Thorpe Specialty Services Expands Footprint with Acquisition of Empire Refractory

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Thorpe Specialty Services Corporation (thorpessc.com) announced today that its subsidiary, Thorpe-Sunbelt, Inc., has completed the acquisition of Birmingham, Alabama-based Empire Refractory Specialists, Inc., a leading installer of refractory products for the lime, cement, pulp/paper and steel dust recycling industries in the Birmingham region.

“Their commitment to best-in-class safety, high quality workmanship and excellent customer service are aligned with Thorpe’s values, and their capabilities in the lime, cement, pulp/paper and steel dust recycling industries enhance our existing capabilities in those areas”

Headquartered in Houston, Thorpe is a recognized leader in the design, fabrication, installation and maintenance of refractory and acid-resistant lining systems and other heat processing equipment throughout the U.S. and the world.

“We are very excited to have Ron Snell, David Hampton, and the rest of the Empire team join Thorpe,” said John Schultz, COO of Thorpe Specialty Services. “Their commitment to best-in-class safety, high quality workmanship and excellent customer service are aligned with Thorpe’s values, and their capabilities in the lime, cement, pulp/paper and steel dust recycling industries enhance our existing capabilities in those areas,” he added.

Ron Snell, President and CEO of Empire, said, “We were especially interested in the opportunity to offer Thorpe’s extensive engineering and design expertise, mechanical capabilities, and labor force to our existing and future customers.”

Empire’s management team, project staff, superintendents and employees will be retained under the acquisition plan, and the business will operate as Thorpe-Sunbelt, Inc.

About Thorpe Specialty Services

Thorpe Specialty Services is a portfolio company of the CapStreet Group, LLC (www.capstreet.com). Thorpe and its affiliates, Thorpe-Sunbelt and J T Thorpe Company, provide products and specialty services for the design, fabrication, installation and maintenance of refractory and acid-resistant lining systems and other heat processing equipment throughout the United States and the world. Thorpe serves a diverse customer base operating in the refining, petrochemical, steel, alumina, utility, coke calcining and waste incineration industries among others, and has branch offices in Houston and Beaumont, Texas, Gonzales, Louisiana, and now Birmingham, Alabama. Thorpe has realized significant growth since CapStreet’s investment and is currently seeking additional strategic add-on opportunities.