge of flow measurement technology for decades, AW-Lake and its team look confidently toward the future: “In five years’ time, I expect AW-Lake will be an industry leader in custom flow measurement solutions. Customization has been a huge growth factor for the business in recent years, and so we’re looking to make even greater investments into this aspect of the design as the years go on.”  

aw-lake.com