This explosive growth “is not really magical. It’s just the fact, since we manufacture, lease, and maintain our own equipment, we know how to make it work reliably,” explains Tom Poteet, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at Mesa.

Last year, the company opened a new manufacturing and assembly facility in San Antonio, Texas and plans to open a new multi-use plant in Wyoming. Slated to be 220,000 square feet in size, the Wyoming plant will complement existing Mesa manufacturing facilities in the state. In January 2025, the firm held a groundbreaking ceremony in Evansville, Wyoming to mark the beginning of construction.

For all this, Poteet points to the introduction of a new line of powerful generator engines as the single biggest change in recent years. Mesa’s new GV22PU, GX22, GX15, and GX12 engines were created through a partnership with Hyundai Infracore (HDI). The GX engines, meanwhile, were built with four-valve cylinder heads “for higher power ratings in the same package,” explains Mesa literature.

These HDI engines sport a new throttle, updated knock-sensor calibration, modified intake design, and other features for enhanced performance. The GV22PU engine block received Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions standards certification—further evidence of Mesa’s eco-friendly ethos. Mesa’s generators are fueled either by propane or natural gas (one of the cleaner burning fossil fuels).

By utilizing the new HDI engines, “we’re able to offer a higher power output for our generators,” adds Poteet.

In addition to becoming an authorized HDI engine distributor, Mesa has formed a collaboration with Modern Hydrogen to provide on-site clean power to data centers and the like. Modern Hydrogen is a prominent energy and materials company with a proprietary methane pyrolysis technology that can transform natural gas into hydrogen. This process also produces solid carbon that can be used in asphalt for road-strengthening purposes.

The partnership was officially forged by the respective company CEOs at a POWERGEN International Conference in Houston back in February. Under the terms of the collaboration, Mesa will develop a 100 percent hydrogen-powered generator while Modern Hydrogen develops an onsite natural-gas-to-hydrogen solution.

Once completed, this hydrogen-fueled power generation system “might fit in the smaller data center market—smaller meaning five to 10 megawatts,” Poteet explains. “There are a lot of edge data centers out there that fall into that size range.”

Mesa continues to offer two flagship products: the stationary PowerCore generator and its counterpart, the Portable Natural Gas Generator. Rugged and reliable, these generators can run 24/7 and withstand temperature extremes of hot and cold. Since we last spoke, Mesa has made some tweaks to these generators “which may not be obvious to our customers” but are intended to improve overall workability, reliability, and manufacturability, says Poteet.

In addition, the company is currently developing a brand-new product line called PowerYard, which consists of “several basic units” placed together in the same enclosure. While PowerYard hasn’t been released yet, the system might be a good fit for data centers, Poteet suggests, and the team is excited about the new product launch.

Amid all these developments, ownership of the company has changed hands. Founded in early 2014, Mesa was originally owned by BP Energy Partners of Dallas (itself spun off from the BP Capital Management hedge fund). In mid-2023, BP Energy Partners sold the firm to Arroyo Investors, an independent investment manager based in Houston, Texas. Mesa’s mandate hasn’t changed, however, and the company remains devoted to its core product line alongside new innovations and offerings.

Of course, quality continues to be paramount at Mesa, and last year, the company achieved ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification, a standard covering information security management. The ISO certification serves as a sign of how seriously Mesa takes the protection of client and company information. While there is no shortage of other firms that also build and/or supply generators, Mesa also sends out teams to deploy and maintain its products. This inclusive approach gives Mesa more control over its product line and the quality assurance process.

“We have the best quality conversation loop between assembly and field operations that I’ve ever seen in my career… Any time the folks in the field identify a problem or potential problem, they can immediately talk to the designers and the assembly people, or vice-versa,” notes Poteet with pride.

Quality is also ensured through telematics technology, which enables operators to remotely monitor generator performance in the field.

In addition to new products, Mesa is also exploring new ways of doing business. Instead of “just doing month-to-month rental leases” more and more customers are “looking at multi-year leases. Because there’s so much demand for our products, and so much demand for natural gas generators in general, people are realizing they need to lock up some capacity. So, they’re coming to us a bit earlier than they used to and are making longer deals. That’s good for them and for us.”

While Mesa once focused primarily on rentals, “we’re selling completed units now, and we’re doing longer and longer contracts… the deals are getting bigger and more complex,” he adds.

Main markets for the company still include oil & gas, mining, construction, and commercial/industrial. The oil & gas sector still brings in the most revenue, although the team is eager to expand its reach with data centers and utilities.

Data centers feature banks of computers and ancillary equipment, and require a consistent source of power to keep downtime to a minimum. Mesa, which can link its generators together in microgrids for boosted power and reliability, is more than capable of meeting this challenge, says Poteet. “By building out our generators [by the hundreds], if any one unit went down it wouldn’t even be noticed. All the others would incrementally pick up the load,” he notes.

