A HALESOWEN company is attempting to crack the megabucks American market by opening a US headquarters in Houston, Texas.

Unit Birwelco Group is at the cutting edge of the heat transfer industry in Europe and hopes Birwleco USA Incorporated will have success in the refining, petrochemical and energy markets..

The business will offer a variety of fired heater and thermal equipment services to meet the growing and diverse needs of the industry, supporting both existing facilities and new expansions.

Managing director Malcolm Oliver said: "We are delighted to be able to announce our plans for Birwelco USA under Walter Gull’s leadership.

“Our commitment to the USA office is driven by our determination to provide the highest level of support to industry around the world. We see the USA office being an integral part of that effort.”

The company has announced the appointment of Walter Gull as the President of Birwelco USA Inc.

Mr Oliver said: "Walter is globally recognised as a leading expert in the fired heater and furnace industry with experience covering the whole life cycle of their design, fabrication and installation through to troubleshooting operational and performance issues.

It is his depth of experience and commitment to industry organisations such as API and ASME that will further enhance Birwelco’s position as a leading global engineering organisation in the thermal industry."

Mr Gull said: "I am privileged to join Unit Birwelco Group at such a pivotal point for the business.

"With a group history dating back over a century, it is this depth of experience and the unlimited support from the other three divisions in the group that will allow Birwelco USA to meet our client’s diverse equipment needs safely in accordance with their schedule and budget constraints."

Birwelco Ltd is based at Trinity Point, Halesowen, where employees design engineering and power plant projects.