W-Industries : Tomorrow’s Energy Solutions Today

Lauren RobinsonLucy Pilgrim
Lauren Robinson - Project Manager Lucy Pilgrim - Deputy Head of Editorial
W-industries Main
Highlights
  • W-Industries's ability to provide end-to-end, turnkey solutions, coupled with in-house expertise, across all project phases, has cemented the business at the forefront of the industry.
  • “Through our unwavering focus on technical excellence and developing top-tier talent, we have grown into a global leader,” says Todd Simmering, Vice President of Operations Strategy, W-Industries.
  • W-Industries’ commitment to building long-term relationships with clients and suppliers facilitates strong collaboration and enhances the company’s capability to deliver efficient and effective project execution strategies.

Providing end-to-end energy infrastructure solutions, we explore how W-Industries builds long-lasting relationships with both suppliers and customers. Todd Simmering, Vice President of Operations Strategy, tells us more.

TOMORROW’S ENERGY SOLUTIONS TODAY

The North American oil and gas sector is an integral pillar to global energy security, containing some of the world’s most extensive fossil fuels and renewable energy sources.  

The key to ensuring the smooth running of the international energy industry lies in cutting-edge technologies and proficiency in complex infrastructures, which is where organizations such as W-Industries step in.  

Founded with a clear vision, the company delivers advanced solutions tailored to the energy and industrial sectors.  

“Through our unwavering focus on technical excellence and developing top-tier talent, we have grown into a global leader, trusted to provide proven solutions for some of the industry’s most complex projects,” introduces Todd Simmering, Vice President of Operations Strategy.  

At the heart of W-Industries’ success is its commitment to building strong partnerships with clients and suppliers across the energy landscape, allowing the business to deliver highly efficient and effective project execution strategies while also elevating its capabilities.

Todd Simmering, Vice President of Operations Strategy, W-Industries

 “Through our unwavering focus on technical excellence and developing top-tier talent, we have grown into a global leader, trusted to provide proven solutions for some of the industry’s most complex projects”

Todd Simmering, Vice President of Operations Strategy, W-Industries

INNOVATIVE TURNKEY SOLUTIONS

Since the inception of W-Industries in 1984, the oil and gas market has evolved significantly.  

“From a production standpoint, we’ve seen the offshore sector stagnate, the resurgence of the Permian Basin, and the shale boom all within our company’s lifetime,” remarks Simmering.

Furthermore, in parallel to the innovations in techniques used across the exploration and production (E&P) sector, there has been greater industry-wide adoption of digital technologies over the past eight years, which bodes well for W-Industries’ 90+ control engineers.  

Elsewhere, although the oil and gas landscape continues to place high value on safety and speed, it is also transitioning toward capital stewardship.  

“Whilst speed is still a huge cog in the overall cash flow generation, the industry has implemented more rigor across supply chain strategies, which directly affects W-Industries in a positive way.  

“Although this may sound counterintuitive, buying smarter will give us more opportunities to compete and innovate for our customers,” he imparts.  

Therefore, as the oil and gas market continues to develop concepts like carbon capture, hydrogen fuel, ammonia, and more, W-Industries’ innovation and flexibility will sustain its position as the premier partner in these efforts.  

Indeed, the company’s ability to provide end-to-end, turnkey solutions, coupled with in-house expertise, across all project phases, has cemented the business at the forefront of the industry.  

From design to execution, its vertically integrated approach allows for complete control over every aspect of a project, reducing risk and improving efficiency.  

Unlike engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) organizations, W-Industries focuses on detailed engineering ventures, partnering with end users and EPCs from feed to commissioning to ensure optimum project execution.

“We believe that if detailed design and manufacturing companies are brought into the project lifecycle earlier, critical engineering decisions can also be made earlier. This ultimately leads to the smoother execution, transparency, and on-time delivery of quality projects.” 

The business is further recognized for its technical excellence and advanced solutions, leveraging top-of-the-range technologies to meet the demands of complex, large-scale projects.  

Another strength lies in its focus on quality and safety, ensuring compliance with the highest industry standards and regulatory requirements.   

Above all, however, W-Industries’ commitment to building long-term relationships with clients and suppliers facilitates strong collaboration and enhances the company’s capability to deliver efficient and effective project execution strategies.  

“Our holistic, client-centered approach, combined with a strong emphasis on continuous improvement and advanced solutions, positions W-Industries as a leader in the energy and industrial sectors,” highlights Simmering. 

THE POWER OF MULTIPLE DIVISIONS

W-Industries has evolved into four main business units, all focused around energy infrastructure.

“We hold no technology license ourselves, and that allows us to thrive as a flexible partner that focuses on execution and objectively chooses the right technology for the project and facility design,” details Simmering.  

The company’s field services division comprises 500+ craft laborers who specialize in instrumentation and electrical field execution.  

With a deep understanding of the unique elements involved in the infrastructure and energy (I&E) systems of offshore platforms, the team has translated best practices into other markets.

The field services division is also increasingly involved in wastewater electrical systems, solar installations, and I&E systems.  

