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This is Chris Redgrave for Zions Bank Speaking on Business.
The business scene in Utah is exciting, innovative and original. That's one reason why the Harvard Business Review recently named Utah as one of the top entrepreneur-minded states in the nation. And you don't have to look any further than Robert James of Hycomp to see that innovation in action.
Company president Robert James says his team at Hycomp in Hyde Park, in Cache Valley, has established a solid niche as one of three companies in the U.S. involved in large-scale manufacturing of oil-free air and gas compressors. In fact, only a few companies globally provide similar custom compressor products and mostly for private contracts.
Hycomp manufactures oil-free compressors and compressor systems for customers looking for custom-built or highly specified systems to support their normal business processes, from manufacturing air conditioning units to pharmaceutical to petro-chemical refining. Their strategy remains set with low-volume, high-dollar projects.
Robert's father started a business called Aeroflow in the 1970s from scratch, using his own personal knowledge of the industry. He ran it for years and later sold it. In 1997 it was on the auction block. That's where Robert bought it then reformed the business into what it is today, as Hycomp, with its roots still in the original company. He says his father would be proud to see the direction he's taken the company and how much it's grown.
This year Hycomp was named the SBA Exporter of the Year, and Robert couldn't be more honored. The company now does business in over 42 countries, on every continent except Antarctica, even placing systems on vessels in every major ocean in the world. They can manufacture their product to fit any country's standards, from European to Russian, Korean to Chinese. They're contributing to Utah's thriving export base, which had 10 years of consecutive growth.
No doubt that Robert has aggressive growth plans for Hycomp in the works, but his biggest focus is the international side, where, in just the last 12 to 18 months, they've already started their push to increase international placement of their products.
For Zions Bank, I'm Chris Redgrave, speaking on business.
Hycomp 60 W. 3800 North Hyde Park, UT 84318 435-563-3695; www.hycompusa.com
