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The former NASCAR golden boy has been part of the Houston business world for 10 years, but he is far from idling. In early March, Hillin’s newest company, T-Rex Engineering & Construction LC, completed a roughly $8 million purchase of Houston-based offshore equipment fabricator Delcor USA Inc. That company has existed since 1945, and both parties agree that its reputation and corporate culture will be preserved within T-Rex, which is less than three years old.
After growing his first company, Texas ReExcavation LC, in 2001, Hillin wanted to expand into the subsea fabrication business and started T-Rex. In its initial stages, the company worked out of a shop of about 32,000 square feet on less than two acres in the Heights just south of West 11th Street and Ella Boulevard.
“We’re building large subsea structures, and we had a lot of clients saying, ‘We like what you’re doing but unless you can build a larger size and volume, we’re only going to go so far,’ ” Hillin said. “I think it’s critical we found a facility soon because I felt like our clients were about to turn away from us.”
Delcor’s fabrication facility on Jacintoport Boulevard in south Channelview boasts 32 acres, and is more than double T-Rex’s facility at 65,000 square feet. T-Rex is moving into the new digs this week.
Along with the property came more than 70 employees, and T-Rex has hired at least 60 of those, including a few key members of senior management. That includes Jim Walsh, the former CEO of Delcor. Walsh will serve in an advisory capacity for about two years with T-Rex.
“This company is kind of my baby, and to see Bobby treat it with so much respect is very satisfying,” Walsh said. “One of our primary criteria, other than obviously getting the best price, was protecting the employees. Bobby’s group was in the same business we were in and was looking to expand that business. So he committed to hiring the employees and has been very good about that.
“We were one of the better known subsea builders on the Gulf Coast,” Walsh said. “But when Macondo hit and the moratorium was placed on drilling, work was just brought to a standstill. We decided that we wanted to work with T-Rex because they were looking for expansion. I think the subsea market is going to expand exponentially in five years. The pent-up demand is going to make for a very exciting market. T-Rex is definitely going to be a leader in that industry.”
