Ship & Shore Environmental Inc.

10/30/2026

Privately held companies are navigating shifting policy, inflation, interest rates and fast-moving technology, all at once.

Our CEO, Anoosheh Mostafaei Oskouian, joined a panel at the inaugural ALC-Sunstone Private Business Initiative Forum at University of California, Irvine's Paul Merage School of Business on October 22 to discuss what that means in practice. Dean Ian O. Williamson moderated, with fellow panelists John Rodgers of Cotality and Rick Sweeny of RBC Wealth Management.

Key takeaways for industrial businesses:

Stay close to customers while keeping long-term priorities in view

Treat equipment reliability, workforce expertise, energy use and environmental performance as connected

Adopt technology with a clear purpose and measurable results
Plan early for succession, ownership transitions and outside capital

Thank you to Dean Williamson, David “Dave” Thompson, RBC Wealth Management and the Paul Merage School of Business for hosting a thoughtful conversation.

https://shipandshore.com/private-business-leadership-and-growth-take-center-stage-at-uc-irvine-forum/

SSE CEO Anoosheh Oskouian joins UC Irvine business leaders to discuss operational excellence, technology adoption, and sustainable private-company growth.

10/29/2026

We are LIVE Now!

A quick note to our customers: the Ship & Shore Environmental 24/7 service line is up and running!

Whether it's after hours, a weekend, or a holiday, our Service Department is available when you need assistance.

24/7 Service Hotline: 562-997-0233
[email protected]

10/28/2026

https://shipandshore.com/techtalk/

The Journey from BEAD TO BLOCK

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is widely used for insulation, packaging, construction, and impact protection. Its manufacturing also creates a specific air-quality challenge: controlling VOC emissions, primarily pentane, released during processing.

Pentane emissions can occur throughout EPS production not just during expansion.

Potential sources include bead storage and transfer, pre-expanders, fluidized-bed dryers, block and shape molding, pre-expanded bead silos, and aging or conditioning areas. Heating vaporizes the blowing agent, while drying, storage, and aging can release additional pentane.

Each source can have different airflow, VOC concentration, temperature, and operating cycles.

Capture Is the First Engineering Challenge

Effective abatement begins with source capture and properly engineered collection. EPS exhaust may involve high airflow, variable VOC concentrations, steam-related moisture, and flammable VOC conditions.

Engineered ductwork, airflow balancing, appropriate filtration, and safe concentration management help deliver a controlled exhaust stream to the treatment system while avoiding unnecessary airflow.

Efficient capture can reduce treatment volume, equipment requirements, and energy demand.

Why RTOs Are Proven for EPS

For many EPS applications, Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers (RTOs) provide reliable thermal destruction of pentane and other VOCs. Ceramic heat-recovery media transfers energy from treated exhaust back into the incoming stream, reducing supplemental fuel requirements.

Properly designed RTO systems can achieve greater than 98% VOC destruction efficiency at operating temperatures around 1,500°F.

Actual performance and fuel consumption depend on VOC loading, airflow, temperature, heat recovery, and operating conditions. Because EPS exhaust can contain moisture and bead carryover, inlet protection, drainage, and appropriate equipment design are important for reliable operation.

RTO design must address the complete exhaust stream not VOC concentration alone.

Engineering Beyond Compliance

A successful EPS abatement system should accommodate current production while allowing for future expansion or process changes. Safety, capture efficiency, airflow variability, energy recovery, permitting, maintenance, and lifecycle cost should all be considered during system design.

Ship & Shore Environmental provides engineered VOC abatement solutions, including collection-system design, thermal oxidation, permitting support, equipment integration, and aftermarket service.

Smarter EPS emissions engineering means effective capture, safe operation, efficient VOC destruction, and dependable long term performance.

📞 Contact us at +1 (562) 997-0233
📧 Email: [email protected]

10/27/2026

Last week, our CEO, Anoosheh Mostafaei Oskouian joined fellow business leaders at the inaugural ALC-Sunstone Private Business Initiative Forum at UC Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business, sponsored by RBC Wealth Management.

