INOXCVA

Some companies are reluctant to build custom products, but INOXCVA is flexible when it comes to its customers’ requirements, Executive Vice President Hector Villarreal says. “We follow the customers’ specifications and meet their requirements for what they’re doing. That’s [why] we’re a step ahead of everybody else out there.”

INOXCVA was formed in 2009 when INOX India Ltd. acquired a majority holding in Cryogenic Vessel Alternatives (CVA). The combined company has locations in the United States, Canada, India and Europe, and “provides cryogenic liquid and gas transportation, storage and distribution products to some of the biggest players in the industry,” says Tim Miller, president of INOXCVA’s U.S. operations.

INOXCVA serves “pretty much any market that requires cryogenic storage,” including oil and gas, Villarreal says. “Liquid natural gas [LNG] is the big thing nowadays,” he states, noting that INOXCVA offers storage products that range from 1,500 to 120,000 gallons in capacity.

LNG Evolution
The LNG market is rapidly evolving, Miller says. “People initially thought the major players were going to be the over-the-road trucks, [but they] have slowed down some,” he says. “Marine seems to be really jumping to the forefront.”

INOXCVA also has garnered interest from the mining industry, which would be an ideal fit, according to Miller. “Since the trucks never leave the location, they aren’t really subject to [some of the challenges] that over-the-road trucking has to deal with,” he says.

However, it would be difficult to come up with the right storage and refueling stations for LNG, Villarreal says. “These mining truck owners [want it] to [be] the same as diesel,” he continues. “That is our biggest challenge – to come up with the same type of services.”

INOXCVA recently revamped its quality program, Miller says. “When you get into LNG and various types of products, there’s various levels of electronics that go on these units,” he says. “We’ve put in a lot of processes to make sure that all the ‘T’s are crossed and the ‘I’s are dotted.”

Although INOXCVA may risk over-engineering its products, “One thing that this industry can’t afford to happen right now is an accident,” Miller explains.

“All of the suppliers understand that is the biggest issue we have,” Miller adds.

INOXCVA’s new safety processes include hiring third-party auditors to assess its units. “We’ll have an audit [soon] for our first round of ISO approval that we’re going through in 2014,” he says.

Great Things Ahead
INOXCVA’s work environment is constantly changing, Miller says. “Every day brings new challenges,” he says. “We’re not putting out the same widget every day.”

He sees a strong future for INOXCVA as the LNG market continues to evolve. So far, “The early adoption of LNG has been more of a benefit for manufacturers,” he says, noting that INOXCVA wants to get more companies to start adopting it.

The greatest challenge, according to Miller, is that many consumers continue to rely on diesel.

“We want them to see that LNG is as reliable and convenient as diesel, while at the same time reduces emissions,” he says, adding that the company is doing its part.

“We’re continually trying to develop new applications and new products for our industry,” Miller says.