Career
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Houdry Process Corporation C A T A L Y T I C PROCESSES AND CATALYSTS 1528 Walnut S i . , Philadelphia 2, Pa.
• • oudry Process Corporation is one of the few independent corporations in the United States devoted to t h e development and licensing of catalytic processes primarily for the petroleum refining industry. T h e company also makes and sells catalysts for applications in the refining arid chemical industries. As a necessary adjunct to these activities, Houdry maintains completely integrated research and development facilities staffed by scientists and engineers of international note. Houdry has a complete engineering department offering Process Design, Engineering Design, and Technical Service to its licensees. Complete plant design, maintenance and construction services are available through a n engineering and construction subsidiary, Catalytic Construction Company. B o t h Houdry Process Corporation and Catalytic Construction Company have principal offices a t 1528 Walnut St., Philadelphia 2, Pa.
Pioneer in Catalysis Houdry Process Corporation pioneered the development and commercialization of catalytic cracking in the petroleum refining industry. This process greatly increases b o t n the quality and yield of gasoline obtainable from crude oil, and permits refiners to reduce production of lower-value products in lesser demand. T h e first H o u d r y fixed-bed catalytic cracker went into refinery operation in 1936, five years after t h e company's founding by Eugene J . Houdry, its first president. The second Houdry cracker, a completely automatic unit with six times the capacity of the first unit, followed in 1937. Results achieved with these commercial units, announced when the Houdry process was offered u n d e r license to all refiners in 1938, were so attractive that catalytic cracking became the "backbone" of modern refinery processing. T h e "catalytic revolution" begun by the Houdry process has fathered a number of other catalytic processes enabling refiners to . produce t h e huge quantities of varied petroleum products 36
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required by world demand, while a t the same time conserving world petroleum reserves.
Processes Licensed Houdry Process Corporation today licenses five basic catalytic processes: Houdriflow and Houdresid—improved moving-bed catalytic cracking processes for the production of high quality gasolines from crude stocks ranging from gas oil to reduced crude; Houdriforming and Iso-Pius Houdriforming—platinum-catalyst reforming processes for the manufacture of topgrade premium gasolines of u p t o and above 100 F-l clear octane, from virgin and cracked naphthas; and Houdry Dehydrogenation—a singlestep catalytic process charging normal butane to produce butadiene for t h e synthetic rubber, textile, paint, and other industries; butènes as raw materials for super-fuels and other applications, and also to produce olefins and diolefins for elastomers and plastics.
Catalyst Manufacture Catalyst manufacturing and sales a c tivities, initially begun in order to supply the original Houdry fixed-bed units and later continuous processing units, have expanded considerably. A t
Houdry's Paulsboro, N . J., catalyst plant, a full range of catalysts is now manufactured not only for Houdrylicensed cracking, reforming, and dehydrogenation processes, but also for many other process applications in t h e refining and chemical industries. C a t a lyst manufacture and sales come under Houdry's Chemicals Division.
Opportunities at Houdry For the technically trained college graduate, Houdry Process Corporation offers a variety of opportunities. Basic training in engineering and the sciences is required for functions associated with Research and Development, Engineering, Technical Service, Production, Sales, and P a t e n t Prosecution and Licensing.
Research and Development Completely equipped Research a n d Development Laboratories at Linwood, Pa., 18 miles southwest of Philadelphia, are staffed b y men of international reputation for their contributions in a variety of fields of science and technology. Current research activities are in fields of fundamental and applied research dealing with the properties, structure, and nature of catalysts and the solid state; investigation of new
Comple+e equipment and facilities a r e provided for chemists and engineers a t Houdry's modern Research and Development Laboratories. (ADVERTISEMENT)
Training and Progress
Pilot plant section af H o u d r y Laboratory.
catalytic avenues to petroleum products, a n d synthetic organic chemicals. I n addition, projects in the field of atomic energy are being pursued, contract research problems are under study, and process research projects of immediate import are constantly under investigation. Research openings at Houdry's laboratories exist for chemists and chemical engineers with superior academic records a t all three levels of university training. Specialized accomplishment beyond the bachelor degree in any of the four major branches of chemistry is frequently desirable. Paralleling the various research sections lire corresponding development groups, charged with responsibilities in bringing promising projects to readiness for commercial application after thorough analysis of design, engineering, construction, and economic factors. Development opportunities at Linwood are open primarily to chemical engineering graduates of high academic standing or additional special accomplishment in graduate study. Bofii research and development personnel at Houdry are supported by an excellent corps of technicians and an array of modern research tools such as the mass spectrograph, x-ray diffraction camera, emission spectrograph, radioactive isotopes, and the like.
Houdry processes and units, Process engineers also prepare and submit to the Process Sales division all proposals involving analysis of licensee and client problems, bids on prospective installations, and modification of existing process installations to meet individual customer requirements. The Design Engineering group occupies quarters in the engineering wing of the Houdry laboratories at Linwood. T h e design engineers detail towers, vessels, instrumentation, piping and structures of units, and produce specifications, final drawings and directions by which customers may proceed in purchasing materials, erecting plants, and operating installations. Houdry Technical Service engineers assist customers in the start-up of new Houdry units. They supervise training of plant operators, adjust operating conditions in new plants, and provide periodic advisory, inspection, and operating service after final acceptance of units. Opportunities in Process, Design, and Technical Service engineering groups are open primarily to chemical engineering graduates with major interest in the designing and operating of process units. Mechanical, civil, and structural engineers are most suited for openings in the Design engineering groups.
Engineering
Sales and Licensing
Engineering activities at Houdry fall into t h r e e broad categories: Process Engineering, Design Engineering, and Technical Service. T h e Process Engineering group is located a t the principal offices in Philadelphia. This group prepares the chemical engineering designs of all
Process and Catalyst Sales opportunities are open to the experienced engineer with extensive knowledge of catalyst preparation and applications, and process design and operation. The Houdry Patents and Licensing division is staffed by chemists and chemical engineers with additional legal training and experience.
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At Houdry, the new graduate in chemistry or engineering is first given an assignment commensurate with his training and abilities, and consonant with his interests. Training in procedures peculiar to the Houdry type of operation, and widening of the individual's technical horizon, is accomplished on an informal basis by providing the new man with teammates and project leaders of demonstrated skill and judgment. Regularly scheduled sectional conferences impart company-wide perspective through detailed discussion of problems and projects. The normal career progression through the Houdry organization usually begins in either Research and Development, or Engineering and Technical Service. From these fields of activity, transfers and promotions occur on a continuing basis so that the young chemist or engineer moves ahead, adapts himself to various groups and personalities, works with associates of notable achievement, and finds the technical activity for which he is most suited and in which he is most likely to find satisfaction through personal and group accomplishments. Managerial and administrative positions in Houdry are filled by chemists and engineers who have come u p through the various phases of the company operation in this way.
Technical Environment The technically trained college graduate joining the Houdry organization will find considerable emphasis placed on the individual aspect of professional development. A fine technical library is maintained at the Linwood laboratories, and smaller specialized libraries are kept u p to date in the Philadelphia offices and at the Paulsboro catalyst plant. Personal research projects are encouraged. For those who undertake advanced academic work in the evenings or on Saturdays at universities in the area, Houdry pays half the expense.
Living Conditions The Philadelphia suburban area is one of the prime residential sections in the East, with easy commutation available from Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery, and Chester counties. Pleasant communities with good school systems, attractive homes, and outstanding stores and shops are the rule, not only around Philadelphia but also in the vicinity of Linwood and Paulsboro. Houdry's Personnel Office in Philadelphia will supply additional information on request. APRIL
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