Retrofit & Refurbish services

DEC.RFT™ | DEC.RFB™

DEC • Dynamic Environmental Corporation offers specialized technical services for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) abatement systems, including both Solvent Recovery Units (SRUs) and Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers (RTOs). These services, branded as DEC.RFT™ | Retrofit and DEC.RFB™ | Refurbish, are designed to extend the life, improve the performance, and enhance the efficiency of existing units, regardless of whether they were originally built by DEC or another vendor. Here we will define these terms and explain the value proposition of each service, including the factors that influence the decision to retrofit, refurbish, or replace a system entirely.

Ensure your VOC abatement infrastructure is a strategic asset, not an operational liability. As a global leader in VOC emission control, DEC provides advanced retrofit and refurbish services engineered to elevate the performance and extend the life of your existing oxidizers and solvent recovery units. Our technical expertise is rooted in decades of innovation, ensuring that your system not only meets today's stringent environmental regulations but also operates with peak efficiency. By upgrading key components, integrating cutting-edge controls, and applying our exclusive processes, we transform your legacy equipment, delivering significant energy savings and enhanced operational reliability. Partner with DEC to unlock the full potential of your VOC control assets, ensuring a sustainable and profitable future.

Defining Retrofit and Refurbish

While often used interchangeably, in the context of industrial engineering, retrofit and refurbish have distinct meanings:

Retrofit (DEC.RFT™): the retrofitting service involves adding new technology or new features to an existing system that it did not have when it was originally built. The goal of a retrofit is to enhance the system's capabilities beyond its initial design specifications. This could include upgrading control systems, integrating new components for improved energy efficiency, or modifying the unit to handle a different process stream. A retrofit aims to modernize the system to meet new operational demands or stricter regulatory standards.

Refurbish (DEC.RFB™): the refurbishing focuses on restoring an existing system to its original, or "like-new," operating condition. Refurbishment typically involves replacing worn-out or damaged parts, such as CCH™ media beds in an RTO, fans, or internal components in an SRU. The primary goal is to ensure the unit continues to operate reliably and at its designed efficiency, extending its operational lifespan without fundamentally changing its core functionality.

Why Retrofit or Refurbish a Plant?

Choosing to retrofit or refurbish a VOC abatement system offers several compelling advantages over complete replacement:

Cost-Effectiveness: the most significant benefit is the lower capital investment. Retrofitting or refurbishing is often a fraction of the cost of purchasing and installing a new, large-scale industrial unit. This preserves capital for other business needs while still addressing performance issues or new requirements.

Reduced Downtime and Quicker Implementation: the installation process for a retrofit or refurbishment is typically much faster than a full replacement. Since the existing footprint and major structural components are retained, the project timeline may result shorter, minimizing production disruptions and allowing the plant to return to full operation sooner.

Improved Efficiency and Compliance: older systems may consume excessive energy or no longer meet current emission regulations. By adding modern components like variable frequency drives (VFDs), higher-efficiency heat exchangers, energy recovery modules, or advanced controls, a retrofit can significantly reduce operational costs and ensure compliance with evolving environmental standards.

Extended Asset Life: a well-executed refurbishment or retrofit can add many years, to the service life of an SRU or RTO. This protects the original investment and provides a strong return on the maintenance capital.

Why Buy a New Plant Instead?

While retrofitting and refurbishing are excellent options, there are specific scenarios where purchasing a new unit is the better choice:

Extensive Structural Degradation: if the existing system's core structure, such as the adsorbers, chambers, shell, columns, or major components, is severely corroded, deformed, or degraded, a refurbishment may not be technically feasible or cost-effective. The cost of extensive repairs can quickly exceed the value of the old unit.

Obsolete Technology: in cases where the existing technology is fundamentally outdated and cannot be economically upgraded to meet modern efficiency or performance standards, a new, more advanced system may be the only viable solution. This is particularly true if the process has changed dramatically and the old unit is no longer properly sized for the application.

Changing Production Needs: if a plant's production capacity is set to increase significantly, the existing VOC abatement system may not be able to handle the higher flow rates or pollutant loads. A new, purpose-built unit can be sized and designed from scratch to meet these new demands with optimal performance.

Warranty and Support: a new system comes with a full DEC's warranty and the latest support and training from the vendor. This peace of mind and access to cutting-edge technology and post-sales service is worth the higher initial investment.

Let DEC SERVICE Handle Your Retrofit and Refurbish Needs

Choosing between DEC.RFT™, DEC.RFB™, or a new system depends on a thorough assessment of your specific plant. DEC’s engineers can assist in this decision by providing a comprehensive analysis of the existing equipment. With DEC.RFT™ and DEC.RFB™ services, DEC SERVICE offers flexible, cost-effective alternatives to equipment replacement, enabling businesses to extend the lifespan of their VOC abatement systems while improving performance and ensuring regulatory compliance. Ultimately, the right choice balances economic considerations with technical feasibility and long-term operational goals.

Whether you're looking to optimize your current VOC emission control systems or need comprehensive support for new installations, DEC SERVICE is here to ensure your equipment performs at its best. Contact us to learn more about how our MRO services can benefit your operations, or to schedule a maintenance visit. With operations in over 50 countries, DEC offers localized support wherever you are, ensuring compliance with regional environmental regulations.

Find out more about DEC SERVICE:

TSS™ • Technical Support Services

STC™ • Safety Training Center

HDS™ • Help Desk Services

MRO™ • maintenance, repair, and operations

DMP™ • Diagnostic Maintenance Program | scheduled and preventive inspections

RFT™ | RFB™ • Retrofit | Refurbish services

AMS™ • Adsorbent Maintenance Services

SPR™ • DEC Spare Parts

LTKW

DEC offers a comprehensive suite of retrofit and refurbish services to address every aspect of your VOC control system. We specialize in upgrading solvent recovery units and retrofitting VOC oxidizers for higher efficiency to improve overall performance. Our services cover critical components, including oxidizer heat exchanger replacement, catalytic oxidizer catalyst media replacement, and rebuilding activated carbon beds for solvent recovery. We provide expert maintenance services for DEC solvent recovery units and can assist with recommissioning of dormant solvent recovery plants. For businesses seeking to optimize their systems, we offer a solvent recovery unit efficiency audit and can implement VOC system performance optimization services. We also focus on sustainability, with solutions for upgrading solvent recovery to inert gas regeneration and refurbishing thermal oxidizers for energy savings. Our technical team delivers onsite repair services for industrial oxidizers, and can provide DEC spare parts for oxidizer retrofit and other essential DEC VOC system parts and components. We also assist with VOC control system compliance upgrades, custom retrofits for legacy VOC emission control systems, and expert consulting on VOC capture system optimization.

Retrofit & Refurbish services • DEC.RFT™ | DEC.RFB™