The Man Behind the Company

Ken J. Brown Ken is a P.Eng with a BASc (73) and MASc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo. He majored in material science and design. His thesis topic was the ‘Impact Wear of Zircaloy-4’ a reactor tube material for which he designed and operated the test rig. On undergraduate work terms he gained practical experience as welder/press operator making car mufflers, as a QA inspector with a tire manufacturer and with a large base metal concentrator in Timmins, ON. The latter in the machine shop, mechanical maintenance and then the engineering drafting office.

He joined Ontario Hydro in 1976 as a design engineer in the Engineering Analysis Group of the Power Equipment Department in the Design & Development Division. He worked on tribological considerations for new and existing stations mainly at fossil and nuclear power stations. This was for bearings, lubes, seals and rotor dynamics with respect to new specifications, tenders, tender reviews, maintainability and trouble shooting. Ken was also the Power Equipment Department facilitator for continuous process improvement. Ken left OH in 1993 with a voluntary separation package and formed Utility Service Associates, now Eco Fluid Center Ltd.

Ken has been a member Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE) since 1976, has their Certified Lubrication Specialist (CLS) Certification, was Chair of the Toronto Section twice, Chair of the Power Generation Council, on the Board of Directors, the first Canadian to be named a Fellow, and in 2004 was the recipient of the STLE P.M. Ku Meritorious Award. He has given many presentations on a variety of topics at the STLE Annual Meeting, the Toronto Section and other Sections. In 2015 Ken was awarded a Life Membership in the STLE.

For the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Ken prepared the 2002 and 2014 “Electrohydraulic Control (EHC) Fluid Maintenance Guide” plus one in 2005 on material compatibility. He has given numerous papers and presentations to EPRI on power station tribological issues and is a contributor to their Lube Notes. In addition, he has power station clients for whom he works with them to solve specific issues. These are generally based in Canada and the US but can be worldwide.

Ken lives in the Riverdale area of Toronto with his wife Louse Rousseau who is an RN and a self-employed CRA (clinical research associate) for pharmaceutical drug trials. They have three children. One daughter did a Masters in Environmental Studies (peat hydrology) at the University of Waterloo, their son has just finished Biology (and soccer, etc.) at Wilfred Laurier University and the youngest daughter is in Science and Business also at U of W.

He has played rep hockey as a youth and senior league rugby in Timmins, Kitchener and Toronto as well as coaching teams in both rugby and soccer. In rugby he was on the Ontario Championship team in 1978, has played for Ontario Under 23’s and the Senior team on their 1975 Maritimes tour. Plus was an assistant coach for the Ontario Juniors for their UK tour and 1981 Gold Medal at the Canada Games in Thunder Bay. Ken is still a supporter of the Markham Irish Canadian Rugby Club and with the University of Waterloo rugby alumni.