The discussion explored a question facing many privately held companies: How do you navigate today’s uncertainty while building a business that is ready for tomorrow?

Several themes offer valuable takeaways for business leaders:

• Resilience requires focus. Changes in government policy, inflation, interest rates, global conflict and technology influence business decisions. Understanding how these pressures affect customers, employees and investment priorities helps leaders adapt while keeping their long-term goals in view.
• Strong ex*****on supports sustainable growth. Strategy depends on the ability to deliver. Workforce development, financial discipline, customer engagement and thoughtful technology adoption help businesses respond to change while maintaining quality and service.
• Technology needs a clear purpose. The opportunity lies in identifying where new tools can improve productivity, strengthen decision-making or help teams serve customers more effectively, and ensuring employees have the support to use them well.
• Planning for the next chapter should begin early. Succession, outside investment and ownership transitions raise questions beyond financing. Leadership continuity, company culture, customer relationships and the founder’s vision all deserve careful consideration.

At S&SE, these priorities connect closely with our work helping industrial businesses address environmental challenges while supporting reliable operations and long-term growth.

Our sincere thanks to Dean Ian O. Williamson for the invitation and for moderating such an insightful discussion.

Thank you to fellow panelists John Rodgers of Cotality and Rick Sweeny of RBC Wealth Management for sharing their perspectives, and to David “Dave” Thompson of RBC Wealth Management for the opening introduction.

We appreciate the Paul Merage School of Business and RBC Wealth Management for bringing this forum together.

10/26/2026

https://shipandshore.com/am-monday/

Perfect Timing. Peak Performance. The Critical Role of RTO Switching Valves

Switching valves are among the hardest working components in a Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO). Every cycle directs process air through the correct ceramic bed, maintains heat recovery, and completes the purge sequence before airflow changes direction. Accurate valve timing is essential for maintaining thermal efficiency, stable combustion, and consistent VOC destruction.

Because switching valves cycle thousands of times each week, they are exposed to continuous mechanical wear, elevated temperatures, pressure fluctuations, and particulate contamination. Over time, valve seals wear, actuators lose adjustment, linkage components loosen, and seating surfaces deteriorate. These changes often develop gradually, reducing system performance long before a fault alarm appears.

Common Issues

Highlights:

Worn valve seals allowing internal leakage
Misaligned actuators or linkage wear
Incorrect valve timing during flow reversal
Increased pressure fluctuations and airflow imbalance
Higher burner demand caused by reduced heat recovery
Even minor leakage during valve transitions can lower thermal efficiency, increase fuel consumption, and affect purge performance.
Preventive Maintenance

Highlights:

Inspect valve seats, seals, shafts, and linkage assemblies for wear.
Verify actuator travel, limit switches, and valve position feedback.
Confirm switching sequence and purge timing match the original control strategy.
Monitor pressure trends, airflow stability, and ceramic bed temperature balance.
Lubricate and adjust mechanical components according to OEM recommendations.
Routine valve inspections help identify developing wear before it impacts production or environmental compliance.

Ship & Shore Environmental Recommendation

Ship & Shore Environmental performs comprehensive switching valve evaluations during preventive maintenance visits. Our technicians verify mechanical condition, actuator calibration, valve synchronization, and control logic while analyzing operating trends to detect leakage or timing drift that may not be visible during routine inspections.

Why It Matters

Highlights:

Maintain high VOC destruction efficiency
Maximize ceramic heat recovery
Reduce natural gas consumption
Improve airflow stability
Extend Valve and actuator service life
Minimize unplanned downtime
Support consistent regulatory compliance

In an RTO, switching valves do far more than redirect airflow. They control the timing that
keeps the entire system operating efficiently. Keeping them properly adjusted and maintained protects performance, lowers operating costs, and helps ensure reliable emissions control year after year.

