Coastal Unilube Refinery

In 1998 Coastal Unilube Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the EI Paso Corp., experienced a major disaster, which completely destroyed one of its lube-oil-packaging plants. Twenty to 26 months was the best response from Coastal's first request for quotation. This was not satisfactory to Kent Farmer, president and chief operating officer of Coastal Unilube. Clifton put his head together with Campesi and determined that it was possible to rebuild the entire plant in six months. To make this endeavor more difficult, it was required that MEI erect temporary packaging lines, as quickly as possible so the product could continue to be shipped and the plant's customer base would not be eroded.

MEI and Clifton did what everyone thought could not be accomplished. I have never seen anything like this. After clearing the 150,000 square foot slab, MEI 'tented' the foundation, set up temporary blendsing and packaging lines for operations, and then constructed the new facility over operations. We had zero injuries and zero incidents. Also, we were under budget and way ahead of the proposed 20 to 26 month schedules, and that's as good as you get in construction. But more importantly, the job was executed safely. - Kent Fanner.

The entire Memphis, Tenn., facility was reconstructed and operational in six months to the day.