About Newport Scientific
The SUPERPRESSURE and HYGRODYNAMICS divisions of Newport Scientific trace their roots to the American Instrument Company (AMINCO) which opened for business in Silver Spring, Maryland, in 1919.
AMINCO Silver Spring Plant
WHAT’S OLD...
In 1923, AMINCO embarked upon a program to produce equipment for the handling of fluids under extreme pressures. Work done by the Fixed Nitrogen Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Agriculture was the driving force behind this program. Many of the techniques developed at this lab served as the basis for future high-pressure technology.
Superpressure Fabrication Shop
When high-pressure operations became of interest to the chemical industry, AMINCO’s ‘SUPERPRESSURE’ products fulfilled the need. SUPERPRESSURE equipment could be found in laboratories, pilot plants, and full-scale production plants of the leading chemical manufacturers throughout the world.
Typical Pilot Plant System
The development of nuclear technology also found use for SUPERPRESSURE equipment, as did the missile and aerospace programs.
Military Aircraft Hose Test Device
Around 1970, working with a team of engineers from the National Bureau of Standards, AMINCO developed and began selling a Smoke Chamber for testing the smoke generating characteristics of burning materials. The SUPERPRESSURE division eventually took on the production of this equipment. Over the years, this product line has been serving the aviation and building materials fire testing industry.
Meanwhile, in the late 1930’s, AMINCO began producing hygrometry equipment. These products, used for humidity measurement and control, found their way into every corner of the scientific and industrial markets. AMINCO’s hygrometry equipment was instrumental in climatic testing of military equipment during World War II and the Korean War.
In 1959, the Hygrometer Division of AMINCO was expanded and reorganized to develop complete hygrometry systems, under the new name HYGRODYNAMICS. The well-known Dunmore-type humidity sensor was at the heart of the product line.
University of Maryland Research Lab
Like SUPERPRESSURE products, HYGRODYNAMICS equipment was rugged enough to find applications in nuclear power plants, aerospace development, and defense arenas. The classic ‘HUMISTAT’, a humidity control device, was widely used by industry and government for critical environmental control applications.
HUMISTAT Model 3205
In the 1970’s, AMINCO was acquired by Baxter-Travenol. Over the years several divisions were splintered off as separate companies, but eventually, SUPERPRESSURE, Inc. and HYGRODYNAMICS, Inc. were merged and became two divisions of the privately held Newport Scientific, Inc. company.
WHAT’S NEW...
Newport Scientific, Inc. is now located in a relatively new industrial park in Jessup, Maryland. Despite the company’s long history, one aspect has remained constant- delivering the finest products with excellent customer service. Additionally it continues to serve its customers by providing replacement parts on its older ‘legacy’ product lines.
New Facility
SUPERPRESSURE continues to provide many industries with ultimate performance high pressure valves, fittings, compressors, and vessels. Numerous compressors deployed in the ‘nuclear age’ are still in service, with more being deployed currently.
Nuclear Compressors in Process Shipped to a Customer in 2007
The HYGRODYNAMICS product line has benefited from massive strides in electronics technology over the decades. While the original Dunmore-type sensor is still in use with most HYGRODYNAMICS products, new electronic techniques have improved the stability and longevity of all the systems.
Modern plastics molding technology benefits from HYGRODYNAMICS’ dew point monitors or kits. Our products are a major player in the industry of cost-effective solutions for checking plastics within the drying equipment.
Another noteworthy aspect of Newport Scientific, Inc. is that within the employee base, there are five notable people who have in excess of 134 years of experience with the company. These people are as follows:
Peter Zieg, Director of Operations / Sales – 30 years
Curtis Coberly, Quality Control Manager of Hygrodynamics – 40 years
Gersy Adler, Hygrodynamics Assembler Technician – 25 years
Dennis Dove, Quality Control Manager of Superpressure – 24 years
Eric Derro, Engineer – 15 years
Below is our expert staff who is available to assist you, should you call or e-mail Newport Scientific, Inc. They are:
Becky Marin, Vice President and General Manager
Peter Zieg, Director of Operations / Sales
Katie Novotny, Customer Service / Sales
Jenny Ripley, Customer Service / Sales
Please feel free to ask for any of the above individuals to assist you with your questions. We can be reached by phone at 301-498-6700, or by e-mail at sales@newport-scientific.com!!