With a wealth of core experience in these areas, the team has developed and integrated many unique innovations, including fiber installations, a UL508 panel shop, mobile and stationary rack power installations, analyzer shelters, variable frequency drives (VFDs) e-houses, and much more.  

W-Industries’ technology solutions division, meanwhile, is a strong engineering business that can take control of a client’s system from start to finish – from napkin process flow diagrams (PFD) through to network design, integrated operations (IO) developments, and turnkey system commissioning in the field.

“The company is trained in nearly all the major hardware required to drive a plant system and, uniquely, knows how to make all of them function together,” asserts Simmering.  

Similar to the field services division, the technology solutions division has world-class engineers for subsea and topside offshore controls – but the company’s capabilities don’t end there.  

Through years of experience working with offshore customers, it has also developed proprietary testing software, introduced Honeywell’s distributed control system (DCS) migration software solutions, and an in-house cybersecurity offering. 

Additionally, W-Industries’ cybersecurity subdivision, Seukrinova, utilizes significant operational technology expertise to help monitor industrial systems.  

“Our tools and team can help identify system risks, alert operations, and provide quick solutions to problems,” expands Simmering.

ELECTRIFICATION EXPANSION

Formerly known as Volta LLC, the W-Industries electrification division was acquired in 2019 and has since grown rapidly with the demand for energy, data centers, and electrification.  

“We are not just an e-house supplier – we offer value-added electrical system integration and manufactured power distribution equipment below 38 kilovolts (kV),” states Simmering.  

The company also boasts a 240 square foot (sqft) fabrication and integration facility in Jersey Village, Texas, which it is looking to expand in line with customers.   

“We use a unique execution strategy that mitigates supply chain risk without making final engineering decisions before a project is ready,” he adds.  

As part of the electrification division’s expansion, W-Industries has built over 300 power distribution systems over the last seven years, working with customers in the midstream liquefied natural gas (LNG), petrochemical, utility, and data center markets.  

In parallel, the division has grown to be a highly efficient volume manufacturer of low-voltage switchboards, producing over 150 units for data center customers over the past year.  

Accordingly, the electrification facility has expanded by over 100,000 sqft in the last two years to meet increasing demand for switchgear products.

With such rapid advancements, the company’s goal is to execute its product development roadmap by 2026 and partner with major component suppliers and VFD organizations to bring flexibility to project execution.  

“A unique aspect of the electrification team is its ability to assist in product development and maturity and convert that into a managed volume manufacturing line.  

“This process suites a range of markets, including electric vehicles (EVs), electrical fracking, and utility and data centers that require repeatability,” notes Simmering.

“As we look ahead, strong relationships remain the cornerstone of our success, driving our growth and ability to tackle new challenges in the ever-evolving energy and industrial markets”

Todd Simmering, Vice President of Operations Strategy, W-Industries

OFFSHORE EXPERTISE

W-Industries’ advanced involvement in offshore projects cannot be overstated, as demonstrated by its significant role in the TotalEnergies Mozambique LNG project.  

“This is one of the largest applications of our expertise, showcasing our capabilities in providing advanced solutions for subsea equipment and integrated systems,” Simmering informs.  

The company’s scope for this project includes the development of two onshore subsea support equipment modules (OSSEMs), integrated into electrical and instrumentation buildings.  

These modules will house critical systems such as subsea production hydraulic power units, monoethylene glycol (MEG), and methanol injection systems, alongside an independent chemical injection skid.  

The entire system is supported by a fully integrated process control and safety system, ensuring optimal functionality and safety.   

Scheduled for completion in 2025, the offshore project highlights W-Industries’ ability to deliver complex, technically compliant systems for high-stake offshore operations.  

“Our work with TotalEnergies in Mozambique demonstrates how we can manage and execute large-scale offshore projects from design to installation, reinforcing our leadership in this sector.” 

The company also enjoys fruitful relationships with its supply chain partners, who it would not be able to thrive without. Indeed, W-Industries relies on its partnerships at both a componential and technological level.  

As such, the expertise and transparency that comes with supply partnerships, such as those with The Reynolds Company, Rockwell Automation, ABB Group, Advantage Energy, Custom Air Products & Services, Honeywell, and many more, are critical to project success.  

Maintaining and nurturing these partnerships in the long term is therefore key to the company’s stronghold in the I&E market.  

“As we look ahead, strong relationships remain the cornerstone of our success, driving our growth and ability to tackle new challenges in the ever-evolving energy and industrial markets,” Simmering concludes.  

Thus, W-Industries’ philosophy moving forward is to honor and support the businesses and markets that have helped the company, whilst continuing to develop new relationships in markets with scalability and strong value propositions.

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Project Manager
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Lauren Robinson is a Project Manager for Outlook Publishing. Lauren is responsible for showcasing corporate stories in our digital B2B magazines and Digital Platforms, and sourcing collaborations with Business Leaders, Brands, and C-suite Executives to feature in future editions. Lauren is actively seeking opportunities to collaborate. Reach out to Lauren to discover how you and your business could be our next cover story.
Deputy Head of Editorial
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Lucy Pilgrim is an in-house writer for North America Outlook Magazine, where she is responsible for interviewing corporate executives and crafting original features for the magazine, corporate brochures, and the digital platform.