Utility companies responsible for providing electricity also value this reliability and efficiency, and thus have become increasingly interested in Mesa’s offerings. “We have several conversations going on that involve utilities that might want to put in 10 MW of generators alongside a 10 or 15 MW substation so they have [a backup source] for peak power, but also in case the substation becomes isolated as far as the transmission network goes. If the substation is isolated and they have generators that are standing by, they can still feed all their distribution circuits,” explains Poteet.

As it always has, Mesa employs a large number of former military personnel. Several of the founders came from military backgrounds and Mesa was won several HIRE Vets Medallion Awards from the U.S. Department of Labor in recognition of its work with veterans. This pro-veteran stance has been key to Mesa’s success, says Poteet.

“A lot of our leadership are former military, and they know how to find the right people with the right experience to match up with our jobs… We have really focused a lot on ethics and character. We hire people based on character. If we find a person with good character, we can train them to do just about any job.”

In turn, Mesa treats its workforce well. Employees and their families receive 100 percent healthcare premium coverage (for vision, dental, and medical care), 401(k) matching programs, holiday pay, and life and disability insurance options.

When it comes to promotion, “we haven’t done what I would call a nationwide advertising blitz, but our marketing effort has multiplied greatly in recent months,” Poteet tells us. The team regularly attends trade shows (Poteet did his interview while attending the Microgrid Knowledge 2025 Conference in Dallas and sits on the advisory board for that group) and the company is beefing up its online presence as well.

Mesa Solutions continues to work with some overseas clients in addition to American customers. The team is involved in several projects at present, directly or through partners, in Canada, Mexico, Colombia, and Australia, says Poteet, all a part of its growth plan. Five years from now, “we’d like for every piece of the pie to be an order of magnitude bigger,” he says. “We also really want to get more into the data center world and the commercial and industrial sectors—either as a prime power [source] or standby—and also the utility world.”

He expects the company’s upwards trajectory in employment will continue. “There are a lot of things that drive that. Society is trying to be even more electrified, and they want the electricity to be ever more reliable. The demand for reliable, standby power is going to continue to increase.”

The post New Products, Personnel, Partnerships, and Processes<p class="company">Mesa Solutions</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

One of 13 global subsidiaries of South Korea’s Autonics (with 100 offices globally, 1,600 employees, over 35,000 SKUs, and 65 registered patents), numerous industries rely on Autonics USA for its expertise in optimizing sensors, controllers, safety products, data acquisition, and management solutions.

Through its innovative product design, Autonics USA helps its customers build smarter, more efficient factories. As the company puts it, “making the impossible possible” is achieved through a commitment to continued innovation, adapting to the needs of industry, and strong foundational relationships.

David Upton, Regional Sales Manager, says that staying at the forefront of a rapidly evolving industry is currently Autonics USA’s biggest challenge and opportunity. With the rapid growth of technologies like robotics, IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things), and smart factories, the automation market is changing quickly. “We must maintain a close relationship with our clients and be ready to adjust right away to their evolving needs if we want to stay competitive,” he says.

Rising to the occasion
Across Autonics’ global footprint is a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, which originates at its R&D Center in Seoul and radiates throughout its global network. Through this work, the company is developing technology that redefines factory automation. Its proprietary solutions and way of doing business have strengthened its competitiveness around the world.

The company invests approximately 11 percent of its annual revenue in R&D, and more than a fifth of its expertise is dedicated to research and development activities, which is why it continues to evolve in products and culture and remains a market leader. “We are in a favorable position, capitalizing on key trends in industrial automation while being mindful of challenges in supply chain management and competition,” Upton explains. “Our continued focus on technological innovation, especially in the automation and semiconductor sectors, will likely drive our growth in the coming years.”

Most recently, the launch of a modular multi-channel power controller series (SPRS) has elevated the ability to accurately control the temperature of factory equipment and machinery.

Got power? Get control
The modular design of the SPRS series offers efficient power control thanks to a power distribution control function that supports up to 36 units, with separate control and power modules and alarm functions available. Phase control includes standard control and feedback control (constant voltage, current, and power), and cycle control provides fixed/variable controls.

“Because it is a modular type, it can be configured as a single-phase or three-phase system depending on the combination. This makes it easier for both us (the manufacturer) and our customers to secure product inventory,” explains Technical Manager Jimmy Kim. The series also includes various functions from power distribution control and alarm history to self-diagnosis, alarm functions, and many more that simplify the process. Heater breaks, fuse breaks, overheating, and overcurrent are issues of the past thanks to this innovative modular solution.

The SPRS series is designed to offer easy maintenance and communication, as the modules support four types of communication options. The power modules are available in 14 models rated by current options, and users can employ up to four power modules simultaneously.

For Kim, “This new product satisfies many of the needs of the American market. The load power voltage supports up to 490VAC and has obtained UL Listed certification based on this power voltage.”

Finally, the intuitive design enables easy initial setup, and the fuse replacement process is also very straightforward, which serves the American market well, a major focus of the company.

As Kim notes, “Another task we are working on is providing PC/PLC-sample examples to support users of high-performance products. We create examples of products that can meet a variety of customer requirements, including the most popular Allen-Bradley products in the U.S. market. These examples can be downloaded from our website without the need to register contact information.”

