IntegriCo returns to production with original formula
IntegriCo, a manufacturer of composite railway crossties and construction matting using recycled plastics, has returned to production after encountering supply chain disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Douglas Fox, CEO of the Sarepta, Louisiana, company, says, “When lead times changed overnight from two weeks to 12 weeks for critical raw materials and spares, the decision was made to shut down, perform overhaul maintenance and reassess company strategy until supply change issues were overcome.”
During the hiatus, Fox says IntegriCo invested more than $300,000 to perform maintenance on key production equipment. “This was important to improve the reliability of production and consistency of our product upon restart. Additionally, we retained Fluor Engineering to perform an engineering study, which validated our manufacturing capacity. We are also continuing to work with Fluor’s team to optimize plant expansion plans, increasing capacity and growing our product offerings.”
IntegriCo’s leadership team also was overhauled during the hiatus, with Fox, former senior vice president at Stella-Jones Corp., a manufacturer of pressure-treated wood products, being named as CEO with a mission to elevate the brand and assemble a solid team to grow IntegriCo’s footprint across the country. He has 40 years of leadership experience in the railway industry and oversees all business operations at IntegriCo.
Rejoining IntegriCo leadership is General Manager Ken Webber. Webber was part of the original IntegriCo team and is responsible for developing the original composite material formula that IntegriCo uses.
“A few years ago, changes were made to the formula to meet a specific customer’s desires,” Fox explains. “While this formula met all the technical/mechanical properties, we realized that the original formula was a better foundation for the technology advancements currently underway.”
Vice President of Sales Scott Moe has been with the company since 2015 and continues to work toward growing IntegriCo’s client base. In his time with the company, he has grown IntegriCo by 500 percent through his acquisition of military, transit agencies and overseas customers, and the launch of alternative products.
Chief Operating Officer Scott Stewart has been with the company since 2020. From 2014 to 2022, he worked as an engineering and operations consultant and held positions such as principal consultant, project management office director and portfolio manager. Stewart previously served as a submarine officer in the U.S. Navy, where he reached the rank of commander. He holds a master’s degree in management from Harvard University with a focus on corporate sustainability and has multiple degrees in mechanical engineering and engineering management.
New to the IntegriCo leadership team is Director of Finance Glenn Jackson, who has served in accounting and management positions for nearly 30 years, including CEO of Valair Aviation and chief financial officer of Aviation General and Dirt Motorsports.
Regarding the leadership changes, Fox says, “The post-COVID environment presents many unique challenges, whether it’s supply chain disruptions, customer impacts, inflation, among others. As a result, IntegriCo prioritized building a team that could not only navigate these challenges but also lead the company to the next level through product development, regaining foothold as the leading composite tie manufacturer and beyond.
“We have an experienced team and are turning out a unique and sustainable product,” Fox continues. “With current R&D activities, we will be launching a new product that addresses the concerns of Class 1 railroad engineers with composite ties. We look forward to meeting with industry representatives this fall in the launch of the next generation of composite ties.”
Webber says, “I have always believed in IntegriCo’s proprietary technology and how it could greatly benefit our environment as well as the end user. When Scott Moe approached me about returning, I had a lot of questions. After discussions with Doug Fox and Scott Stewart, it became clear to me that the right management team was now in place to move the company forward with their vison and expertise. I am excited to again be part of the IntegriCo Team and be a part of the effort to resume making a difference utilizing our unique process, innovation and integrity.”
Affiliates of Miami-based investment firm Purchase Capital LLC and the family office of Nicholas J. Singer, the founder and managing member of Purchase Capital, with participation from Acadia Woods Partners LLC, a New York-based investment firm that primarily invests in companies operating in the technology, software and life science sectors recapitalized IntegriCo last year. Fox says,” Purchase Capital LLC and Acadia Woods Partners LLC remain committed to the success of IntegriCo.”