STRATCO®, Inc., based in Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.A., has acquired Covenant Engineering Services, LLC (CES), and an independent consultancy based in Branson, Missouri, U.S.A., providing process engineering services to the chemical process industries.

Its acquisition of CES will accelerate STRATCO’s plans to expand its support capabilities into lube oil blending processes, manufacturing support, equipment design, and related industries. The acquisition closed at the end of April.

STRATCO, Inc. was founded in 1928 in what was then the U.S. hub for lubricating greases, Kansas City, Missouri. C. W. Stratford designed and patented a mixer for lubricating greases known as the Contactor™ reactor, the first of which was installed in 1929 and was in operation for 80+ years.

Ward Graham became president in the 1970s and established a new vision and began to rebuild and expand the company with the new name of Stratford/Graham Engineering. In pursuit of her father’s dream, Diane Graham became chairman and president of the company in 1981. In 1986, she became owner and CEO. In 1984, Stratford/Graham Engineering was renamed STRATCO®, Inc., and committed to strengthening its global leadership in reaction technology. In 2021, STRATCO moved its headquarters to Scottsdale, Arizona, and opened new offices in Missouri, Louisiana, and Washington.

Covenant Engineering Services was established in 1995 in the U.S. state of Indiana, with the primary purpose of providing quality process engineering services to the lubricating grease manufacturing industry. Its main focus was to help the industry advance in manufacturing techniques through the application of sound process engineering principles and the incorporation of modern technical resources with the ultimate goal of helping clients produce the best and most consistent products economically. 

CES’ mission was to provide clients with quality engineering backed with integrity. The company’s name stems from the word “covenant” because covenant is another word for “promise” and is used 280 times in the Bible. Just as God expressed his promise to his followers, the firm promised to keep their commitments to their clients. 

When asked during the acquisition on the hopes for future goals moving forward, the current CEO of CES, Richard Burkhalter, said, “To continue to be a Christian witness in the marketplace and provide excellent process engineering support to the lubricating grease industry.”

“The management team at STRATCO has known and respected Richard and Margaret Burkhalter for years. We believe that the reputation that Covenant has built through the years within the lubricating grease industry is pivotal in giving our customers a better overall product from early conceptual design through commissioning,” said Graham. 

 “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Richard on a number of international and domestic projects over the last 20 years and I look forward to the additional manufacturing and operational insights that CES will provide to our customer base,” said STRATCO’s VP of Engineering, John Kay.