Ease of use is always emphasized where innovation is concerned at Autonics, and beyond product innovation, the team has evolved its service delivery offering to meet its customers where they are. In October of last year, a Live Chat was launched where customers can ask technical questions about the various products without requiring a separate login process, which has been well-received and greatly utilized by the market.

Safety first, performance always
Further to improved performance, Autonics USA is also working to bring safety solutions to the market. Through its product development efforts, it has become a trusted provider of safety components for many industries, including the U.S. food and beverage industry.

“Our solutions are well-suited to this sector thanks to the reliability of our products and the availability of models with high protection ratings, including IP69K, which is essential for food-safe environments,” says Dei-Wei Lee, Regional Sales Manager.

Recently, Autonics USA partnered with a major beverage company to bring its popular soft drinks to the market more safely and efficiently. Its SFLA Series Safety Light Curtains supported the packaging process, an application for box building or carton assembly. The light curtain outperformed the competition, minimizing lead times and making replacement simpler. Autonics’ solution was compatible, reliable, and efficient, which helped the customer avoid production delays.

SFLA Series Light Curtains feature high impact resistance, which is a major advantage in environments where mechanical vibration or accidental contact is common. They offer reliable hand and body protection, which keeps the operator safe during high-speed, repetitive tasks. The installation and support of these products has also been streamlined and supported by free software that provides intuitive tools for fast setup, parameter tuning, and real-time diagnostics. Doing so, as Lee notes, “without additional licensing fees” is an ideal solution for OEMs and integrators managing tight timelines and budgets.

He adds, “Separately, in another department of the same plant, our IP69K-rated light curtains are being used in an application that involves packaging syrup, where thorough and frequent washdowns with hot water and chemicals are standard. The IP69K rating ensures the light curtain can withstand these high-pressure, high-temperature cleaning processes without compromising performance,” a feature that has gained the attention of another plant in a different state.

This is just one example of the level of commitment to innovation, industrial safety, and improved performance that Autonics USA brings to industrial operations with its robust, hygienic, and easy-to-integrate solutions, particularly in the food and beverage sector. At the same time, the company continues to strive for constant internal improvement that positions it as an award-winning industry leader.

Award-winning results
Autonics has been recognized not only as a trusted global brand but also as an employer of choice. Its deeply rooted commitment to the research and design of market-changing products and continuous improvement has also helped produce a market-leading culture.

The company has received numerous awards, including a nod in both 2019 and 2023 from the Ministry of Science and ICT for being an excellent corporate research center; numerous design awards; and countless designations that acknowledge its determination to be an empathetic employer that focuses on work-life balance, resulting in satisfied employees and customers alike. Autonics as a whole and its U.S. subsidiary have much to be proud of, which is why they confidently showcase their capabilities at industry events, bringing their automation solutions to a great number of operations, creating new connections in the market, and strengthening existing ones.

“This entails not only developing new products but also ensuring that we’re reachable and visible through marketing and sales as well as industry trade shows, where we can present our most recent solutions and keep abreast of market developments. It’s about striking a balance between innovation and solid client relations,” Upton explains.

SEMICON 2025 will be an excellent opportunity for Autonics USA to do just that. This year, the event is being held in Phoenix, which excites Upton and the team because of Arizona’s proximity to players from key semiconductor-manufacturing regions such as Austin, Texas, who may not have made the journey to the previous venue in San Francisco.

Upton says that having the opportunity to meet and converse with more customers promises “a better understanding of the industry’s evolving needs. Every show is an opportunity to learn more about new trends and challenges in the market, which helps us with both short- and long-term planning. We know that industrial trade shows don’t always lead to immediate sales, so we don’t view them as direct revenue-generating events. We see them as important opportunities to showcase our products and team, knowing that the relationships and insights we gain now will pay off down the line.”

Navigating the future
With events like SEMICON on the horizon, opportunities abound for Autonics USA, but the company is also navigating a challenge that is not unique in the market: tariffs. Before July 1, 2025, Autonics USA absorbed tariff fees, which was a competitive advantage, but given the circumstances, those costs will have to be incorporated into its prices going forward.

“We’ve done our best to shield our customers from these fees for as long as possible. As for the global impact, Autonics USA primarily focuses on the U.S. and Canadian markets, so the direct global effects of these tariffs are uncertain. Autonics is a global company with business hubs in many countries, so the broader international operations may not be as heavily impacted. The main concern for us will be the tariffs on products entering the U.S., which could affect our operations here locally. That impact is still to be determined,” notes Upton.

Fortunately for the company, its proprietary products have set the standard in industrial automation, and its commitment to relationships and customer support has reassured its customers that it is worth the investment, as it promises to remain a leader now and long into the future.

In its commitment to innovation, industry-leading products, and relationships with both customers and employees, Autonics USA sets the standard in all that it does, always committed to finding ways to improve its own performance and the performance of others.

The post Making the Impossible Possible<p class="company">Autonics USA</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.