📞 Contact Ship & Shore Environmental
✉️ [email protected]

10/23/2026

With Section 232 tariffs set to take effect this December, the solar industry is bracing for another wave of market consolidation.

In a recent interview with Kaitlin Fallowfield, Ship & Shore Environmental, Inc. CEO Anoosheh Mostafaei Oskouian shared insights on how new import pricing will reshape the renewable energy landscape:

Permanent Price Shifts: Historically, when tariffs and supply disruptions drive component costs up, prices rarely return to previous baselines—even after policies change.

M&A Acceleration: Sustained demand paired with rising module and polysilicon

costs will squeeze smaller developers and manufacturers, opening the door for larger domestic entities to acquire emerging players.

The Domestic Manufacturing Edge: Companies investing in domestic production and strategic joint ventures are positioned to absorb cost pressures, scale local capacity, and navigate cross-border trade friction.

As domestic manufacturing expands to meet clean energy goals, scaling responsibly is critical. Expanding clean-tech production must go hand-in-hand with sustainable practices and robust emissions control.

A huge thank you to Kaitlin Fallowfield and NPM US (New Project Media) for the insightful feature and for highlighting our perspective on where the clean energy market is headed.

Read the full interview to explore what these policy shifts mean for clean energy infrastructure: https://shipandshore.com/december-solar-tariffs-industry-consolidation/

CEO Anoosheh Oskouian discusses how December solar tariffs may raise costs, drive industry consolidation, and benefit domestic manufacturers.

10/22/2026

Beyond proud of our CEO, Anoosheh Mostafaei Oskouian!

Last night, Anoosheh was recognized as one of just 24 Entrepreneurial Women of Impact, selected from more than 160 applicants across North America!

Presented by the Women Presidents Organization (WPO) and Women Elevating Women™ (W.E.W.), with support from J.P. Morgan Commercial and Investment Banking, this prestigious award celebrates exceptional women entrepreneurs who are driving innovation, building successful businesses, creating opportunities, and making a lasting impact in their communities.

We are especially proud to see Anoosheh honored alongside 23 extraordinary women leaders from diverse industries, each making a difference in her own way.

When women support, inspire, and lift one another, incredible things happen!

Congratulations to Anoosheh and all the remarkable 2026 honorees! Here's to celebrating women's achievements and continuing to elevate one another!

10/21/2026

https://shipandshore.com/about-us/case-studies/

Engineering VOC Control and Unlocking $350,000+ in Incentives

The Challenge

A flexographic packaging manufacturer serving the food and candy markets was preparing for production expansion. Higher production rates meant increased process exhaust and VOC emissions.

The facility needed to meet permitting requirements without an oversized, energy-intensive system. VOC capture, plant air quality, operating costs, and future growth were critical.

The goal was to operate efficiently as production changed.

The Engineering Approach

Ship & Shore Environmental started with the process not a standard equipment size.

Our engineering team evaluated equipment, airflow, operating conditions, production requirements, and VOC sources to establish collection and abatement requirements.

The result was a custom engineered Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) and VOC collection system designed around the facility's operation.

Key engineering elements included:

• Custom RTO capacity for planned expansion.
• Optimized collection and ductwork for improved VOC capture.
• Variable airflow operation to match production demand.
• Regenerative heat recovery to reduce natural-gas consumption.
• Automated controls for changing process conditions.
• Integration with existing plant infrastructure.

The RTO was engineered as part of the facility's overall exhaust strategy, not simply as a stand-alone compliance device.

The Results

The project delivered expansion capacity while addressing energy, operational, and financial goals.

Compliance: Designed to meet applicable permit and emissions control requirements.

VOC Capture: Process specific collection helped minimize fugitive VOC releases within the facility.

Energy Efficiency: Regenerative heat recovery and airflow optimization helped reduce unnecessary natural gas and fan-energy consumption.

Production Flexibility: The system was designed to respond to changing production conditions rather than operate continuously at maximum capacity.

