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Day in the Life – Tim Styfhoorn
Solving real-world aftermarket challenges requires trusted guidance and the technical know-how gained from a lifetime spent understanding engines inside and out. Service and support manager Tim Styfhoorn is that go-to expert for Cat® dealers and account teams around the world. With a Caterpillar legacy in his family, he started rebuilding engines when he was nine years old. Now he spends his days going from one country to the next, troubleshooting technologies to help identify the right solution so oilfield companies can achieve optimal results.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?
I have a business degree from Mid-State Technical College. Long before that, I worked on machines on my grandfather’s farm where we learned how to fix equipment on our own. A passion for fixing things runs in the family. When I was 13, I built a rotary car engine and later in life became a rotary engine specialist. I built Wankel engines and even raced them.
Q: HOW DID YOU START YOUR CAREER AT CATERPILLAR?
Just as my father worked for Caterpillar, pioneering and designing tools and equipment, I started my career at Caterpillar in 2001 as a shop mechanic and soon pivoted to tech support. We supported all kinds of machines, including finding parts for legacy equipment. It wasn’t uncommon for us to find parts and solutions for engines from as far back as the 1930s and 1940s and then work directly with oil and gas companies and Cat dealers to fix the machines to bring them up to modern standards.
I’ve held many roles since then. My current position is a service and support manager, which involves 70% international travel. I visit oilfield companies around the world to help them optimize their fleets and experience the full benefits our solutions can offer. Oil and gas sites really push equipment hard – the operating conditions are extreme. When I’m on-site, I diagnose challenges with proven methods, such as an SOS test, to help minimize downtime and keep assets up and running.
Q: HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN SUPPORTING CUSTOMERS’ AFTERMARKET NEEDS?
When I was about 11 years old, I worked on my first Cat D318 engine, which pumped water for my grandfather’s farm fields. Throughout my 25 years at Caterpillar in various mechanical roles, I know Cat engines through and through. Now, when I visit sites, I can apply my mechanical background to determine the best solution. Different company cultures have different maintenance protocols, so knowing what oil and gas companies value — time and output — helps me guide them on the best approach to maintenance that meets their unique goals.
Q: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES OIL AND GAS COMPANIES TYPICALLY ENCOUNTER DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PROTOCOLS?
Oil and gas companies operate in harsh conditions and tough terrain that can affect engine performance and potentially damage parts or shorten component life. We want our engines always running to maximize uptime, so when companies perform an SOS test, I can share detailed insights and point to the correct solutions. Sometimes it’s as simple as increasing filter change outs. Keeping up with service intervals keeps Cat engines running longer, as intended.
Q: HOW DO YOU SUPPORT THE R&D PROCESS?
I’ve seen just about every challenge that can be encountered with equipment. I share that information with R&D and let them know how filters and fluids are performing against certain types of contaminants so they can engineer a solution. It’s a continuous improvement process that applies to both legacy and new equipment.
Q: WHAT ADVANTAGES CAN OIL AND GAS COMPANIES EXPERIENCE BY USING GENUINE CAT FILTERS AND FLUIDS?
Genuine Cat components are specifically engineered for Cat systems to protect the equipment, minimize contaminants (such as tighter tolerances) and increase equipment longevity. No matter where they’re used in the world, they can handle higher temps and maintain longer service intervals than conventional products — which means lower total cost of ownership.
Q: WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT WORKING FOR CATERPILLAR?
I enjoy helping solve different problems and exploring different opportunities. Because I work at Caterpillar, the solutions I’m looking for can come from anywhere in the world.
Q: HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR TIME OUTSIDE OF WORK?
I still work on cars. I’m building a 1991 Chevy K5 Blazer right now. I also enjoy my garden, hunting and spending time with my nieces and nephews.
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