Story ID: 
Ram Means Solenoid
By: AIN Staff
Caption: Ram Company, a specialist in electromechanical and fluid management design, is exhibiting at the NBAA show for the first time and is promoting its solenoid
Word Count: 332
Ram Company, a specialist in electromechanical and fluid management design, is exhibiting at the NBAA show for the first time and is promoting its solenoid valve line and the company’s next step involving solenoid/manifold integration.
“It’s something more and more of our customers have expressed an interest in,” said Brian McCann, materials manager for the St. George, Utah-based firm (Booth No. C11736). Ram is best known for its solenoid valves, check and relief valves and pressure switches, found on aircraft ranging from Cessna Citations to the new Boeing 787. The next step made sense in terms of meeting market demand, explained McCann.
For the most part, Ram works with systems suppliers, such as Parker Hannifin and Meggitt Aerospace, among others. “Lately, we’ve been working with engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney Canada in development of a solenoid valve for one of its turbofan engines. It had issues with an earlier product, and we were among those asked to redesign it,” said McCann. “We think we’ve got a very good shot at winning the contract.”
Ram, founded in 1975, is family held, with Kevin Ganowsky as president. While founders Ray Ganowsky and wife Melzie Ganowsky are now in their late 70s, said McCann, they still come in every day and take an interest in the company. Ram currently employs 155 people at its 55,000-sq-ft plant and has just purchased 20,000 additional square feet of storage space. McCann said Ram doubled its total square footage in 2008, and long-range plans might again double its holdings sometime within the next five years.
Judging by the last two years’ revenues, Ram has survived the recession, and McCann anticipates better times ahead. “Our best year ever was 2008; 2009 was a bit flat by comparison and 2010 was up about five percent,” said McCann. “And we’re pretty happy to see that in 2011; we’re growing at the rate of about 20 percent.”–K.J.H.