$350,000+ Utility Incentives: The project qualified for more than
$350,000 in utility incentives, helping offset the customer's capital investment.

More Than Emissions Control

For this manufacturer, expansion was an opportunity to make VOC abatement part of the production strategy not simply another compliance requirement.

By integrating capture, airflow, thermal oxidation, controls, energy use, and future capacity, Ship & Shore designed a system for today's operation and future growth.

When production grows, your emissions strategy should be ready to grow with it.

📞 Contact us at +1 (562) 997-0233
📧 Email: [email protected]

Flexographic Technical Association
Flexible Packaging Association
Triumph Foods, L.L.C.
Nuts.com

10/20/2026

Think your environmental compliance risk only increases when new laws are passed? Think again.

In her latest article for Packaging Technology Today, Our CEO Anoosheh Mostafaei Oskouian explains why environmental enforcement is getting tougher across the industrial sector, even without new regulations on the books.

The game-changer? The data revolution. Regulators are now leveraging automated monitoring, digital reporting, and even satellite-based atmospheric tracking to identify emissions anomalies in near real-time. For manufacturers—especially those handling VOCs—relying on reactive compliance strategies is no longer enough.

Read Anoosheh's full insights on why proactive, continuous performance monitoring is the new standard: https://shipandshore.com/environmental-enforcement-getting-tougher

Are you on the show floor at PACK EXPO? Don’t miss the chance to talk strategy in person! Connect with Anoosheh Mostafaei Oskouian, CEO, and Jim Kuzara, Sr. Technical Sales Manager, while on site to discuss your facility's environmental compliance, pollution abatement, and how to proactively future-proof your operations.

To connect or set up a time to meet at PACK EXPO:
• Anoosheh Oskouian: [email protected] | 1.562.997.0233
• Jim Kuzara: [email protected] | 1.562.477.7553

10/19/2026

https://shipandshore.com/am-monday/

DFTO Refractory & Insulation: Catch the Warning Signs Early

Why It Matters

A Direct-Fired Thermal Oxidizer (DFTO) relies on its combustion chamber lining to limit heat loss and protect the steel shell from high operating temperatures. SSE’s DFTO designs use high-temperature ceramic fiber insulation modules, with inspection doors to support maintenance checks.

Over time, repeated heating and cooling, mechanical stress, airflow-related erosion, or deterioration of attachment points can compromise the lining. If left unaddressed, damage may contribute to localized hot spots, equipment deterioration, unplanned downtime, and costly repairs.

🔎 Common Warning Signs

· External hot spots: Unusual shell temperatures or discoloration may indicate deteriorated insulation.

· Lining damage: Missing, loose, or visibly deteriorated insulation requires evaluation.

· Increased fuel consumption: Higher fuel use under comparable operating conditions may indicate heat loss or another combustion-related issue.

· Unusual temperature trends: Unexpected chamber temperature changes or increased burner demand warrant investigation.

🛠️ Preventive Maintenance Checklist

· Inspect accessible lining surfaces during planned shutdowns for damage, gaps, or deterioration.

· Check the shell and cladding for hot spots, discoloration, or distortion.

· Examine accessible anchors, attachment points, inspection-door seals, and expansion joints where applicable.

· Review burner performance, chamber temperature trends, alarms, and fuel consumption together.

· Evaluate process deposits, particulate buildup, and corrosive compounds for potential effects on lining life.

⚙️ Operational Considerations

Frequent startup and shutdown cycles can increase thermal stress. Particulate-laden streams, high gas velocities, moisture, and certain corrosive compounds may also contribute to deterioration, depending on process conditions and lining materials.

SSE Recommendation

Do not wait for visible shell damage to investigate potential insulation problems. Schedule qualified inspections during planned outages, document findings, and address deterioration before it progresses. Abnormal hot spots or significant temperature changes should be evaluated by qualified personnel.

Protect your equipment. Plan maintenance before minor issues become major repairs.

📞 Contact Ship & Shore Environmental
✉️ [email protected]