Hydro, Inc.

Founded in 1969 in Chicago, Hydro has grown from a single pump service center into a global network of service centers dedicated to the pump aftermarket. The company is independent and brand-neutral, working across a broad spectrum of pump manufacturers and designs.

Mission

Hydro works hand-in-hand with customers to achieve operational excellence of their pumping systems by providing:

• Unbiased engineering
• Efficient and sustainable solutions
• Quality workmanship
• Responsive service

Every repair is treated as an opportunity for improvement rather than a like-for-like replacement.

What Hydro does

Hydro provides engineering, repair, testing, condition monitoring, and reliability services for pumps and other rotating equipment. Core focus areas include:

• Solving complex pump performance and reliability issues
• Engineering upgrades to improve efficiency, reliability and life
• Condition monitoring and diagnostics for critical rotating equipment
• Certified performance testing of pumps
• Education and training for end users

Industries served

Hydro supports a wide range of industrial sectors, including:

• Power generation (fossil and combined-cycle)
• Nuclear power
• Oil and gas
• Chemical and petrochemical
• Steel and metals
• Mining
• Pulp and paper
• Water and wastewater
• Food and beverage

Experience and independence

• Over 50 years of experience in the pump aftermarket
• Independent and unbiased – loyal to end users, not to any single OEM brand
• Cross-OEM expertise based on decades of field experience and data from many pump models and applications

Quality and certifications

Hydro's US service centers operate under quality programs that comply with ISO 9001:2015.

Many locations hold additional certifications. Notably, the Chicago HydroAire Madison service center:

• Holds ASME N, NPT and NR certificates for work on nuclear safety-related and ASME Code pumps
• Operates a Quality Assurance Program that complies with 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix B and ASME Section III
• Has been audited by the Nuclear Procurement Issues Committee (NUPIC)

Nuclear capabilities

Hydro provides high-quality pump solutions for the nuclear industry and has developed a reputation for quality and reliability for safety-related pumping equipment.

Headquarters and contact

Headquarters Hydro, Inc. 834 W. Madison St. Chicago, IL 60607 United States

Phone: (312) 738-3000 Website: https://hydroinc.com General inquiries/contact form: available via the "Contact Us" page on the website.

Hydro's reliability engineers work with plant maintenance and engineering teams to provide:

• On-site troubleshooting for complex pump and system issues
• Routine health and condition assessments of pumps and drivers
• Evaluation of newly commissioned as well as long-serving equipment
• Recommendations to improve reliability, availability and performance

Field testing and inspections

Typical on-site activities can include:

• Review of pump operating and maintenance history
• Mechanical inspection of pumps, drivers and support systems
• Pump, driver and system testing to capture operating data
• Health audits (mechanical and hydraulic evaluations) before or after an overhaul

Health audits often include:

• Flow measurements
• Vibration measurements
• Temperature monitoring
• General mechanical condition assessment

These evaluations help customers plan and prioritize maintenance and outages rather than running equipment to failure.

Advanced troubleshooting and analysis

Hydro's reliability engineers use a range of diagnostic tools and techniques, which can include:

• Vibration analysis (overall and peak values, discrete frequency analysis, resonance testing, ramp-up and coast-down testing)
• Gear and bearing condition analysis
• Operating deflection shape (ODS) evaluations
• Experimental modal analysis
• Finite element analysis (FEA) to evaluate structural and dynamic behavior

These methods are applied to pumps, motors, gear boxes and associated structures to uncover underlying issues.

System-level analysis

Hydro Reliability Services also performs system-level analysis to understand how the piping system and operating conditions influence equipment performance. This can include:

• Fluid flow simulation and modeling of systems
• Evaluation of system-related issues such as inadequate NPSH, transients or recirculation
• Assessment of pump support systems, including:
• Piping and layout
• Seal flush or injection systems
• Lubrication and bearing support
• Base frame and foundation
• AC motor diagnostics

Results are used to recommend modifications that improve overall system performance and reliability.

Benefits for customers

By combining field diagnostics, advanced analysis, and experience with a wide range of pump designs, Hydro Reliability Services helps customers to:

• Identify and resolve chronic or complex performance problems
• Reduce unplanned downtime and failure risk
• Extend equipment life
• Optimize system operation and maintenance plans

For more information or to request reliability services, customers can use the contact form or phone number listed in the company overview document.

Pump service offerings – from field to finishing

Hydro provides a comprehensive range of aftermarket services for pumps and other rotating equipment, from field troubleshooting and emergency response to engineered upgrades, testing, and training.

Field and emergency services

Hydro's field service technicians use state-of-the-art tools and techniques to support critical equipment in the field. Typical services include:

• On-site inspection and troubleshooting of pump issues
• Emergency response for critical or outage-related problems
• Installation, alignment and commissioning support
• Field repairs when equipment cannot be easily removed from service

Technicians have extensive cross-OEM knowledge, enabling work on many makes and models of pumps.

