The Measurement, Control and Automation Hall of Fame was established by Measurement, Control and Automation Association, to recognize individuals whose body of work has contributed to the instrumentation and control industry in a significant and memorable way.
On Wednesday, May 1, during the Association’s Industry Forum in Tucson, AZ, the distinguished achievement award was presented to Ken Hoffer, Chief Executive Officer of Hoffer Flow Controls, Inc.
Ken Hoffer is the eighth member inducted into the Hall of Fame. Other members include: Gordon Arnold (Sierra Monitor Corporation), Wade Mattar (Schneider Electric), the late Richard Morley (Father of the PLC), Robert Deane and Malcolm McQueen (Fluid Components International), the late Judy Stevenson (Magnetrol International), and Dr. Peter G. Martin (Schneider Electric).
Ken Hoffer
Founded in 1969, Mr. Hoffer’s namesake flow meter company, Hoffer Flow Controls, is an innovative leader in solving critical and demanding flow applications. In the early years, Hoffer Flow Controls specialized in cryogenic flow measurement systems and pioneered the use of the turbine flowmeter in cryogenics. Today the company manufactures high precision turbine flowmeters, not only for the cryogenic industry but is a world leader in turbine flowmeter technology for the measurement of clean liquids and gases throughout the processing industries.
Mr. Hoffer’s technical achievements include the pioneered use of self-lubricated ball bearings in turbine flowmeters. He developed the first HART-enabled device to receive official certification by the HART Foundation and also created the first portable field calibration system for cryogenic flowmeters. Mr. Hoffer also developed the first and only turbine flowmeter to receive certification by the United States Navy for use in nuclear propulsion service as well as to pass shock and vibration certification for unrestricted naval shipboard applications.
Mr. Hoffer has received many honors and awards over the years including North Carolina’s Small Business Exporter of the Year, Schlumberger GOLD Level Supplier, and was awarded the Distinguished Supplier Award by the United States Navy for maintained ballast flow control/flow measurement onboard the USS Cole following its bombing in October, 2000 which was critical to the ship's survival.