Page 54: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2024)

HEAT EXCHANGE All image courtesy R.W. Fernstrum & Company

R.W. Fernstrum & Company, founded by Robert W. Fernstrum 75 years ago, is a quint- essential U.S. manufacturing story. The company was born in the aftermath of WWII, founded on an invention developed during the war by Robert Fernstrum to help solve an engine overheating problem that was plaguing U.S. Navy landing craft. Family owned and operated from day one, today the company includes a fourth generation of family that aims to continue the legacy of its founder, a legacy built on effective, ef? cient heat exchange.

By Greg Trauthwein iversify, diversify, diversify … always, is the way pany and his retirement in 2025. In those six decades he has that Sean Fernstrum summarized the challenge seen more than his fair share of ups and downs in the maritime of running an ef? cient business to and through the market, but in his mind, there was no deeper trough than 1981.

Dmany up and down cycles common in the mari- “1981 … that's when the marine industry died in this coun- time market. “You have to be in different markets. You try to try,” said Paul. “Some called it a recession; I called it a depres- ride an even line (with diversi? cation).” sion. In January 1981 we had six months of work [backlog], 45

Paul Fernstrum, the son of the company's founder and Se- employees, a second shift and our shop was humming. By the an’s father, will celebrate his 60th anniversary with the com- end of January, I had two weeks of backlog because of all the 54 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • November 2024

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