W&O expands its Canada presence

JUNE 21, 2012 —W&O, a leading supplier of marine valves, pipe, fittings and related products, is positioning itself to support Canada’s national shipbuilding procurement strategy. In line with that strategy, Canadian shipyards will benefit from a $35 billion expansion of the Canadian Navy fleet. That will create a prodigious need for the types of products that Jacksion, Fla, headquartered W&O specializes in.

To help meet that demand it has just launched a new branch in Halifax, Canada. It is located at 133 Ilsley Avenue, Dartmouth, NS B3B 1S9.

W&O already has a branch in Vancouver.With a branch already established in Vancouver, W&O’s growing Canadian presence well-positions them to support the completion of the Canadian Navy’s $35 billion fleet expansion program over the next 20 to 30 years.

“Our established Halifax and Vancouver locations provide us with a competitive advantage over other non-Canadian competitors,” said Michael Hume, President and CEO of W&O. “Not only are we looking forward to the opportunities presented by the fleet expansion program, our new location provides future prospects in the offshore oil industry happening in Newfoundland.”

The Halifax branch will be led by Dan Sawler, a longtime resident of Nova Scotia. Sawler joins W&O with an extensive background in the marine industry. The branch will fall under the direct management of Regional Manager, Scott Hendrickson who leads the company’s Northeast branches in North America.

W&O recently opened another international location in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Halifax officed will be W&O’s fifth location outside the U.S.