Created in 2011 with the merger of gas industry stalwarts Miller Pipeline and Minnesota Limited, MVerge has quickly become a leading full-service infrastructure services company. Perhaps “quickly” is misleading – MVerge’s success is based on the experience and values of the founding companies, a combined history that spans more than 110 years.
Many in the trenchless technology industry know Miller Pipeline for its directional drilling as part of its gas distribution services, as well as its water and sewer rehabilitation services. Meanwhile, MVerge is known for its pipeline construction services involving mainline installations, maintenance and integrity, gathering work and facility construction. The companies’ similar histories, values and complementary services, led to the merger that expands the scope of MVerge creating additional opportunities.
While both companies operate independently and still leverage the original names, Miller Pipeline and Minnesota Limited are benefiting from the merger as they realize what the “power of one” can do for each company.
“We recognize the brand equity of the Miller Pipeline and Minnesota Limited names, but we see MVerge as a platform to take advantage of the synergy between the companies to focus on providing turnkey solutions to all of our customers,” said MVerge CEO Doug Banning. “By leveraging the expertise of both companies, we believe there is much more power in ‘one.’ ”
Miller Pipeline: A History of Commitment
Miller Pipeline was founded in 1953 by Don W. Miller near his family farm in Green Springs, Ohio. A few years after founding the company with a friend, Don bought out his partner and continued on. Brothers Dale, Karl and Paul joined the company later and Miller Pipeline was a family-run operation for more than 45 years. Today, Dale’s Son, Kevin Miller is company president.
Miller started out specializing in the installation of gas transmission pipelines. In 1961, projects for Citizens Gas took Miller Pipeline to Indiana, eventually leading the company to set up headquarters in Indianapolis.
The following decades saw the company grow through an expansion of service offerings, acquisitions and a diversification of markets. Investments in technology led Miller to introduce cutting-edge joint sealing techniques such as WEKO-Seal internal joint seals and ENCAPSEAL Safe-T-Seal in the 1970s. A decade later, Miller Pipeline entered the water/wastewater market, offering a variety of trenchless pipeline rehabilitation options including EX close-fit lining and CIPP lining methods. Installing, repairing and replacing gas distribution lines became the company’s specialty and now accounts for a majority of the operations. Today, Miller Pipeline has more than 30 offices and 3,000 employees; including 700 construction crews across the United States.
(From left) Ted Crowe, Doug Banning and Kevin Miller help guide MVerge’s next chapter.
“Over the years we have established our niche in serving local distribution companies,” said Kevin Miller. “We provide maintenance, rehabilitation and repair work – anything a client needs to help them achieve their goals.”
The company’s blueprint to success has been to cultivate long-term relationships with customers and utilizing local resources to better serve our customers. “We don’t chase work all over the country,” Kevin Miller said. “We prefer to set up a base of operations in a region and develop a strong local workforce. Our philosophy is to develop solid, long-term working relationships with our customers.”
Miller says that the company has several client relationships spanning 25 years, and some exceeding 50 years.
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