Company History at a Glance II

About Becker

1984
The Valve Regulator Pilot (VRP) is introduced to the natural gas industry as an alternative to typical pneumatic controller/positioner combinations. The VRP provides accurate pressure control when combined with double-acting control valve actuators. The single device system is a tremendous improvement over existing technology and launches Becker into the forefront of environmentally-friendly natural gas control instrumentation. The VRP Pilot enables the elimination of atmospheric emissions with its exclusive "bleed to pressure system" design. The VRP-Pilot marks the true development of a ball valve regulator that is "Engineered for the Environment." Accessories such as the Atmospheric Bleed Control (AB-Control) and the Model PS-2 Non-Bleed Sensor provide additional features for minimization of atmospheric bleed gas.

VRP Series Valve Regulator Pilot

Becker has always been an innovator in the natural gas industry. When introduced in 1984, the VRP Pilot provided radical improvement over conventional technologies of the time with regard to ease of operation and emissions reduction. With the continual development of new models, the VRP continues as a technological leader in the natural gas industry.

1987
The technologies that made the VRP-Pilot such a breakthrough success are adapted to create the Model HPP-2 High Pressure Positioner. The HPP-2 Positioner proves to be equally successful to the VRP technology and is touted as a true "natural gas positioner." The HPP-2 incorporates the same "bleed to pressure system" features in a pneumatic valve positioner typically utilized for flow control and other positioner applications.

1991
As the product line grows, so does Becker's business. Becker triples the size of operations by moving into the present 30,000 sq. ft. location at 1550 Greenleaf Avenue. Product development will continue as will growth. During the same year, RPSR Series "Spring Return" Actuators are introduced. The Spring Return actuators provide incredibly fast speed of response and lead to the development of the Becker Surge Control Valve (SCV). Becker's Surge Control Valve will become widely accepted as a benchmark of quality for the protection of centrifugal natural gas pipeline compressors.

Becker RPSR Spring Return Actuators

Becker's RPSR Spring Return Actuators provide simplicity and safety. The RPSR guarantees failure mode of the control valve in the event of loss of power gas. The Rotary Piston Spring Return actuator is available for fail-open or fail-closed action to meet your application requirements.

1993
The second generation of VRP-Pilots and HPP-Positioners is introduced. The VRP-B and HPP-3 incorporate a "balanced seat" design that allow for substantially reduced emissions when "bleed to pressure system" is not available. Additionally, a new manifold design simplifies Becker control valve installations. Additionally, an electro-pneumatic positioner is created. The new electro-pneumatic positioner series eliminates the need for I/P transducers. Once again, Becker establishes itself as the industry leader of environmentally-friendly control valve instrumentation for the natural gas industry.

Model HPP-3E Electro-Pneumatic Positioner

The HPP-3E represented a technological breakthrough combined with environmental friendliness. The HPP-3E eliminated the need for an I/P transducer and provided a "lock in last position" feature" in the event of command signal loss. Additionally, the HPP-3E featured a near zero steady state bleed for reduction of fugitive natural gas emissions.

1995
The third generation of VRP-Pilots and HPP-Positioners is introduced. The new VRP-SB, HPP-SB and HPP-SBE provide zero bleed at steady state technology, an industry first. All three devices become widely successful. The VRP-SB Non-Bleed Pressure Controller however, establishes an enormous worldwide market due to its significant advancements in emissions reduction and performance over the competition.

VRP-SB Non-Bleed Pressure Controller

The innovative VRP-SB was introduced as the first "non-bleed" pneumatic pressure controller in 1995. The VRP-SB has been continually improved over the years and remains the only "non-bleed" pneumatic pressure controller available. VRP-SB Non-Bleed Pressure Controllers may be easily retrofit to other manufacturer's control valves to minimize bleed gas emissions.

1998
Becker recognizes the need for additional control valve styles and incorporates the CVE Series globe pattern control valves into the catalog. The new CVE Series globe valve regulator widens Becker's application capabilities and allows more end-users to take advantage of Becker's environmentally-friendly control instrumentation. The CVE globe control valve, Linear Piston actuators, and environmentally-friendly control instrumentation create the ideal "globe valve regulator" for regulation in natural gas driven power plants. Additionally, the NBV No-Bleed Valve furthers the modular instrumentation design while simplifying instrumentation installation. The NBV eliminates atmospheric bleed gas from all double-acting VRP's and HPP's when the control valve is in full-open and full-closed position. The NBV requires no maintenance or adjustment.

VRP-B Series Valve Regulator Pilots

Becker is continually improving its technologies. The VRP-B "balanced seat pilot" featured the operational benefits of the original VRP Pilot combined with a near zero steady state bleed. "Balanced seat" technology was also introduced to positioner products with models HPP-3 and HPP-3E.

1999
Further modifications to Becker VRP-Pilots are completed with a new "chamber" design that incorporates the sensing chamber with the VRP control spring chamber. The new design substantially increases instrumentation accuracy and insures even greater control accuracy than before. Further refinement of the VRP-SB generates a high performance zero bleed pneumatic pressure controller specifically designed for challenging applications such as power plant control and other high gain piping systems. As usual, the VRP-SB is expected to be a tremendous success for the industry and for the environment.

Becker Globe Valve Regulator

Becker introduced a globe valve regulator specifically designed for natural gas regulation. The Becker "globe valve regulator" combined the benefits of the globe valve with environmental and operational benefits of the Becker instrumentation and valve actuator product lines. Combined, Globe Valve Regulators and Ball Valve Regulators gave Becker the capability to provide the ideally-suited control valve for most applications.

FUTURE
Becker will continue its allegiance to the natural gas industry by furthering development of products that improve reliability, simplify operation, attenuate noise generation and minimize atmospheric impact via emissions reduction.

About Becker Page 1