Storage Terminals Magazine had a conversation with Kevin Skochil, OILCO CEO, to learn more about the company.
STM: Can you tell us more about the recent change in leadership and how it has impacted the company’s direction and vision?
Kevin Skochil, OILCO: The change in leadership is generational. OILCO became a family-owned and operated business in 1974 and I truly believe my grandfather, Richard C. Slawinski, Sr., hoped it would continue beyond his tenure. After his passing in June of 2023, the family made the unanimous decision to reinvigorate OILCO.
As the most senior – I’ve spent 20+ years supporting OILCO – I accepted the role of CEO, and the team got the ball rolling. OILCO’s products have always served a diverse range of liquid handling industry needs. We’re a go-to for the petroleum industry, for example. But we also bring reliability to water recycling programs, clean energy development, commercial construction, and new agricultural avenues. With some fresh talent on the team, we’re focused on getting the word out, and making our customer experience even smoother.
STM: What is the significance of reintroducing OILCO Liquid Handling Systems’ core competency in swivels, particularly in the large bore sector, and how does this differentiate the company from its competitors?
KS: OILCO set the tone for many of the swivel joint offerings we see in-market today. The confidence consumers have in an OG provider like OILCO is tremendous, but we pulled out of the limelight a bit which may have impacted awareness of our offerings. We pulled back to navigate my grandfather’s health, and he had always been such a fixture at industry events and with his trusted mailers.
I’m focused on reigniting consumer confidence in the years ahead. On reconnecting with customers and colleagues across heavy industry to help advance and support their projects with swivel joints and loading arms that are over-engineered, not over-budget. We focus on endurance in products and relationships. Some of our clients have been with us for 40+ years, and we don’t take that lightly.
We manufacture quality units that last. We ask ourselves, what do our customers need tomorrow, and five years from now? That questioning led us to expand our large bore line up to a 24-inch, which bulk terminals, pipelines, and marine sectors were needing. OILCO’s advanced design elements were created to empower clients to customise to fit their needs and budget, including high pressure, steam jacketed, stainless steel insert, and low-torque breakaway designs.
STM: Could you provide some details about the 90 Series and its importance within the company’s product lineup?
KS: The 90 Series comes up quite a bit as it’s our all-around performer. Initially developed in 1989, it was designed to solve problems, first in the steel mill setting that bore the concept, and now variations apply across infrastructure industries including water reclamation and petroleum measurement testing. The 90 Series’ carrying capacity and pressure rating keep up with hostile environments, preventing costly downtime. Designed with a three “v” ring seal configuration base, it’s engineered to create a tremendous increase in the contact patch sealing area. And customers love that it’s available up to a 24-inch size.
STM: How has the rebranding of OILCO Liquid Handling Systems and the introduction of the new tagline “reliability at every turn” impacted the company’s image and messaging? What message does it convey to customers and stakeholders?
KS: Great question! The tagline was created based on deep customer research in autumn of 2023. We asked clients and colleagues about the areas OILCO could improve upon, and what truly set us apart from the crowd. Over and over, the term ‘reliability’ came up in conversation. Customers told us our products didn’t fail. That we produce and ship in a timely manner they could rely on. That when they needed help, they just had to call the office for an honest answer from our team – or a referral they could trust. The tagline brings all that together.
STM: The tagline is very clever and tells people exactly what your products do and what they’re for, with an emphasis on the reliability factor, which is key.
KS: I love the play on words. We operate in a rotational space, but the tagline also speaks to the relationship aspect that has been so important to OILCO. The same goes for our logo redesign, which is a nod to our history with a contemporary twist and bold colors.
STM: Can you tell us about the industries that OILCO Liquid Handling Systems supports and how does the company tailor its products and services to meet the specific needs of each industry?
KS: Heavy industry is our focus, with a strong footprint in petrochemical truck and rail terminals and steel mill plants. Adjacent to those are wastewater treatment facilities, bulk storage farms, and marine terminals. OILCO’s customizations for the 90 Series swivels readily accommodates the unique needs of each of these industries.
Volume is always a consideration, and our 2-inch through 24-inch sizing maximizes product flow. If we’re associated with testing, we’ll use our high-pressure series. Similarly, we’ll plug for submerged service, increase raceway capacity for loads, up-level construction materials, or alter seals and lubrication to reduce contamination levels. Our product lines are flexible so they can be tailored with only a few tweaks to our standard catalog items.
STM: How does OILCO ensure that its products and services meet the reliability standards implied in its new tagline? Are there any quality control processes or certifications in place?
KS: Tradition drives our standards – and we have a lot to live up to, because my grandfather set the bar high. Currently, we adapt several methodologies for quality control and batch testing, borrowing from strong examples like IBM and Toyota. We QA for specific tolerances necessary to maintain proper fitness, and document variations in an ISO 9000 style. The units leaving our various fabrication stages experience a consistently timed review and our floor of Haas machines is well-maintained. We’re thrilled with the new perspectives some recent technical hires are bringing to the table.
STM: How does the company approach customer satisfaction and building long-term relationships with clients? Are there any customer support or after-sales services provided?
Kevin Skochil, OILCO: Without customer satisfaction, there’s no repeat business. Customer service is beyond important. We focus on respect for regional representation and protect our customers’ interests. We focus on fair pricing, fast and clear communication through the order process, and speedy shipping. Our job is to support each client. To be as reliable to them as our products are.
Between myself and two senior OILCO staff members, we’ve got a combined product line and industry knowledge of almost 75 years. We love taking time to walk customers through product selection, individual components, offering optimization suggestions, and addressing any concerns.
As a manufacturer, our outreach to end clients is limited as they often reach out to the distributor for support. But we do put our contact information on every item that leaves the shop, and we often take maintenance and support calls from people in-field. We don’t guard our knowledge behind a gate. If we can help, we will.
STM: Can you provide any examples of notable projects or partnerships that OILCO Liquid Handling Systems has been involved in within the industries it supports?
KS: Over the years, OILCO has supplied countless swivel joints for use in conjunction with hose feed connection. Since the late 1980s, OILCO’s professional alignment with Hose Master® has been a productive and lasting relationship. We’re grateful to call them an industry colleague and friend. I was privileged to speak at a Hose Master University session on the benefits of our swivel being mated with their stainless steel brazed hose.
Our work with the Nucor® family of steel mills created a longstanding relationship. OILCO products are used inside Nucor mill facilities to support furnace interaction, and are also in service in Nucor reclamation pond areas. We have a mutual focus on creating sustained value, and we take that seriously.
I wish I could name all the terminal partners that placed our loading arms in service over the decades, especially the bottom loaders that utilize the OILCO Model 857 riser joint. But they’ve been in service so long that I think most of them were installed before I could drive, and I just don’t have that good of a memory!
About Storage Terminals Magazine
Article originally published by Storage Terminals Magazine in their Autumn 2024 edition. Storage Terminals Magazine has been providing first-class coverage of the global bulk liquids terminal industry for 16 years.
