In spring 1964, indefatigable salesman Ernest G. Hotze had a problem. Charles Faulkenhagen of Tennessee Gas Pipeline told Hotze that TGP preferred the Ingersoll-Rand compressor because of the advanced design of IR's channel valve. Hotze saw that he worked for Dresser Clark, a competitor of IR, and Hotze wasn't about to lose a big order.

Hotze told Faulkenhagen that the Dresser compressor could be fitted with channel valves, but Dresser engineers declined the project. Not fazed by Dresser's reticence to build the valves, Hotze was determined to fill TGP's need for the integral gas compressors and the channel valves, and he convinced Tennessee Gas to place the compressor order with Dresser. Hotze decided to engineer and build the channel valves himself.

Hotze also decided to form a new company. Compressor Engineering Corp. was born on June 5, 1964, with his young family employed to hand-crank spring-rolling machines in their garage. Original stockholders and directors included Hotze's brother-in-law, Bill Fagan, his brother-in-law's neighbor, Lowery Mays of Clear Channel Communications, and Jake Lebeaux.

With little manufacturing experience, Ernie Hotze worked through a local foundry and machine shops to make the first CECO channel valves. After the compressors were installed, Tennessee Gas needed spare channel valve parts for their IR compressors, and CECO's replacement parts business was launched. Hotze's initial workforce consisted of his wife Margaret and six of their sons. Hotze always said that this was his best workforce, as they were unpaid, with a large, very personal investment in the company. Channel and springs, seat plates and valve guides soon took over the garage and the family's linen closet.

CECO has made tremendous strides in the 40 years since its humble beginnings in the Hotze garage. CECO now enjoys more than 100,000 sq ft of repair and manufacturing space, state-of-the-art manufacturing and machining centers, and two precision repair facilities.

Medium-sized and still family-owned and -operated, CECO takes pride in its workforce of intelligent, well-trained, and responsive associates who derive real satisfaction from a job well done. CECO carries on Ernie Hotze's stewardship by using the time-proven idea of customer satisfaction as its guide.

CECO associates reflect this foundation by providing personalized service and quality adapted to each customer's needs. This dedication allows CECO to be the largest independent manufacturer of compressor parts and engine replacement parts in the United States and to continue to grow. In addition to the Houston headquarters, the CECO Polymer facility manufactures a full line of piston rings, rider rings and rod packing, using specialty material blends to fit any application, environment or gas pressure. A diverse inventory of raw materials is in stock, ready for emergency, overnight production.

CECO and the Hotze families said goodbye to Ernest Hotze in 1995. While his presence is missed, four of his sons and the first of the next generation of Hotzes continue to carry on his legacy and focus on CECO's future. The Hotzes believe that CECO's family of companies and subsidiaries complement CECO's compressor and engine replacement parts business while offering new, innovative technologies for the future. CECO and the Hotze family plan to fill customers' needs with unsurpassed service and the highest quality products for many years to come.

Expansion Begins

1968 marked CECO's first big move out of the family garage and into a small metal building owned by Rene Horvath in the Heights area of Houston. Just 2 years later, CECO moved again into a larger manufacturing facility that is still in use today. During those early days, CECO products were sold by T.F. Hudgins and privately labeled through C. Lee Cook and France Packing.

In 1974, two of Ernie's sons, Bruce and Jim, both fresh out of college, joined the company that now had 14 employees. By 1976, CECO had grown into its own 20,000 sq-ft. building at 5440 Alder, added an office in New Orleans, and began to produce parts for Clark compressors. 1976 also saw Ernest Hotze's retirement as vice president of Dresser Clark.

This photo, taken in 1986, shows Ernest Hotze (center) who founded
CECO in 1964. His sons, Mark, David, Rick and Bruce run CECO
today with the same commitment to quality and service.

CECO opened a West Texas office in Odessa. In 1983, a 31,000 sq. ft. building housing CECO's sales and manufacturing efforts was constructed at the Alder location. By 1987, CECO had grown into a manufacturer of compressor and engine replacement parts, with sales worldwide from branches in Singapore and the United Kingdom. CECO's customers included all types of manufacturing companies from food processing, textiles, furniture and machinery to glass and transportation equipment. Of course, CECO continued to serve a wide range of gas, oil and petrochemical companies.

CECO parts and custom-engineered components replace or improve original equipment in all major U.S. makes of large stationary reciprocating compressors and engines. CECO's product line currently includes more than 80,000 different line items and continues to grow daily. Among the custom-engineered compressor components offered are actuators and deactivators, fuel valve modulators and a large line of industry-preferred, high-efficiency compressor poppet valves. CECO also has a full line of parts for process compressors, air and gas compressors and gas engines and refrigeration compressors.

CECO Today