Why call: REFERRAL from Akinola Akinteye (former MI engineer at this plant). PSM-covered polymerization, 46-51 employees, hiring maintenance = under-resourced. Warmest lead on the list.
Opener
"Hi, this is [Adam/Ryan] with ARPE Engineering. I'm calling because Akinola Akinteye mentioned your plant -- he did MI contract work there previously. We specialize in mechanical integrity for polymerization and specialty chemical facilities, and he thought there might be a fit given some of the maintenance needs y'all are working through. Do you have a couple of minutes?"
#2
Brainerd Chemical Company
ICP-ACLIENTScore: 72Tulsa, OK
Contact: Brian Miller -- President (ChemE). Backup: Neil Morgan (COO), Mat Brainerd (Owner)
Why call: Family-owned since 1959. 2022 Danville IL HF release = $124K settlement, NO maintenance records for air pollution equipment. Two new facilities 2022-23. ~$44M revenue, ~75 employees.
Opener
"Hi Brian, this is [Adam/Ryan] with ARPE Engineering. We work with chemical manufacturers handling bulk corrosives -- sulfuric acid, HCl, the works. Brainerd's been on our radar because of the growth you've had with the new facilities. I wanted to see how you're resourcing your mechanical integrity programs across the six sites as you scale."
Watch: Do NOT lead with the Danville incident. Frame as "the whole industry faces documentation gaps." Ask early if they have a preferred engineering firm.
#3
American Chrome & Chemicals
ICP-ACLIENTScore: 67Corpus Christi, TX
Contact: Stan Hansley or Rafael Trevino (Plant Manager) -- ask switchboard
Vertical: Chemicals (chromic acid, chrome oxide, sodium dichromate -- only chromium producer in Americas)
Why call: Superfund site, $2.57M EPA fines, hex chromium. Acquired by YILDIRIM Group 2022 -- new ownership rebuilding programs. 39 employees.
Opener
"Hey, this is [Adam/Ryan] with ARPE Engineering -- we specialize in reliability and mechanical integrity for chemical plants along the Gulf Coast. I know y'all went through the ownership transition a few years back and I wanted to see if there's an opportunity to support your inspection and MI programs in Corpus."
Watch: Hex chrome is a serious health topic -- lead with "supporting the new team" not "we saw your violations."
Why call: PSM-covered, no in-house reliability. Compliance Director owns the MI gap. Small company, hazardous processes.
Opener
"Hi Russell, this is [Adam/Ryan] with ARPE Engineering. We do mechanical integrity and PSM compliance work for chemical facilities along the Gulf Coast. I understand you handle the compliance side at Southern Chem and I wanted to see how your team is managing the MI program requirements -- whether you've got that covered in-house or if it's something you'd want engineering support on."
Why call: PSM-likely, 11-50 employees, no dedicated inspection engineer. Ops Manager is the right person.
Opener
"Hi Debra, this is [Adam/Ryan] with ARPE Engineering -- we're a mechanical integrity and reliability consulting firm that works with chemical plants across Texas. I was looking at your operation in Forney and wanted to see how you're currently managing your equipment inspection program -- do you have a reliability engineer on staff, or are you handling things as they come up?"
#6
Aspen Chemicals
ICP-BCLIENTScore: 77Angleton, TX
Contact: Kirk Johnson (Owner, Austin) or Brandon Booth (Ops Mgr, Angleton). Do NOT ask for Stephen Rohde.
Vertical: Chemicals (polymer blending + 40-unit belt press/centrifuge rental fleet)
Why call: 40+ rotating/process equipment with no systematic condition monitoring. Units return from field with unknown degradation. No visible engineering staff.
Opener
"Hi, this is [Adam/Ryan] with ARPE Engineering. I noticed Aspen runs one of the largest portable belt press fleets in the country -- that's a lot of rotating equipment out in the field. We specialize in helping companies like yours get more life out of mechanical assets through condition assessment and maintenance optimization. When a belt press comes back from a 6-month rental, what does your inspection process look like?"
Watch: NOT a traditional PSM chemical manufacturer. Pitch around fleet/asset management, not process safety.
Vertical: EPC (industrial welding and mechanical services)
Why call: Small independent mechanical/welding contractor in Beaumont -- heart of the Golden Triangle refinery corridor. Serves ExxonMobil, Motiva, TOTAL. Referral partnership fit.
Opener
"Hi Tye, this is [Adam/Ryan] with ARPE Engineering. We're a mechanical integrity and reliability consulting firm, and we work with a lot of the same plants in the Beaumont-Port Arthur area that you do. I wanted to see if there's interest in a referral arrangement -- when your clients need MI audits, inspection programs, or PSM compliance support, we can handle the engineering side while you handle the mechanical work."
THURSDAY — Remaining Targets
#8
SATCO (Sulphuric Acid Trading Co)
ICP-ACLIENTScore: 62Stockton, CA
Contact: Brent Shonka -- President & GM (Tampa). Ask for plant-level contact at Stockton.
