About Performance Distillation Solutions

History

Performance Distillation Solutions traces its roots back to 1948 when Dr. Michael Cannon, Ph.D., Professor of Chemical Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University, and the visionary founder of Cannon Instrument Company, filed a groundbreaking U.S. patent. This patent described a revolutionary distillation packing material characterized by half-cylinders of rolled, thin metal strips punctuated with a dense arrangement of holes, featuring jagged ruptures over their convex surface. The subsequent year saw the unveiling of this innovative packing material to the world through an article titled “A New Distillation Packing,” published in Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. This seminal moment marked the inception of a legacy that continues to shape the landscape of distillation technology.

Dr. Robert E. Manning was a graduate student under Dr. Cannon where he earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Manning oversaw much of the research done with Pro-Pak at Penn State, and later assisted with automating the manufacturing for Pro-Pak, and the development of column internals.

Present Day

Performance Distillation Solutions proudly carries forward this tradition of innovation and excellence as the OEM for Pro-Pak®. Building upon the foundation laid by Michael Cannon’s pioneering work, we stand as a recognized leader in the field, driven by a commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in distillation technology.

At the heart of our success lies the revolutionary Pro-Pak^® distillation packing material. Renowned for its exceptional performance and reliability, Pro-Pak has set a new standard in the industry, redefining the possibilities for separation processes across a wide range of applications, including organic chemicals, petroleum products, alcoholic beverages, ultra-pure semiconductor gases and solvents, botanical oils like CBD, pharmaceutical-grade gases, isotopes, and green fuels.

Future Vision and Innovation

We are constantly exploring new avenues, developing cutting-edge products that address the ever-changing demands of our customers. Our latest offerings include effort and error reducing turnkey and custom automated thermal process equipment for technical scale processes and an innovative time-saving melt point analyzer for petroleum waxes.   

Whether it’s enhancing efficiency, improving sustainability, or meeting stringent regulatory requirements, Performance Distillation Solutions is dedicated to delivering solutions that exceed expectations. 

With a steadfast focus on quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction, we are proud to be shaping the future of distillation technology, one innovation at a time. 

Dr. Michael Cannon, Ph.D.

Dr. Robert E. Manning, Ph.D.

U.S. Patent

Pro-Pak®

The Pennsylvania State University Chemical Engineering Building features a glass-enclosed tower that housed a 50-foot-tall distillation column, used for petroleum refining research and other studies. This facility was the birthplace of Pro-Pak®, where it was developed and tested. Circa 1960.

A pilot plant utilizing Pro-Pak® for developing new chemicals from petroleum in the early 1960s.