In a word – Yes. Last week’s show assembled a mix of processors, operators and equipment manufacturers that are leveraging true engineering and real-world economics to solve problems and enhance our industry. Below are observations from the Sundyne team, which are based on hundreds of conversations that were had with attendees during the three-day event.

“Attendees this year seem far more optimistic than past years. Everyone we talked to is “back to work.” They’re producing. They’re looking ahead and looking forward to what’s coming. 

 

“To some extent, it felt like the "good old days" with an optimistic energy message in the midstream. Everyone acknowledges the challenges, but the reality is that natural gas, LNG and Oil will not be shut off overnight. A lot of the people we talked to see a bullish market for energy over the next 18-24 months, particularly with compressors used for production and transportation. A lot of people are looking at new opportunities surrounding carbon capture (CCUS). Anyone who attended GPA came out with a feeling that it's still a good time to be in the midstream.”

“I’ve been going to shows like this since 2002, and I’ve rarely seen such high-quality interactions with customers. There were no competitors checking out our booth, and no component manufacturers trying to convince us to use their parts. What we saw repeatedly were attendees coming out of the session talks and immediately seeking us out to ask questions and to learn how Sundyne’s compressors could address something that was just discussed in a presentation. The set-up of the venue was great for us, in that the limited number of sponsors (equipment manufacturers) were all positioned near the conference sessions, which made it really convenient to have conversations with customers and potential customers.”

“The show attracts all of the right people that we need to solve energy problems. It’s a cross section of processors, operators and equipment providers, and there’s a lot of useful collaboration. When it comes to renewables, the people here are looking at 'Energy Addition – not Energy Transition' and they’re doing it in a way that truly assesses the benefits, the tradeoffs and the real costs. They’re talking about important matters, such as volume, power, metallurgy, and they’re weighing these requirements against a cost benefit analysis – not just a narrative. Everyone here truly cares about engineering, and real-world economics. For Sundyne, it’s nice to be associated with an audience like this that needs both pumps and compressors.”  

The keynote speaker at the conference luncheon was Kenny Aronoff, who is known by many as the drummer for John Cougar Mellencamp. He’s also an A-List session musician, who has played on hundreds of albums. As we found out, Kenny is also an accomplished motivational speaker (his YouTube channel is quite popular).   

 

The message he delivered was one of teamwork. He used the metaphor of a hit single as the measure of success that all companies strive for. He shared hilarious stories from recording sessions, making the point that his goal as a drummer was to serve the song – and be a complementary part of the team. He stressed how he never sought to “out-shine” his bandmates – but rather, to inspire them in a way that elevated their performance, which in turn would elevate his playing (co-elevation, as he put it).

 

Everyone in the room connected his metaphor to their own work experiences – but the bonus was that we all got to hear some very loud, and polished drum chops, which illustrated his other message – that excellence requires work and dedication – and these traits are easier when you love what you do for a living. 

 

There were some (perhaps many) in attendance that didn’t know who Kenny Aronoff was – but everyone soon recognized the songs he’s played on. His motivational session came at the beginning of the show, and some might have wondered why a rock star was chosen to keynote. But through the week, it became clear why Kenny Aronoff was a perfect choice to Keynote – because the optimism he expressed mirrored the sentiment that most of the attendees reflected throughout the week – and Kenny also expressed why passion, commitment and a genuine love for what we do are requirements for success. 

 

As we left San Antonio, it was clear how those messages were reinforced by hundreds of conversations that we had with attendees throughout the week. If such market optimism continues over the next 18-24 months, then it is looking like a good time to supply both pumps and compressors to an eager marketplace. 

Sundyne World Headquarters
14845 W. 64th Ave.  |  Arvada, CO 80007 USA  |  +1 303-425-0800  |  www.sundyne.com