Ariel Training Continues to Grow With the Industry

The State of Ariel Customer Training for 2025 and Beyond

As the natural gas industry experiences overall growth, Ariel Corporation’s product training has consistently grown with the industry, resulting in an increase in the number of customers served, more diversity in training offerings and locations, and enhanced curriculum options.

TRAINING TRENDS

The Ariel product training team completed 2024 with increased student registration compared to 2023. Total training participation (Ariel Training Center and customer sites) increased more than 7% last year.

2024 participation in product training at the Ariel Training Center increased by 14% compared to 2023 trainees, with more than 600 participants traveling to Ariel’s world headquarters in Mount Vernon, Ohio. Level 1 and Level 2 courses for mechanics experienced growth of 20% and 28%, respectively.

Ariel’s 86,000 sq.ft. training center features immersive workspaces, breakout areas, five conference rooms, a 255-seat auditorium, seven classrooms, two hands-on training labs for employee training, and a lab for Ariel’s customer training courses.

Ariel’s Customer Training Lab is an 8,000-sq.ft. space featuring multiple compressor workstations, a fully operational compression package, several lubrication simulation stations, valve assembly areas, and required tooling. It also features a lab floor classroom and a breakout classroom.

Tommy Arnold, Ariel’s product training supervisor, predicts an overall increase for the remainder of 2025 and beyond. “We are currently projected to exceed our domestic training numbers for 2025, with an expected increase of 17% over 2024,” said Arnold. “The estimated 2025 total includes an anticipated 15% increase registered at the Ariel Training Center in Mount Vernon, and an estimated 30% increase in customers trained in the field.”

Arnold emphasized that the growth is attributed to new customer on-site training and the partnerships contributing to this development. “This past year, field training at various locations has experienced a notable rise in participation, growing by nearly 20%. To further improve our offerings, we partner with several customers with Ariel-vetted training facilities capable of on-site Mechanics – Level 1 training. This setup will significantly increase the number of trained customers, offering convenience for all parties involved and more than doubling enrollments.”

Ariel’s field training for 2024 included over 200 trainees aboard Ariel’s Mobile Training Lab (MTL). The MTL provides customers with Ariel’s Mechanics – Level 1 course at their location.

The Ariel MTL is a 53-foot semi-trailer fully equipped for on-site education. The MTL features a classroom area, computer monitors, and six workstations, each with individual tool sets that offer ample space and materials for student participation. Additionally, the MTL includes a functioning Ariel JGJ/2 compressor mounted on an alignment stand for a hands-on training experience. Ariel designed the MTL from the ground up to provide maintenance technicians with convenient and comprehensive training at their employers’ locations across Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. This enables industry service providers to work with and learn directly from Ariel product trainers without needing to leave their job sites.

Additionally, Ariel offers international training. In 2024, Ariel had more than 250 training participants worldwide. Mechanics Training is offered in several countries including Australia, China, the UAE, India, and South America. Classes run four consecutive days.

A noteworthy trend is that incoming participants are becoming increasingly younger and are new to the industry. According to Arnold, this presents the perfect opportunity to educate newcomers about the Ariel product line and the role of Ariel compressors in the industry.

BEYOND TRADITIONAL TRAINING

Dual Classes

Due to the increased demand for product training, Ariel piloted the concept of dual classes (two class offerings happening at the same time) — one running Monday through Thursday, and the other running concurrently from Tuesday to Friday at the Ariel Training Center. The 2024/2025 pilot program proved successful, and in 2026, the company will transition to a dual-class system at the Ariel Training Center to address increased customer demand.

Digital Training

Ariel is in the final phases of developing a digital training manual to be used via tablet for participants who attend training at its Mount Vernon training center. The interactive Mechanics – Level 1 coursework, based on Ariel maintenance and repair manuals, will offer interactive features such as hyperlinks and training videos, links to Ariel technical documents, and product specifications. The goal is to provide students with a more comprehensive learning experience and motivate them to explore Ariel’s website, which offers training content, technical information, and product materials.

Ariel Smart Compressor (ASC) is the next generation in compression monitoring, diagnostics, and data management. As compressors are shipped from Ariel outfitted with ASC, Ariel understands the importance of ensuring that the coursework reflects these advancements. The ASC system includes numerous sensors and harnesses that send operational data to an onboard central processor using Ariel performance calculation methods. This processor provides a digital twin to assist in troubleshooting performance. Data is delivered on-premises to a touchscreen, which can interact with systems via remote monitoring. Ariel trainers will instruct operators on how to maximize the use of this advanced diagnostic system for daily operations and to proactively interpret data for preventive maintenance measures.

Training Teams

Ariel staffs a highly qualified customer training team based in Mount Vernon and deployed to customer locations. Alongside its dedicated training team, Ariel engages other subject matter experts from its engineering, field service, research and development, sales and marketing, and applications groups to support its comprehensive class offerings.

Ariel's ongoing commitment to the natural gas industry's future growth is clear in its dedication to improving training facilities and expanding course offerings. Arnold likes what the future holds for the progression of Ariel customer training. "We are excited about the future of our training offerings, as we continually create new content streams to reflect our ongoing support for Ariel's product improvements and our steadfast support for our partners in the natural gas industry," he said. "We have some great things lined up and look forward to rolling them out very soon."