C O M P A N Y O V E R V I E W
Aaron Oil Leading by Example
Through a unique company culture, collaboration of partne technology, Aaron Oil is setting the stage to become a pred the used oil recycling and petroleum reclamation industry Written by: Robert Spence
Produced by: Alex Hortaridis
ers and dominate leader in
3
AARON OIL
Beakers
F
or over 33 years Aaron Oil has served thousands of customers across the United States. The company operates a used oil recycling facility providing services including used oil collection, used oil processing, pipeline and petroleum terminal reclamation, and recycled/ finished product distribution. Specializing in research and development, Aaron Oil works closely with the International used Oil Research Institute to develop new technologies and
4
July 2014
ENERGY
research pertaining to the oil industry. Headquartered in Mobile, AL., Aaron Oil has locations spanning across the U.S., including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida. The company has posted a 15-year annual growth rate, becoming one of the fastest growing privately owned corporations in the nation. In the last
six years alone the company has been named to Inc. 5000’s Fastest Growing Companies, signifying outstanding growth in their industry. But it’s only the beginning. Through a unique company culture, collaboration of partners and technology, Aaron Oil is setting the stage to become a predominate leader in the used oil recycling and w w w. a a r o n o i l . c o m
5
industrial - marine
Gulf City Body & Trailer Works, Inc. was built on quality service and equipment. Sixty-eight years later, it still remains our teams’ number one goal. We are a full line service, trailer and truck equipment dealer for only quality brands providing sales, service and repairs throughout the Southeast since 1945.
601 S. Conception Street • Mobile, AL 36603 • 251-438-5521 fax: 251-433-7910 • gulfcity.com
Sullivan Insulation is a full-service mechanical systems insulation contractor specializing in commercial, industrial, marine, and refrigeration projects. Sullivan expertise covers a wide range of applications for the pulp and paper industry, power industry, marine industry and the plastics industry, and many others.
Burt E Sullivan i Office 251-679-0911 i Burtsullivansi@yahoo.com
AARON OIL petroleum reclamation industry. Company culture One of the many reasons Aaron Oil has been so successful is the culture behind its business. Through problem solving and entrepreneurship, the company continues to grow organically without any acquisitions. The company has accumulated over 125 employees since its inception, helping Aaron Oil carve out a niche for itself in the oil industry. “We have one of the most experienced teams in the industry,” says Dan Cowart, CEO of Aaron Oil. “It allows us to operate by the highest standards in the world.” According to Cowart, the company actively stands behind its employees, doing everything possible to attract and retain great employees. “Most of the people that work for us stay for a very long. I believe one of the biggest reasons why is because we value experience.” The company’s rigid hiring process is a benefit to the company as well as helping employees finds their fit.
ENERGY
“Once we’ve hired new employees, we assist in helping them find where they fit in our operations. Cross-training has been very beneficial for us,” says Cowart. Safety also plays a vital role in the success of Aaron Oil. The company maintains strict guidelines for its operations, complying with all safety and health standards of the International Organization of Standardization (ISO). Aaron Oil is one of the only oil recycler certified under ISO 14001 standards, which measure environmental management, and ISO 18001 standards, which measure health and safety practices. “These standards are the highest operating standards in the world and they surpass what is need by the EPA,” says Cowart. Implementing new ideas Aaron Oil is truly working to become a company of the future. In addition to investing in over $2 million for in-house technology, the company has automated almost all of its operations, including its entire processing plant. “We’ve recently implemented a lot w w w. a a r o n o i l . c o m
7
AARON OIL
Buffalo New Barge
of new technology into our trucks and environmentalizers such as GPD and video,” says Cowart. “This allows us to document and track our trucks as well as ensure all incidents are recognized.” By developing its own software and technology programs in-house, Aaron Oil is able to streamline its operations, allowing automation to take the wheel and provide an immense increase in productivity. “We have one of the only fully automated protected lines in the industry,” says Cowart. “We are 8
July 2014
investing a lot of money into automation, including in our trucks, facilities, dispatch and accounting. A large portion of the company’s technology focuses on waste water processing and more effective oil processing methods. Aaron Oil is concentrating on becoming as ecofriendly as possible, providing a wealth of sustainable solutions for the oil industry. Continuous improvements As one of the fastest growing
ENERGY
companies in the nation, Aaron Oil is constantly working on improving itself. The company doesn’t hold back when it comes to quality. “We are known as the quality company for our industry,” says Cowart. “It’s who we are as a company and it’s become our signature.” Aaron Oil has also hired an outside company, ERM Group, to conduct in-depth audits for its environment programs, ensuring the company is compliant on all of its operations. “We believe bringing in ERM Group to look over our shoulder is extremely beneficial to ensure we’re on point environmentally,” says Cowart. “The auditors give us a roadmap to improvement.” Aaron Oil is also a founding member of the International Used Oil Research Institute. The company works hard to collaborate with major universities to find new ways of improving operations. In 2012 while working with BP to clean up their oil spill, the company opened a maritime facility to service vessels and offshore oil rigs. “We built the plant in three weeks after the BP spill and got it in place to mitigate the incident effectively,” says Cowart. As for the future, Aaron Oil is focusing on following green technology. In doing so, the company can prove upon its procedures, becoming more economical and sustainable. “We’re not trying to be the biggest company out there, just the best in everything we do,” says Cowart.
Company Information Primarily, Aaron Oil is a Research and Development Company that works very closely with the International Used Oil Research Institute, The National Oil Recycler’s Association, EPA as well as state regulators, and technology manufacturers to identify and develop best available technologies, management practices, and management software. We are also developing an educational arm working in partnership https://www. with scientific facebook.com/ organizations and major AaronOilto train our universities next generation.
w w w. a a r o n o i l . c o m
9
AARON OIL COMPANY, INC. 26 N Royal St, Mobile, AL 36602 RSA Battle House Towers Floor 14 # 14250 Mobile, Alabama 36602 (800) 239-4549 www.aaronoil.com