The success of ACS Industries Inc. is proof positive that good ideas, backed with continuing research and development, can survive economic downturns, materials shortages and even a world war.

Today, ACS provides a number of engineered products for the refining, petrochemical, gas processing, environmental, vessel fabrication and OEM industries. The company is an industry leader in the research, development and manufacturing of specialized process tower and vessel internals.

Today, the company’s extensive product line includes wire mesh mist eliminators from the most basic to the new patent pending MisterMesh® MaxCap™ Mist Eliminator. However, the company has continuously grown through innovation from its early days of making wire pot scrubbers called the Kitchen Queen.

It all began in 1939 when Peter Botvin, a Russian immigrant, noticed how hard it was to scour the family pots and pans. His idea of using knitted copper wire to create a better pot scrubber was simple yet brilliant. Soon he began a small manufacturing operation in the basement of his Providence, R.I., home. He called his company American Copper Sponge Co.

Only a temporary setback

As sales increased, Botvin expanded the operation to a more efficient production facility. Shortages of metals, including copper, during World War II forced Botvin to close the fledgling factory and store his knitting machines. He contributed to the war effort by working at the Providence shipyard. When the war ended, the tenacious Botvin resumed his knitting operations.

A bold new vision

Soon, Botvin’s son, George, came to work full time in the family business. Young George was a gifted salesman and saw numerous marketing opportunities for knitted wire mesh in process industries. With his father nearing retirement and George at the helm, the company expanded its markets to include stainless steel and aluminum knitted mesh that would filter oil and grease in commercial kitchens. It was then that George began to research other possible process applications for wire mesh products.

The refining, chemical and gas processing industries caught his eye in the 1950s. He found that he could easily adapt his knitted wire mesh products to this growing industry’s applications. After extensive research and product development, he launched ACS Separations & Mass Transfer Products and began manufacturing knitted wire mist eliminator pads commonly used in process towers and vessels.

Shortening the company name for new market appeal

The company expanded its manufacturing capabilities by installing stainless steel wire drawing and annealing equipment. With the new equipment and even more market opportunities on the horizon, the company changed its name from American Copper Sponge Co. to the more inclusive name of ACS Industries Inc.

Vertically integrated

George’s aggressive nature and enthusiasm helped drive the company to also serve the burgeoning U.S. automotive industry. In 1975, ACS got its first automotive contract from Ford Motor Co. after installing rod-breaking equipment that allowed ACS to purchase intermediate diameter wires and draw them down to the fine wires necessary for knitting. ACS remains the only knitted wire mesh manufacturer in the world that is vertically integrated back to rod drawing.

ACS research and product development never ends

Today, ACS continues to research, develop and produce a wide array of wire mesh products for the automotive market. ACS has emerged as one of the global leaders for process column, tower and vessel internals by producing an ever expanding and evolving line of knitted wire mesh mist eliminators (called MisterMesh pads) in addition to very sophisticated and highly engineered coalescers, fractionation trays, packing, tray hardware and other products.

A new generation of family members are now in charge and continue to expand on what two generations of Botvin leadership developed. Steven Buckler, Peter’s grandson and George’s nephew, is now president, leading all of the ACS companies. George’s son, Peter Botvin (named after the company founder) is vice president and now leads ACS Separations & Mass Transfer Products, which is based in Houston.

No middleman here

“My father and my grandfather were both visionaries,” said Peter Botvin. “They could have bought from manufacturers and become resellers, but they saw the importance of having their own manufacturing capabilities. That is important to the automotive side of the business, but it is especially important to our industrial separation clients. Because we are turnkey manufacturers, we can respond to client needs very quickly — any time, day or night. If one of our clients has an outage, we will be ready to provide the right products for their unit to help minimize downtime.

“My father made sure our manufacturing facility was equipped with the latest equipment and technology because he realized that customer response is critical,” he continued. “Today, we also maintain a staff of full-time engineers. It’s one thing to be a rapid responder to client needs, but when you do respond, you had better be able to make sure the product fits the process unit.”

Kanti Pantel, P.E., has been with ACS for 21 years and is the company’s engineering manager.

“Our engineering team is here to assist customers in any way we can,” he said. “Each process, every tower and every vessel is unique. Some of the older vessels may have internals replaced at different times with products from many different companies. This makes it doubly important for us to offer our experience and knowledge as separations and mass transfer specialists. Our clients repeatedly tell us how much our input has helped them. We like the compliments, but it is our job to provide expert advice. We’re problem solvers as much as we are engineers.”

Robert Lasser, ACS sales and marketing manager, agreed with Botvin.

“I’d say that the experience and competence of our engineering department is a competitive edge for sure, but then, so are our manufacturing capability and our rapid response systems,” he said. “Beyond these, it’s our ongoing R&D along with our partnership with Montz GmbH, one of the best companies in Europe specializing in mass transfer products. When all of these capabilities are integrated into one company committed to service and excellence, it’s a complete package that the process industry has come to rely upon and to trust through the years.”

A dynamic company in a dynamic market

Since the departure of George in 2005, his nephew, son and other family members are not content with keeping things “status quo.” Buckler said he intends to keep ACS a dynamic company.

“We want to keep a ‘hands-on’ position in the company so that we can immediately address internal and market changes,” Buckler said. “Right now, we’re responding to the demands of a global market, and we’re taking steps to address those expanding needs.”

The company now has sophisticated global manufacturing facilities strategically placed to provide optimum response to customers around the world. Throughout its decades of success, the ACS family and employees have not forgotten what got them here. They still produce an extensive line of scouring pads and cleaning products for the institutional food service industry and the janitorial and sanitation industries. And yes, ACS continues to make those wonderful curly metal pot scrubbers that help keep cooking utensils clean and sparkling everywhere.

For more information on ACS Separations & Mass Transfer Products, call (800) 231-0077 or e-mail separations@acsind.com or go to www.acsseparations.com.