Mears Group, Inc. (Houston, Texas) recently announced the acquisition of JW’s Pipeline Integrity Services, LLC (Carrollton, Texas).
As part of the deal, Jim Walton—who has more than 22 years of industry experience in mapping tools—will lead Mears’ technical services division as vice president.
"The similar corporate philosophies and commitment to technical excellence and customer satisfaction provided an attractive option for JW's to continue to pursue its goals under the Mears banner," says Walton, principal and founder of JW's Pipeline Integrity Services.
The acquisition boosts the staff of Mears’ integrity solutions division, which offers corrosion engineering, technical services, and construction, to more than 400 employees.
Based near Dallas, JW’s has provided pipeline integrity field services for over 14 years from individuals with NACE and ASNT certifications in cathodic protection, coatings, corrosion, and nondestructive examinations. Former military personnel make up more than 25% of JW's technical staff, some with more than 20 years of combined military service.
Walton has participated in NACE technical committees and taught corrosion and cathodic protection throughout the United States, including more than 10 years of teaching federal and state regulators about direct assessment.
“The synergies of the Mears approach to integrity management and JW's approach to pipeline and integrity field services will allow the companies to better serve their respective client base and expand into markets beyond their current core business,” says Alan Eastman, executive vice president and senior executive of Mears Integrity Solutions."