Steve Kalota
Principal Consultant
Steve is a process engineer with over 40 years experience concentrated in the operations and design of the Fluid Catalytic Cracking technology. His breadth of expertise includes all aspects of FCC, including performance optimization, reliability enhancement, environmental compliance, startup and Turnaround inspection support, procedures, incident evaluation, and training. He has also worked successfully in other fluidized solids applications in coking, coal gasification, petrochemicals, biomass, and tar sands upgrading.
Steve’s career started at UOP, where he was on commissioning crews for 7 grassroots startups, including 2 as Lead Startup Chief. After 1 year in UOP’s home office as a FCC Service Engineer responsible for technical support of 60 licensed, operating FCC, Steve worked in 2 Refining companies to enhance his industry experience, where he was an FCC Process Engineer, then Process Engineering Manager, and then a Refinery Operations Manager. Steve returned to dedicated FCC work, joining Kellogg Brown & Root as FCCU Process Design Manager and 3 years later, assuming all KBR operating unit technical service responsibilities for 70 units, as well as commissioning 5 more KBR grassroots units.
In 1998, Steve formed Expertech Consulting to provide independent operations and design technical support for FCC worldwide. Since that time, he has participated in 5 more grass roots startups, 30+ revamp inspections and startups, and provided on-site services to 100 FCC globally. Steve has successfully completed innumerable basic engineering designs for revamps or replacements of Risers, distributors, standpipes, cyclone revamps, and many more non-proprietary elements. He has presented training from 4 hour site and equipment specific programs to 5 day comprehensive seminars. He is co-inventor of 5 U.S. patents.
Steve is a results-oriented technical service provider who strives to deliver the optimal solutions or guidance based on the client’s overall needs for performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. He has developed excellent communication skills to ensure clients, regardless of location or language, are involved and assured of receiving a high quality, successful work product.
Steve’s career started at UOP, where he was on commissioning crews for 7 grassroots startups, including 2 as Lead Startup Chief. After 1 year in UOP’s home office as a FCC Service Engineer responsible for technical support of 60 licensed, operating FCC, Steve worked in 2 Refining companies to enhance his industry experience, where he was an FCC Process Engineer, then Process Engineering Manager, and then a Refinery Operations Manager. Steve returned to dedicated FCC work, joining Kellogg Brown & Root as FCCU Process Design Manager and 3 years later, assuming all KBR operating unit technical service responsibilities for 70 units, as well as commissioning 5 more KBR grassroots units.
In 1998, Steve formed Expertech Consulting to provide independent operations and design technical support for FCC worldwide. Since that time, he has participated in 5 more grass roots startups, 30+ revamp inspections and startups, and provided on-site services to 100 FCC globally. Steve has successfully completed innumerable basic engineering designs for revamps or replacements of Risers, distributors, standpipes, cyclone revamps, and many more non-proprietary elements. He has presented training from 4 hour site and equipment specific programs to 5 day comprehensive seminars. He is co-inventor of 5 U.S. patents.
Steve is a results-oriented technical service provider who strives to deliver the optimal solutions or guidance based on the client’s overall needs for performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. He has developed excellent communication skills to ensure clients, regardless of location or language, are involved and assured of receiving a high quality, successful work product.