Founder of aerospace giant invests in PIRTEK Orlando

Owner and general manager of longtime center come from $4.2 billion company; will maintain focus on expanding Orlando customer base

Robert Khoury, co-founder and retired CEO of B/E Aerospace, Inc., acquired PIRTEK Orlando in February and has appointed his former director of operations to run the longtime Service & Supply Center.

“We’re very excited about this business and we’re looking forward to expanding it here,” said Walter Alfaro, general manager, who will be running PIRTEK Orlando’s day-to-day operations at 1820 S. Division Ave. “Companies that use hydraulic equipment benefit from our service regardless of economic conditions, making this business stable and largely recession proof.”

The PIRTEK center has been in Orlando for 16 years.

Like Khoury, Alfaro comes to PIRTEK from B/E Aerospace, a $4.2 billion company where he served as director of operations and director of facilities during his 24 years there. That work has equipped him well for the challenges of running the existing PIRTEK center, he said. Alfaro’s tenure at B/E Aerospace entailed supervision of 120 employees, oversight of maintenance, and management of an area that included a 157,000 square-foot equipment facility. Much of the equipment under his supervision contained hydraulic elements, he said.

Among the center’s prominent regular customers are such area attractions as SeaWorld, as well as contractors involved in large-scale roadway construction, Alfaro said. “They’ve been very happy with our service and with our presence here,” he said. “It’s been extremely positive working with them.”

The new general manager added that PIRTEK Orlando will work hard on “revisiting our customer base and identifying customers that haven’t used us in a while.”

As PIRTEK Orlando pursues its ongoing objectives, Alfaro said it will rely on an expert staff that helps position the Service & Supply Center for continued success. “We were lucky to get such an excellent crew,” said Alfaro. “It’s a high-performing crew from the office staff to the field staff.”

The only franchise brand of its kind in the United States, PIRTEK USA specializes in hydraulic and industrial hose services. PIRTEK technicians at locations throughout the country are available 24/7 to provide onsite repairs to hydraulic and industrial hoses, thanks to the company’s specially equipped Mobile Service Vehicles. PIRTEK boasts more than 400 franchise locations in 23 countries around the world, including 84 in the United States.