|
|
|
|
“Success: What happens when you implement a well thought out plan”
Brooks Associates Inc. was founded in 1984 by Raymond Brooks as a contract engineering and health physics personnel service company to the nuclear power industry. The years following that have been filled with invention and innovation always with a dedication to service for the Brooks team. In 1986, the company expanded to include supply of specialized technical inspection services to the entire nuclear power utility industry. Through fabrication and integration of advanced camera systems, Brooks rapidly moved to the forefront of visual inspection services within the nuclear power industry.
To further that success, 1988 at Brooks saw the creation of a robotic inspection system that was able to deliver a view of the inside of a Westinghouse Steam Generator that had never before been seen. Brooks then broadened the scope of its inspection services to cover underwater applications and in 1989, augmented remote controlled (robotic) retrieval services. This technology enhanced the masteries of the video inspection services.
In 1990, the company expanded again to join together the robotic design and development services with the audio/video installation and leasing services under the name of Brooks Support Systems, Inc. Brooks Support Systems, Inc. (BSSI) was established to provide audio visual equipment, communication systems and technical services. The company was originated primarily for the needs of nuclear facilities, but BSSI continually looked to broaden its scope of capabilities. BSSI specialized services and quality equipment is being utilized in nuclear and fossil facilities as well other industries. These Brooks A/V systems and services include applying the principles of ALARA to the manufacture and installation of audio/video surveillance systems, and pre-assembled, multi-module packages for rapid deployment. At that time Brooks supplied services under individual business arrangements that included contracts to utilities and industry in general, long term teaming agreements with other vendors and subcontracts to other vendors who required Brooks services as part of their general contract to the utilities.
In 1993, Brooks entered into a termed teaming agreement with Westinghouse to supply visual inspections services for the secondary side of steam generators. The combined capabilities of Westinghouse and Brooks gave customers a single source for all of their critical path outage needs thus eliminating the need to deal with several different companies. With this partnership, as well as that with Rochester Institute of Technology Research Corporation, Foster-Miller and Hydrochem, Brooks had initiated the network of resources critical to their sustained long-term growth.
In 1995 Brooks added a full engineering division to design remotely delivered robotic devices to be used exclusively by Brooks field services personnel to inspect areas previously not accessible. Brooks engineering division grew rapidly due to the market demand to inspect areas remotely. Further, this division began partnerships to transfer technologies to foreign countries. Engineering successfully transferred many of the Brooks developed technologies to Japan and Korea. The culture of these countries did not allow American companies easy access to their markets therefore, the decision to transfer Brooks technology was a method to increase sales, add sales in future years through royalties and promote Brooks as the world leader in the development of remote and robotically delivered tooling.
In 1998 Brooks acquired a pipeline inspection company and called it ISI Technologies. Brooks made a decision shortly after purchase to fold this division into the already existing inspection services division. These two divisions were complementary in nature however, differed in markets.
In 1999 Brooks started the Electric Utilities Service division. Located originally in Illinois its primary direction was to utilize the strengths of the current company and apply remote and robotic inspection techniques to the inspections in the balance of plant and the remainder of the nuclear island (reactor vessel, fuel, reactor coolant pumps). This division was to bring in line Brooks commitment to customer service and add the services our customers were asking for. Eventually, this division was split between engineering and field services.
In 2002 Brooks began working for the Department of Defense through a defense contractor, Newport News Shipbuilding. Brooks was brought in because of their robotic inspection devices to assist Newport News in reducing the cost of building aircraft carriers. Today, the program started in 2002 is still ongoing as well one additional program was successfully completed in 2007 in support of the US Navy nuclear aircraft program. The latter of the two programs required very repeatable and accurate measurement. During the last phase of this program Brooks made a decision to enter the metrology market.
In 2006 Brooks entered the metrology market with partner Exact Metrology, Inc. Exact Metrology and Brooks had partnered on the last DoD contract to solve measurement issues and both companies decided together it was a good decision to start offering metrology to the Energy industry because of the new potential of growth in this market. Almost immediately Brooks / Exact Metrology were challenged by a new customer, Siemens. Siemens had a very unique problem related to field repairs of their natural gas fired turbines. After six months of working on a methodology and picking the right technology Brooks solved the problem and currently have a long-term contract for metrology field services.
“Keep planning, keep changing”
Brooks has always been able to meet challenges as well as continue to provide the highest quality services and products with its varied facilities and expert team of engineers and technicians. Brooks is headquartered in Williamson, New York has Field offices in the Westinghouse, Waltz Mill facility in Madison, PA serving all Brooks customers and Carrollton, VA serving the Government market as well has sales offices in New Jersey, Texas and California. The headquarters houses a high-bay area with large inventory of full scale mock-ups, a machine shop, versatile systems manufacturing area, equipment test area and storage for over 10 million dollars worth of inspection equipment inventory. These resources combined with its highly skilled and experienced team of engineers, technicians and management and staff, provides the highest quality of field services and products worldwide.
So, who is Brooks today?
Brooks is recognized as the industry leader for engineering design and manufacturing of remote and robotic tooling for the nuclear power industry. Brooks excels in field deployment of remote and robotic systems to inspect areas and systems that have had problems which have existed for several decades. Further, Brooks is recognized for their innovative and superior audio \ video products and services. Brooks expansion in to the metrology market is a natural addition to our ever growing high technology company. Future expansion of inspection capabilities into other market applications including petro-chemical, gas pipeline, pulp paper, and turbine generators will allow these industries to tap into this rich system of resources offered by Brooks. A combination of all the company talents among the Brooks divisions, the high quality of products and services provided, access to technology through our quality partnerships and teaming agreements provides our customers the highest quality service available.
|
|
Company Info 
