Woolslayer Gives 100 Years of Service
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By Staci Davidson   
Sunday, 14 January 2007
smc Woolslayer Companies
Woolslayer says its focus on satisfying customers’ needs and dedication to innovation have enabled it to achieve a high level of success.
After 100 years in business, Woolslayer Companies Inc. (WCI) has built up a large arsenal of products to serve the oil industry. The company believes its focus on satisfying customers’ needs and dedication to innovation have enabled it to achieve its level of success.

“As a pioneer in the petroleum equipment industry, WCI has consistently been a leader in the development of high-capacity and special application masts and derricks to meet the demanding needs of its customers,” the company says. “[Additionally,] at WCI’s Liberty, Texas facility, robust sheaves are fabricated from rolled steel plate and forged steel hubs and meet API 8C Specifications. This method of manufacturing eliminates imperfections that are often found in steel castings. The parts of the sheaves are soundly welded together using 100 percent penetration welds in all critical areas.”

The Tulsa, Okla.-based company explains it has the capabilities to manufacture a wide range of products for its customers. These include crown blocks, traveling blocks, sheaves, hydraulic cylinders, masts, derricks and rig movers, all of which have been field-tested in harsh conditions.

Recently, Manufacturing Today spoke with Joel Devonshire, sales manager, about WCI’s operations and how it strives to maintain high quality standards in order to remain in the industry for many more years.

Manufacturing Today: This year is Woolslayer’s 100th anniversary. How is the company celebrating?
Joel Devonshire: We are proud that we have given 100 years of service to the oil industry. This year, we are really pushing our most highly technical rig – the hydraulically raised mast (HMR 2000), which is the first of its kind in the industry. Instead of raising the mast with the draw works, this product can raise the mast with hydraulics. It is highly mobile and is transported on our own custom dollies and wheels, which eliminates the transportation costs of traditional trucking. It is an important product for the industry.

MT: How does Woolslayer maintain the quality in its operations?
JD: We are American Petroleum Institute-certified, and we adhere to all of those standards. Our field service technicians travel worldwide to support the maintenance of our products and to keep our equipment in top working condition. Some of our biggest derrick systems have 2.5 million-pound hook capacity, and it is important that they work well.

A lot of our equipment helps ensure the quality and efficiency of our customers’ operations, so we have to make sure it is working correctly at all times. We provide land skidding equipment, which allows rigs to skid to wellheads within the same field. That way the equipment doesn’t have to be dismantled and carried to another location and set up again. We also developed one of the most sought-after casing stabbing elevator equipment systems in the industry. This is very popular because of its many safety features.

MT: Woolslayer has some manufacturing operations in the United States and some overseas. Is there a strategy to where you locate?
JD: We are expanding in foreign markets to help our customers’ logistics. WCI has developed strategic relationships with high quality steel fabricators around the world who work closely with us to satisfy the logistical needs of our international customers. We are looking into building in the Middle East. It is important that we keep up with the world market and follow our customers’ needs. At this time, about 50 percent of our operations are domestic and the other 50 percent are foreign.

There is definitely a demand from foreign markets to help them logistically, which is why we are expanding our operations. By locating facilities near our customers, they can save ocean freight costs and time, and we are able to help them improve their project schedules.

MT: Can you give examples of other ways in which Woolslayer has helped its customers recently?
JD: We customize the equipment for every job, so our customers are getting exactly what they need to perform their work. There is so much new technology for this industry, but we believe it is important to keep up with it and use it to help our customers. For example, some of our equipment comes with cameras now, which helps our customers to observe their workers when they are up high on a mast. This is very important for safety.

We frequently will change the designs of our products to accommodate new equipment and technology. There are many new, innovative automations out there, but our equipment can accept these advancements.

MT: What are Woolslayer’s plans for growth?
JD: We will continue to expand our foreign capabilities and improve on our designs. The research and development of new products and equipment is important for us so we can meet the industry’s growing needs.

However, we still have equipment operating in the field that is 50 to 60 years old. It is important that we always look at current designs, but still maintain our old equipment. It is our constant focus to provide innovative designs to meet the needs of the current oil industry market that will allow us to continue our century of success.
 
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