Why call: Terminal opened ~2019, first API 653 inspection intervals approaching. 62M lbs H2SO4 vs 1,000 lb PSM threshold. Recently merged with Saconix = Interacid NA.
Opener
"Hey Brent, this is [Adam/Ryan] with ARPE Engineering -- we do mechanical integrity and PSM compliance for sulfuric acid operations, it's literally our core expertise. I understand the Stockton terminal is coming up on some significant inspection milestones and wanted to see if you've got engineering support lined up for that."
Watch: Brent is supply chain/trading in Tampa, not an engineer. Ask who manages PSM/MI at Stockton. California CalARP adds complexity.
Vertical: Chemicals (96% electronic-grade sulfuric acid for semiconductor industry)
Why call: ARPE's exact wheelhouse -- sulfuric acid plants with severe corrosion (sulfidation, acid dew point, HTHA), mandatory PSM/RMP, no in-house reliability.
Opener
"Hi Perpa, this is [Adam/Ryan] with ARPE Engineering -- we specialize in mechanical integrity and reliability for sulfuric acid plants. I wanted to understand how your team is currently handling corrosion rate tracking on your converter and absorber circuits -- do you have a formal CML program, or is it more inspection-driven when something looks off?"
Watch: VP Biz Ops may not own technical decisions. Ask who manages PSM/MI day-to-day.
#10
Wellspring Hydro
ICP-ACLIENTScore: 63Williston, ND
Contact: Steve Kemp -- President. Backup: Mark Watson
Vertical: Chemicals (caustic soda, HCl, calcium chloride from oilfield produced water + lithium extraction)
Why call: Standout lead. Chemical production from Bakken produced water. Hazardous processes, pressure vessels, reactors. State grant funding = growth phase. Compliance infrastructure needs to be built.
Opener
"Hi Steve, this is [Adam/Ryan] with ARPE Engineering. We work with chemical producers on mechanical integrity and PSM compliance programs. I noticed Wellspring is producing caustic and HCl from produced water -- that's an interesting operation. As you're scaling up, how are you handling the MI program requirements on your pressure equipment?"
Why call: Mid-size pharma intermediates manufacturer with reactors and pressure vessels. Custom synthesis = diverse equipment fleet. No MI program visible.
Opener
"Hi, this is [Adam/Ryan] with ARPE Engineering -- we do mechanical integrity and reliability work for specialty chemical plants across Texas. I was looking into Aceschem and wanted to ask how you're currently tracking the condition of your reactors and pressure vessels -- do you have a formal inspection program in place?"
Watch: Pharma-adjacent operations may route engineering decisions through quality rather than maintenance.
Vertical: Chemicals (hazardous chemical liquid packaging/repackaging)
Why call: Small PSM-likely manufacturer in DFW, 1-10 employees. Zero in-house reliability/inspection capability.
Opener
"Hi Alvaro, this is [Adam/Ryan] with ARPE Engineering out of Houston -- we do mechanical integrity and inspection work for chemical facilities across Texas. I wanted to see when was the last time you had your pressure vessels and storage tanks inspected by a third-party inspector -- not just the insurance walk-through."
Watch: May be too small for PSM-covered processes. Confirm vessels/tanks above OSHA thresholds early.
Why call: PARTNER. NBBI-certified valve lab serving OK/KS/TX corridor. Their clients ARE ARPE's clients -- refineries and chemical plants with PSM valve programs.
Opener
"Hi Jeff, this is [Adam/Ryan] with ARPE Engineering. We're a reliability and mechanical integrity consulting firm, and we've been looking at valve service companies in the OK-TX corridor to explore referral partnerships. Your NBBI certification and mobile testing capability caught our attention -- a lot of the plants you're testing valves for also need PSM compliance and MI program support. I wanted to see if there's a fit for us to work together."
#14
Al Hill's Boiler Sales & Repair
ICP-APARTNERScore: 63Theodore, AL
Contact: J. Randall Sanford -- President & GM. Backup: Sandy Merritt (VP), Drew Nelson (Sales)
Vertical: Mechanical (boiler repair since 1946, 24/7 certified techs)
Why call: PARTNER. 80-year-old independent boiler shop on Gulf Coast. Likely lacks in-house RBI programs. Classic ARPE value-add for MI audits and NBIC compliance.
Opener
"Hi Randall, this is [Adam/Ryan] with ARPE Engineering. We specialize in reliability and mechanical integrity consulting for industrial boiler and pressure vessel operations. I know Al Hill's has been doing boiler work for close to 80 years now, and I wanted to see if there's an opportunity to partner -- a lot of your clients probably need MI audit and compliance support that goes beyond the repair work."
#15
PK Companies Group (PK Technology)
ICP-APARTNERScore: 57Moss Point, MS
Contact: Brian Turpin -- Managing Partner. Backup: Kenny Turpin
Vertical: NDE (ASNT & API UT certs, oil/gas inspections)
Why call: PARTNER. API QUTE-TM certified NDE firm adjacent to Pascagoula refinery/chemical complex -- largest industrial corridor in MS.
