Estevan– After over two years of downturn and businesses closing, a new oilfield venture has popped up in Estevan. Quinn ALS fired up on the first week of January in the former Logan Completions shop on the south side of the Energy City.
Three people are working there so far, with Reece Donovan as branch manager and Thomas Glab and Bradley Leptich as pump technicians. “We all will be turning wrenches,” Donovan said on Feb. 6.
Glab and Donovan had worked together at Independent Pump Co., which was purchased by Weatherford. Leptich used to work with TS&M Supply. Between them they have around 18 years experience with reciprocating rod pumps, Quinn ALS’ specialty.
The company will sell new pumps and service and repair used pumps.
Quinn ALS stands for Quinn Artificial Lift Services. This is a separate entity from Quinn Pumps, which was sold to Lufkin in December 2011, and then GE, and still maintains its own shop in Estevan.
The Quinn ALS group is from the legacy Quinn, and have brought their experience and knowledge to this new venture. The Quinn family history in pumps goes back over 50 years.
Shane Latoski, general manager of Quinn ALS, explained on Feb. 17 that Quinn’s Production Services started up three years ago, manufacturing reciprocating rod pumps, components and accessories. Those products were sold at the wholesale level. In December 2016, Quinn ALS was launched as a way for them to sell directly to the end users.
“Our specialty is and always will be as a manufacturer of reciprocating rod pumps and components. That will always be our focus,” Latoski said.
They are an API certified manufacturer of reciprocating rod pumps and components.
Their factory in Red Deer, Alta., has largely new equipment. “We made a significant investment in state-of-the-art machines to produce the highest quality product on the market,” he said.
“Our goal is to be a significant player in the artificial lift segment, specifically reciprocating rod pumps,” Latoski said, adding they will expand into other areas that complement their core product.
“That’s our big thing – made in Canada. It’s a rare thing to see,” Donovan said.
Donovan left Weatherford last July and filled the summer doing concrete work. He got a call from a former boss branch manager position today.
“It’s exciting to be back doing what I was doing before,” he said, adding he worked with pumps for seven years.
“We’re ready to rock now. We’re quoting customers.”
While activity is slow out of the gate, he noted, “Our price is very competitive. With the guys we’ve got, it’s just a matter of time.”
The Canada/U.S. dollar exchange rate has come up in several conversations Pipeline News has had over the past month. To that end, making their pumps in Alberta should be an advantage.
“With our manufacturing in Canada and our pricing, it’ll do well,” he added. “You don’t get hit by the exchange.”
The company will be delivering pumps and offering sucker rod designs. They are looking into carrying steel sucker rods in the future.
“We carry all the API sizes,” Donovan said. They have inventory in stock.
Quinn ALS now has locations in Drumheller, Drayton Valley, Bonnyville, Taber, Swan Hills and Grande Prairie, Alta., in addition to the new Estevan shop.
