Thursday, October 30, 1997

Houston-based firm more than just pumps

By BRIAN BETHEL / Abilene Reporter-News

Sepco Industries has been known for years as a place those in the oil industry could go for pumps and fluid-handling systems.

The Abilene location's core business has traditionally been drawn from area oilfields and that still forms the core of its business, said Bob Hines, branch manager.

But the company, located at 928 S. Treadaway, doesn't just sell pumps, although it certainly acknowledges the popularity of that line of products, he said.

Houston-based Sepco also sells bearings, hoses, seals and power transmission products, as well as providing service for a variety of rolling-equipment items.

And in addition to the oil industry, the company also now caters to other industrial sectors, such as wood products and general manufacturing.

Providing nuts-and-bolts-style items so essential to the day-to-day operations of so many businesses is rewarding, Hines said.

"This is not a business that you can really make glamorous," he said. "We sell products to industry. What matters to us is that the customers who rely on us are happy and come back when they need what we offer again."

Hines, who lives in Wichita Falls but visits the Abilene store each week, said each and every Sepco location keeps a wide variety of parts in stock.

"There are some businesses that can have parts to you overnight, but you don't always have the luxury of waiting that long," he said. "We have a good supply of the basic items our customers need always on-hand. That way, we can help them solve most problems quickly."

The in-house shop allows a variety of repairs, including service for highly specialized equipment used by the various industries Sepco serves.

"For example, we can build or repair pump systems to exact specifications," Hines said. "That's another way we give customers what they need, when they need it."

Much of Abilene's economy is still intimately tied into oil production, Hines said. Because of that, a long-standing relationship between the local Sepco location and those who work oilfields has emerged, Hines said.

But many customers are still somewhat amazed when they find out the variety of products the company can offer. And the base offerings it can give expand regularly.

"We have a big sign out front that tells pretty much what we sell," Hines said. "And we still get people in here who say things like, 'I didn't know you sold such-and-such.' Really, we're known for the pumps and fluid handling systems, but we can and do offer so much more."