Founded by NSPE in 1951, Engineers Week, or EWeek, is dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers. EWeek is celebrated each February.
This week, Sullair will spotlight seven members of its global engineering team. Our Engineering team is comprised of many engineers working on new product development, research and development, mechanical engineering, benchmarking, sustaining engineering, air end development, and more.
Randall (Randy) Fredenburg
Senior Mechanical Engineer
Randy is a ‘boomerang’ at Sullair, having rejoined the company in 2015. His current role is in Aftermarket, where he addresses all customer engineering problems/questions sent to Sullair along with filling Engineered Dryer orders.
What do you enjoy most about being an engineer?
Being creative and offering customers an excellent product.
Why do you like your job?
I like working in Aftermarket because I have always been focused on the customer. Most of my time at Sullair has been in Air End Design, and in Aftermarket I still influence the customer, delivering the products and support they need.
What is one piece of advice you would give to aspiring engineers?
Don’t cut corners and design a quality product. Remember, your name is on it.
What was the most fun/innovative project that you’ve been a part of at Sullair?
I would have to say “projects,” and they were designing the early air ends. I worked with/for Oleif Olsaker, the Senior Air End Engineer from SRM. He and I got along great, and we designed the new (at that time) asymmetric rotor profile air ends. Those are some of the air ends still out in the field today. We had a lot of fun doing our jobs, challenging ourselves and being creative.
What is the biggest achievement of your engineering career?
Designing the above-mentioned air ends.
How has Sullair helped you to develop and expand your professional career as an engineer?
While working with Oleif, I gained so much knowledge from him about air ends and at that time, schools were not teaching anything like that. Also, I was afforded opportunities to gain knowledge from our assemblers and vendors—gears, bearings and all kinds of parts.
