SGS/CT&E Environmental Services Inc.: this company is celebrating 40 years in Alaska and is a global leader in analytical testing and data management.

AuthorOrr, Vanessa
Position2004 Corporate 100 Profile - Company Profile

It's hard to believe that more than 100 years ago, SGS (Societe Generale de Surveillance Group), the parent company of SGS/CT&E Environmental Services Inc., started off as a grain inspection house in Europe. Today, they are the world's largest control and inspection company, and SGS/CT&E is a global leader in analytical testing and data management.

"We got our start servicing oil fields, doing hydro carbon analysis," explained George Wolters, SGS/CT&E business development, Alaska. "That evolved into doing work for the Department of Defense, and then into commercial work."

Now celebrating its 40th year in Alaska, SGS/CT&E provides analytical testing, environmental drilling, inspection and certification services for a range of clients from the Alaska Army Corps of Engineers to 8(a) Native corporations. They have also added consumer product testing to the array of services they offer.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE WORK

"About 50 percent of our work comes from the DOD sector-the Air Force, Corps of Engineers and Navy," said Wolters. "We get work either directly from them, or from the engineering firms who work for them. We also see the 8(a) companies as an important part of our growing client list. These companies have an opportunity to use our experience and technology in their efforts to meet the requirements of federal programs."

According to Wolters, the other half of SGS/CT&E's business comes from commercial work, doing testing for mining and fuel companies, and consumer product testing. "Sony and Dell require all of their manufacturers to test for lead, cadmium and flame-retardant components in the equipment they provide," explained Wolters. "There is a real push from the consumer product side to be 'green,' and we're one of the only labs in North America to do this kind of testing."

According to Wolters, while this testing is common in Europe, it is relatively new in America. "We see it as a growing portion of our business down the road, and we're hoping to pull more of this business into Alaska," he said.

FROM MARKETS AFAR

Bringing business into Alaska is one of the company's core principles. To this end, they have established sample receiving and laboratory facilities in Fairbanks and in Honolulu, Hawaii, and have also established a mentoring program at an SGS lab in Korea.

"A portion of the work in Korea will be sent to Alaska, and we are also using our Honolulu location to capture as much Pacific Rim work as possible and bring it back here,"...

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