The OBR Quarterly
It has been a season of growth and momentum here at OBR Cooling Towers. From welcoming new team members to celebrating safety milestones and expanding our technical capabilities, the past two quarters have been full of progress and we’re excited to share some highlights with you.
A New Home for Innovation
New office. New lab. Same drive to lead.
OBR has officially moved from German Village to a new, larger office in Grandview Heights, Ohio. A reflection of our continued growth across the U.S. This new space gives us the room to expand our sales, marketing, R&D, and freight divisions, supporting our mission to deliver innovative solutions in the cooling technologies space.
As part of this move, we’re also developing a dedicated R&D lab to advance new techniques, technologies, and services that strengthen our customers’ operations.
The new office also houses our CEO’s office, where his kids helped re-purpose the existing sign from the previous tenant, adding OBR’s colors and a personal touch that embodies our family-driven culture.
This move marks an exciting step forward as we continue to innovate, grow, and serve our partners nationwide.
Growing Together: New Faces and Milestones
OBR continues to grow, now with more than 300 team members across our offices and field teams. This growth reflects the trust of our customers and the dedication of everyone who keeps OBR’s operations running strong.
We’re thrilled to introduce some of the new faces who have joined our team over the last two quarters:
We’re also celebrating Several Work Anniversaries
Including 5 years for Rufus Lewis and a remarkable 15 years for Matt Pinkelman. Their dedication and expertise continue to shape the company’s culture and success.
Safety in Focus
The “Y Behind What”
Safety isn’t just a policy at OBR, it’s personal. During our 2025 Safety Conference, we introduced the “Y Behind What” initiative, which encourages every employee to reflect on why safety matters to them personally. Whether it’s family, hobbies, or future goals, our “Y” reminds us that the choices we make today protect the moments that matter most tomorrow.
That mindset continues to drive results. We’ve now surpassed 1,350 days without a lost-time injury and are aiming for the next milestone, 1,500 days. So far in 2025, we’ve also maintained zero recordable injuries, a testament to the vigilance and care of every OBR employee.
And because safety is never static, this quarter’s focus is on eye protection. When removing fill from cooling towers, remember to use spoggles and a face shield. Eye injuries are among the most common in the industry, but they’re also among the most preventable when PPE is used correctly.
Service Spotlight
Vibration Analysis
We have added Vibration Analysis to our inspection offering. Cooling towers work under heavy mechanical loads, and small imbalances can become big problems if they go unnoticed. With this new service, our team uses triaxial accelerometers and frequency spectrum analysis to detect early signs of imbalance, misalignment, looseness, or bearing wear before they cause downtime. Every visit ends with a clear report that includes visuals, findings, and practical next steps so you can plan maintenance with confidence.
Customer Story
Fast Parts, Faster Recovery
In June, a Ferguson Industrial customer at a Bacardi facility in Puerto Rico faced an unexpected shutdown when a gearbox failed. The team reached out to OBR in search of a quick replacement. Thanks to our West Texas operations, we had the part in stock and shipped it out the very next day.
The customer wrote to thank our team, calling the response “quick, committed, and professional.” Stories like this one reinforce why we do what we do: providing dependable service when it matters most.
Stay Connected With Us
As the year moves into its final quarter, we’re encouraging all customers to schedule winter inspections early, slots fill up quickly before peak season.
You can book your inspection here:
And if you haven’t already, follow us on LinkedIn for more updates, field stories, and engineering insights:
Until Next time
Thank you for being part of the OBR community. Whether it’s through a service call, safety program, or blog article, our goal remains the same. To help you keep your cooling towers running safely, efficiently, and reliably.
If you haven’t already, check out our two most recent blog posts.
