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Replacement heat exchangers for the RSV Nuyina, Australia’s new Antarctic Research Vessel.

When you are sailing the treacherous seas around the Antarctic, or have work to do when you get there, the last thing you want is for any of your ship’s vital heat exchangers to fail.

For many years Fluid Dynamics was entrusted with the service, refurbishment and repair of the heat exchangers on board the RSV Aurora Australis, the original ice breaker which had faithfully served Australia’s Antarctic Program since 1989.

Now out of service, the Aurora Australis has been replaced by the incredible purpose-built RSV Nuyina, the single biggest investment in the history of Australia’s Antarctic Program.

Fluid Dynamics was honoured to recently be given the job of refurbishing heat exchangers on the Nuyina with an urgent request for assistance as summed up by Nuyina’s Operations Manager when he wrote:

"Australia's new $529M Research Supply Vessel the RSV Nuyina required the urgent repair of two oil coolers housed on the vessel’s 55 tonne Port Cargo Crane. Due to unavailability of new units and because of the tight timeframe for the vessel to sail on its maiden voyage to the Antarctic, Fluid Dynamics was contacted to perform repairs which, as it turns out, were not achievable due the number of holes identified in these coolers. As such, Fluid Dynamics worked tirelessly to renew the core of these units and to ensure they were correctly anodised (something that may have been lacking from the previous coolers) and on their way to the Nuyina in time to commence her cargo operations for the intended voyage.

The reactiveness of Fluid Dynamics was excellent and is in line with its previous support & service to Antarctic operating vessels noting the work Fluid Dynamics has performed onboard the vessel Aurora Australis which the Nuyina now replaces”.

Fluid Dynamics has now been requested to audit the Nuyina’s entire portfolio of heat exchangers when the ship returns to Hobart in April 2022 and to continue the vital ongoing task of caring for the ship’s heat exchangers to ensure not only the safety and viability of the Nuyina, its crew and passengers but the entire Australian Antarctic Program.

Fluid Dynamics genuinely cares about its clients and their heat exchangers.  If you need assistance with any heat exchangers please contact one of our friendly and expert staff.

Nicole Long - Our Office Manager 

With over 17 years’ experience working in the Administration field, Nicole fulfils the role of Office Manager here at Fluid Dynamics.

Bringing with her an abundance of knowledge and expertise for all things office related, Nicole offers a versatile approach and assists with many different aspects of the business.

As our front of house representative, Nicole is the face and voice for Fluid Dynamics. Being the first point of contact for all our customers, she is only too happy to help and will do her utmost to ensure your experience with us is welcoming and positive.

To talk with Nicole please contact our office or Email her at: accounts@fluiddynamics.com.au

Mike Surridge (ex SPX-APV, GEA/Kelvion and HRS) - our General Manager

Mike, who has spent the last 6 years with SPX - APV as its Head of Heat Exchange for Australia and New Zealand, has re-joined Fluid Dynamics as our General Manager. 

"We affectionately refer to Mike as ‘Captain Magic’ and 'Mr. Heat Exchange' " says John Bolton, Fluid Dynamics’ Executive Chairman “... and we are delighted to have a person universally regarded as the pre-eminent expert in heat exchangers to lead us through a period of dynamic growth in our business. Mike, who has an absolute passion for and pride in what he does, not only has an incredible knowledge of heat exchangers, but put simply, he also understands the business of heat exchange. He is the perfect fit for Fluid Dynamics. "

Mike’s life in heat exchangers commenced in 1982 (a year after Fluid Dynamics commenced operations) at the tender age of 15 when he commenced a 5 year fitter/welder apprenticeship with Watford Steel Fabrications in the UK, a company involved heavily in both manufacturing and heat exchangers.

He has literally known only one industry, heat exchangers, starting at the bottom and rising to the top.

In 1987, after a solid grounding in all aspects of the design and manufacture of heat exchangers, Mike moved to HRS, an internationally recognised heat exchanger manufacturer, where he spent four years as a Service Engineer, moved on up to Sales in 1991 and advanced to National Sales Manager in 1997. In his time in Sales with HRS Mike quadrupled its turnover in aftermarket service and spares.

In 2000, and still in the UK, Mike moved to APV as its UK Business Development Manager, a role that eventually brought him to Australia as APV’s Australian BDM.

Then on to GEA in 2008 as its National BDM for Heat Exchangers until it sold its Heat Exchanger Division to Kelvion in 2013.

Mike then brought his incredible skills and experience to Fluid Dynamics for the first time.

SPX, now the owner of APV, was very keen for Mike to return and was able to convince him to take on the role of Head of its Heat Exchange Division for the Australian & New Zealand operations. After two years with Fluid Dynamics, Mike left us and moved over to SPX-APV for six years where he doubled its heat exchanger business.

Now Mike has returned ‘home’ to Fluid Dynamics as our General Manager. “I first met Mike at a trade show in 2007 when he was with APV…” says John Bolton. “We became instant friends and have remained so ever since. Although I was disappointed when Mike left us in 2015, it was the right move for Mike. I have to say that both Mike and Mark Greaves, Mike’s new boss at SPX-APV, handled the process exceptionally well and I have a deep and lasting respect for them both. If anything, the relationship between each of us personally and our respective companies was strengthened.”

In testament to this mutual respect, SPX-APV has now appointed Fluid Dynamics as its Australian Channel Partner for its APV range of Gasketed Plate Heat Exchangers.

Mike has devoted his life to the heat exchanger industry, but he hasn’t lost any of his energy and drive. “I just fell in love with heat exchangers” says Mike. To anyone who has met or just spoken to Mike, this is obvious.    

When asked what stands out as the most rewarding aspect of his life in the heat exchange industry, Mike humbly replied “Being able to significantly increase the businesses of each of the companies for which I have worked, leaving each of them on very friendly terms and having had the opportunity to work with some of the best likeminded people in the industry from whom I have learnt so much”.

It is noteworthy that Mike’s old employers, SPX-APV, HRS and GEA, are all customers & suppliers of Fluid Dynamics.

Nice one Captain Magic! Welcome aboard the good ship Fluid Dynamics.

P.S. Fluid Dynamics has the largest range of heat exchangers going and Mike is across them all. To our valued customers who are looking for the best heat exchange solution available, contact Mike for a chat or email him at msurridge@fluddynamics.com.au