Reliability services

Hydro Reliability Services provides on-site diagnostics and reliability support for pumping systems. Services include:

• Troubleshooting complex vibration or performance issues
• Routine health and condition assessments of pumps and drivers
• System-level evaluations to identify root causes of recurring problems
• Recommendations to improve reliability, availability and performance

Quality pump repair

Hydro treats every repair as an opportunity to improve the pump. Typical repair scope can include:

• Inspection and failure analysis
• Restoration of critical fits and clearances
• Hydraulic, mechanical and materials upgrades to better match the application
• Reassembly, balancing and testing to verify performance

The goal is to restore or improve efficiency, reliability and service life compared to pre-failure condition.

Engineering services

Hydro's engineering and technical staff have deep experience with a wide range of pumping equipment. Engineering services often include:

• Hydraulic and mechanical design review
• Analysis of operating conditions versus original design
• Recommendations for design modifications to improve efficiency, reliability or operating range
• Application of advanced analysis tools in support of upgrades and troubleshooting

Critical parts solutions

Hydro Parts Solutions provides difficult-to-source cast components for pumps, including:

• Impellers
• Diffusers
• Discharge heads
• Casings
• Bowls
• Suction bells

Engineering expertise, modern manufacturing technology and process control are used to help ensure high-quality replacement parts.

Certified performance testing

Hydro has a state-of-the-art pump performance test lab, strategically located at its Chicago service center, dedicated to the pump aftermarket.

Capabilities include testing to verify:

• Capacity and head (Total Dynamic Head)
• Brake horsepower (BHP)
• Efficiency
• Other hydraulic performance parameters as required

Testing is used to validate repairs and upgrades and to confirm that pumps meet specified performance prior to returning to service.

Condition monitoring

Hydro offers Centaur, a wireless condition monitoring solution for critical rotating equipment. It provides continuous monitoring of vibration and related parameters, enabling early detection of developing issues and supporting predictive maintenance programs.

Education and training

Through Hydro University, Hydro provides:

• Online technical webinars
• E-learning classes
• Applied knowledge digital workshops

Topics include centrifugal pump fundamentals, system optimization, vibration, failure modes, and other subjects relevant to pump users and maintainers.

For current courses and schedules, see the Hydro University information on the Hydro website.

Centaur collects vibration and related data from critical rotating assets and makes it available to both Hydro's specialists and the customer's operations team. This enables:

• Continuous monitoring of equipment condition
• Early detection of abnormal behavior
• Proactive maintenance planning based on actual condition rather than fixed intervals

Monitoring support services

Hydro offers monitoring support services built around Centaur, which typically include:

Proactive diagnostics and oversight

• Round-the-clock oversight of monitored assets by specialized Centaur engineers
• Detection and evaluation of alarms, faults and software alerts
• Translation of complex diagnostic data into clear, actionable insights

Monthly condition and diagnostic reporting

• Custom monthly health or diagnostic reports for monitored equipment
• Dedicated monthly review meetings to discuss findings, trends and recommended actions

Alarm and system management

• Immediate diagnostic review when alarms or faults are triggered
• Guidance on corrective actions to help restore equipment performance

On-site inspection and validation

• Deployment of engineers to site when needed to verify suspected faults
• Support with implementing recommended maintenance or modifications

In-depth offline testing

• Bench-level diagnostic testing for complex or intermittent issues
• Detailed recommendations for long-term reliability improvements

How Centaur supports reliability programs

By integrating continuous monitoring with expert diagnostics, Centaur can help:

• Reduce unplanned downtime
• Catch developing problems before they lead to failure
• Prioritize maintenance work based on risk and equipment condition
• Extend the life and reliability of critical pumps and other rotating machinery

For details on implementing Centaur monitoring or to discuss specific applications, customers can contact Hydro using the contact information in the company overview document.

Hydro University offers multiple delivery formats, which can include:

• Online technical webinars – live or recorded sessions on specific topics
• E-learning classes – self-paced online courses
• Applied knowledge digital workshops – more in-depth, practical sessions that apply concepts to real-world situations

Current offerings and schedules are listed on the Hydro website.

Typical topics

Training content covers a wide range of pump and system topics, such as:

• Centrifugal pump fundamentals
• Pump curves and operating range
• System optimization and energy considerations
• Vibration and condition monitoring basics
• Common pump failure modes and how to prevent them
• Best practices for operation, maintenance and troubleshooting

Who it is for

Hydro University is intended for:

• Plant engineers
• Maintenance and reliability personnel
• Operators
• Others responsible for specifying, operating or maintaining pumps and related systems

How to learn more

For information about available courses, schedules, and enrollment, visitors can:

• Visit the Hydro University section of the Hydro website
• Use the general contact form or phone number listed in the company overview document to request details about specific training needs

Ask anyway — the agent will say plainly that it is not published rather than guess.