By Lani Hansen, Senior Reporter
TULSA, Oklahoma- Muscogee (Creek) citizen Jason Harjo a Design Manager for John Zink Hamworthy Combustion works with a new 3-D printer for metal.
John Zink Hamworthy Combustion provides proven emissions control and clean-air systems to a variety of industries worldwide. According to John Zink press release, the company recently invested in a metal 3-D printing technology from Desktop Metal to create parts that are engineered-to-order and optimized for each customer’s specific application.
Harjo, Henryetta resident has been with John Zink Company for 13 years as the Design Manager. He focuses on the 3-D modeling side of the products that are produced. Harjo has a background in 3-D modeling and design. He was tasked in leading an additive manufacturing initiative for the company. He has been in additive manufacturing for the company around five years. He learned about 3-D modeling online and through work.
The 3-D printing allows the company to reconsider the shape of holes in a design instead of drilling round holes, the part is built with flat openings to improve atomization and increase burner efficiency. The new atomizer saves money and time for customers.
According to an interview with Mvskoke Radio on Aug. 12, Harjo says they have several products; one is known as the UHT atomizer that stands for ultra-high turndown atomizer. John Zink has understood that using atomizers to improve the fuel-air mix inside burners is one easy way to help customers minimize their environmental footprint.
“An atomizer basically mixes fuel and steams so that it burns very efficiently,” Harjo said. “It’s installed in burners and in this case, it was a steamed proposal burner that’s installed on a large tanker ship.”
Some of the engineers for the company came up with a new design that can only be 3-D printed. This design gave a large performance increase over the previously traditionally manufactured atomizer. The engineers used an original drawing for 3-D printing, modeling a burner tip and printed a part on the system.
“When I say significant, the performance increase was around 70 percent so that’s a big jump,” Harjo said about new printer. “It saves the customer a lot of fuel and it was a great design.”
Harjo has a passion for technology and innovation. The company has guiding principles that employees follow such as; Integrity, Stewardship and Compliance, Principled Entrepreneurship, Transformation, Knowledge, Humility, Respect and Self-Actualization. His guiding principle is transformation.
“I work for a company where transformation isn’t something we do every day, it’s who we are at the core of our culture,” Harjo said about his work. “I was very excited and motivated to dig into this technology and bring as much value as possible.”
Working for this company and working with technology is an accomplishing career goal for Harjo. He enjoys working for John Zink; Harjo is able to do what he is passionate about as a job. He even said he gets excited to go into work.
As a Muscogee (Creek) citizen the company of John Zink is diverse and Harjo said there are other employees who represent other tribes.
“It’s a great company to work for, I’m proud to be there and proud of my Creek heritage also as a John Zink employee,” Harjo said.
Harjo learned what he does by taking a class through MIT over additive manufacturing. There are also ways to learn about manufacturing through YouTube videos and websites.
Good job, cousin!