Opener
"Hi Brian, this is [Adam/Ryan] with ARPE Engineering. We're a mechanical integrity and reliability consulting firm, and we've been looking at NDE companies along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Your API QUTE-TM certification and proximity to the Pascagoula corridor made you stand out -- I wanted to see if you're interested in a referral relationship where we bring each other into projects."
#16
RasMech
ICP-APARTNERScore: 65Lincoln, NE
Contact: Bruce Rasmussen -- President. Backup: Brian Rasmussen
Vertical: Mechanical (boiler repair, pressure vessels -- ASME R, S, H, U, PP stamps, 55+ years family-owned)
Why call: PARTNER. Every major ASME stamp. 24/7 service. Family-owned 55+ years. ARPE can offer API 510/570 programs, RBI, MI audits to their customers.
Opener
"Hi Bruce, this is [Adam/Ryan] with ARPE Engineering. We're a reliability and mechanical integrity consulting firm, and we've been impressed with RasMech's credentials -- the R, S, H, U, and PP stamps cover just about everything. A lot of your boiler and pressure vessel customers probably also need RBI programs and MI audits, and I wanted to see if there's interest in working together on that side of things."
#17
Chemical Formulators Inc (Allied Universal Corp)
ICP-ACLIENTScore: 53Tampa, FL
Contact: Ask switchboard for Plant Manager / Ops Manager
ir.intp@allieduniversal.com (generic -- verify not the security company)
Vertical: Chemicals (sodium hypochlorite, chlorine, calcium hypochlorite for water treatment)
Why call: Chlorine handling almost certainly triggers PSM/RMP (2,500 lb threshold). Only 11 employees = zero in-house reliability. API 653 tank opportunities at Port Tampa.
Opener
"Hi, this is [Adam/Ryan] with ARPE Engineering. We work with chemical facilities that handle chlorine and hypochlorite on their process safety and mechanical integrity programs. I understand your Tampa facility handles bulk chlorine production, and with a small operation like yours, I wanted to see how you're managing the PSM and MI requirements -- whether that's handled internally or if you bring someone in."
#18
Partco Inc
ICP-BPARTNERScore: 62West Monroe, LA
Contact: Tim Fox -- Owner. Backup: Cliff Chamblee (Branch Mgr)
Why call: PARTNER. 50+ year rotating equipment shop, 60,000+ sq ft. Serves petrochemical, refining, pipeline, power gen. Already does vibration analysis -- natural bridge to ARPE reliability services.
Opener
"Hi Tim, this is [Adam/Ryan] with ARPE Engineering. We specialize in reliability and mechanical integrity consulting for petrochemical and refining facilities -- the same plants you're doing rotating equipment work for. I noticed Partco already does vibration analysis and alignment, and I wanted to see if there's a fit for us to partner on the broader reliability and inspection side."
#19
Tri-State Valve & Instrument
ICP-APARTNERScore: 61El Dorado, AR
Contact: Bill Henson -- President
bill.henson@tvimem.com (timeout -- may be invalid)
Why call: PARTNER. El Dorado = chemical plant country (Lion Oil). NBBI-certified with NDT Level II. Client base directly overlaps ARPE targets.
Opener
"Hi Bill, this is [Adam/Ryan] with ARPE Engineering. We're a reliability and MI consulting firm, and we work with chemical plants and refineries in the same territory you serve around El Dorado. I know you're doing relief valve work for a lot of those facilities, and I wanted to see if there's interest in a referral partnership -- when your customers need MI program support or PSM compliance engineering, we can handle that side."
Vertical: Mechanical (ammonia refrigeration install/repair/retrofit, process pipe welding, millwright)
Why call: PARTNER. Ammonia refrigeration = PSM-covered at many client sites (food processing, cold storage). $100K-$1M contracts. Small team <10 employees. Natural ARPE partnership fit.
Opener
"Hi Kasey, this is [Adam/Ryan] with ARPE Engineering. We specialize in PSM compliance and mechanical integrity for facilities with ammonia refrigeration systems -- the same plants you're doing install and repair work for. A lot of those food processing and cold storage facilities need help with their PSM mechanical integrity programs, and I wanted to see if there's interest in working together."
Voicemail Script (30 seconds max)
Template
"Hi [name], this is [Adam/Ryan] with ARPE Engineering. We're a mechanical integrity and reliability consulting firm that works with [chemical plants / industrial facilities] in [region]. I noticed [one specific thing about their company] and wanted to see if there's a fit. My number is [phone]. I'll also shoot you an email. Thanks."
Post-Call Tracking
call_date: today's date
call_outcome: Connected / Voicemail / Wrong Number / Gatekeeper / Not Interested
call_notes: what was discussed, next step
stage: update to "Contacted" if connected, keep "New Lead" if voicemail only
next_action: follow-up email, schedule Ryan call, etc.