STATS Expands U.S. Pipeline Presence with New Hire
STATS is expanding its U.S. pipeline operations with a new Texas manufacturing facility, a larger Houston service center and the appointment of Sebastiaan Schuite as U.S. sales manager to support growing demand for pipeline integrity services.
(P&GJ) — Pipeline technology company STATS Group is expanding its U.S. operations with a new sales appointment and continued investment in manufacturing and service capabilities as demand for pipeline integrity and maintenance services grows across North America.
The company has named Sebastiaan Schuite as U.S. sales manager. Based in Houston, Schuite joins STATS as it expands its U.S. footprint with a recently opened 80,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Rosenberg, Texas, and a doubled service facility in Houston.
STATS provides pressurized pipeline isolation, hot tapping and line stopping services for onshore, offshore and subsea pipeline maintenance and repair. The company employs more than 550 people across operations in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United States.
Schuite will focus on strengthening relationships with existing customers while expanding the company's reach into regions where it has had limited presence, including the Northeast, Northwest and Rocky Mountain states.
He previously spent seven years with pipeline inspection and integrity company Rosen Group and has worked across the North American and Mexican pipeline markets.
STATS said demand for pipeline integrity and intervention services continues to increase as aging infrastructure requires additional maintenance. The company noted that roughly half of regulated U.S. pipelines were built before 1970, creating long-term demand for repair and integrity services.
Jamie Frederick, president and general manager of STATS U.S., said the company sees significant opportunities to grow its presence in the U.S. market.
"We have a strong team in place and are seeing increasing market adoption of our technologies, but there remains substantial untapped potential across a number of regions where we have historically had limited coverage," Frederick said.
"Sebastiaan's experience, industry knowledge and understanding of the North American market will help us accelerate growth and ensure we are identifying and capturing opportunities across the country."
Schuite said the U.S. pipeline market continues to prioritize safety and integrity, creating opportunities for technologies that help operators maintain aging infrastructure.
"Pipeline safety and integrity is one of the most active areas in the U.S. energy sector right now, and STATS has high-integrity isolation and intervention technology that is genuinely differentiated in this market," Schuite said.
"With STATS' shorter lead times and locally manufactured products, we are well placed to support operators in meeting the challenges they face with increasing regulatory pressure."
Frederick said the company's investments in its Rosenberg manufacturing facility, Houston service operations and workforce reflect its long-term commitment to the U.S. market.
"We see the United States as one of the most significant growth opportunities within the global STATS business, and Sebastiaan's appointment is another important step in that journey."