Sponsored by Gulf Coast Wrap
Gulf Coast Wrap is firmly planted in a niche market with few competitors, but that doesn’t mean they’re content with the status quo. Since its founding some 15 years ago, the company’s industrial shrink-wrapping service has expanded both horizontally and vertically into a variety of interrelated markets.
While they cater primarily to industrial and logistical customers, they’re also making forays into the military and aviation markets. “We’re very diversified now,” says Charles Henry, owner and director of operations. “We’re wrapping modules in the LNG market, helicopters in the military, reactors in the nuclear industry … there’s a growing and persistent need for shrink wrapping as a means to protect or secure items for transport or storage.”
Each project is unique, so every job requires its own planning and preparatory work. “As an onsite mobile shrink wrap contractor,” Henry says, “most of what we do – the attaching, cutting and molding – is done by hand. Everything is custom fit to the dimensions of the item we’re wrapping.”
Gulf Coast Wrap’s technicians can quickly mobilize for travel to virtually anywhere in the U.S. During the wrapping process, they apply a low-density polyethylene (LDP) material, weld the seams at predetermined attachment points, then heat-shrink the material to 30 percent of its original size for a tight fit. All the materials they use are flame retardant and 100 percent UV protected. “We have a crew in Houston right now that will move on to Dallas next week to work a project,” Henry says. “We also have a crew in Norfolk, Va., on a military project, and just finished work at a chemical weapons plant in Colorado.”
All employees participate in Gulf Coast Wrap’s proprietary technical training program, during which they can earn technician or master technician certifications. The company’s home office is in Baton Rouge, and they recently opened a second office and warehouse at the Port of Houston. “We can help guide projects from very early in design or during construction,” Henry says. “Then, there are times when someone tells us that their modules are built and they’re shipping out in a couple of days. We can almost always accommodate any need.”
There’s been a particular recent focus on the expanding modular construction market. “Many of our local industrial contractors are getting these big module contracts for the oil and gas industry or the LNG market,” he adds. “Once these modules are assembled, we come in and shrink wrap them for protection during transportation.”
Additionally, the military will call on them to wrap equipment or vehicles that they need to conceal for security or privacy reasons. The nuclear industry is another viable industry for Gulf Coast Wrap and they’re also getting work in the aerospace industry. “Our services are frequently needed by helicopter manufacturers and logistics companies as well,” he adds. “Everything on a helicopter is unbelievably expensive, including even the windshield.”
Gulf Coast Wrap rarely says no to a job, and Henry sees no reason to change. “We like to find a ‘yes’ to every problem. After all, it’s been a hugely successful formula so far.”
Learn more at gulfcoastwrap.com.
