Varco Pruden proves its mettle through buildings. Doing business as VP Buildings, the company makes metal building components for a variety of nonresidential facilities. Its products are distributed throughout the US and Canada through a network of about 1,000 contractors. The company's systems are used to build facilities ranging from churches and schools to office buildings and warehouses. Metal buildings can cost up to 30% less to build than more traditional fare; glass, brick, stone, and concrete elements can be incorporated. VP Buildings also provides design and engineering services throughout the Americas, Asia, and Europe. Australia's BlueScope Steel bought VP Buildings from Ternium in 2008.

Velosi keeps quality in check for oil and gas companies around the globe. The company provides quality assurance, quality control, inspection, and certification services to such multinational bigwigs as BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Shell. It has also served public utilities, engineering contractors, manufacturing facilities, and small fabrication workshops. Services range from equipment testing to vendor audits to engineering and construction management. Velosi has regional offices in the US, the UK, United Arab Emirates, and Malaysia, as well as local offices in more than 25 countries worldwide. The Carlyle Group is buying the company for some 88 million (about $140 million).

Lindal Cedar Homes makes custom cedar homes and sunrooms. Customers choose from more than 3,000 floor plans and Lindal ships homebuilding packages to customers' sites. The houses have solid cedar, log, post-and-beam, or conventional framing construction and are made with western red cedar. Lindal also offers solid wood and wood clad windows. The company operates through about 150 independent dealers and sells its products worldwide. Former US President Lyndon Johnson had two Lindal homes built on his ranch near Johnson City, Texas. Sir Walter Lindal founded the company in 1945. Lindal and his family control the company, which has produced more than 50,000 homes.

Taiwan Cement is a hard act to follow. Taiwan Cement Co., Ltd. manufactures and sells a variety of cement and ready-mixed concrete products for distribution throughout Asia, the Middle East, and the US. As the largest cement supplier in Taiwan, Taiwan Cement Co., Ltd. produces some 25 million metric tons of cement annually from its plants in Taiwan. It plans to double capacity and expand by building new plants, especially in the growing Chinese market. In 2010 it bought Prosperity Minerals Holdings' cement unit for about $500 million, enhancing its holdings on the mainland. In addition to its cement operations, Taiwan Cement Co., Ltd. produces paper, paper bags, and sludge treatment agents.

Holder Construction's goal is to hold onto its clients' business. Boasting an 80% repeat customer rate, the firm provides commercial construction services, including computer modeling, planning and design, commissioning, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing support, safety inspections and training, and environmental assessment. Holder Construction serves as a general contractor, construction manager, and designer/builder on a variety of projects, from corporate offices and data technology centers to hotels and schools. Clients have included Mellon Financial, UPS, Emory University, and American Cancer Society. Privately-held Holder Construction is led by chairman and CEO Thomas Holder.

LZT Architects provides a variety of architectural and design services and has completed more than 500 projects mainly in Austin, Texas. Its services range from site selection and master planning to project management and construction administration. The firm's projects include its award-winning green building project, the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless; a 48,000 sq. foot center for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault called Safeplace; and an affordable senior housing and community center development for The Salvation Army. LZT Architects was established in 1982.

Environmental consulting and management firm Holguin, Fahan & Associates offers services such as assessment, characterization, remediation, and reclamation of contaminated sites. Staff members include engineers, geologists, hydrogeologists, and planners. The firm operates primarily in California and Arizona; it also does business in Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas. Holguin, Fahan & Associates was founded in 1982.

Family-owned Okland Construction Company is a regional general contracting, design/build, and construction management firm. The company works on projects in several construction markets: commercial, education, government, health care, infrastructure, high-tech, industrial, retail, and corporate. Okland Construction offers value engineering and phased or fast-track design and construction. It also provides pre-construction services, risk management, and partnering. Self-performed work includes concrete construction, wood framing, and carpentry. Okland has constructed projects in about 30 US states and throughout Mexico. It has offices in Salt Lake City; Durango, Colorado; Ketchum, Idaho; and Tempe, Arizona.

Amarr was founded in 1951 by brothers Abe, Morris, and Herb Brenner and is owned by the Brenner family. This company is really into garage sales. Amarr designs, manufactures, and distributes garage doors for residential and commercial customers. Residential doors are made from steel, wood, aluminum, and wood composite; commercial doors come in aluminum, glass, or steel. Other products include garage door openers, screen doors, and vinyl garage flooring. The company offers door brands such as JELD-WEN, LiftMaster, Dynasty, and Linear. Amarr has 70 distribution centers in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Hungary, and its products are sold to dealers and major retailers such as Sears, Lowe's, Sams Club, and Costco.

Hyder Consulting engineers and manages infrastructure projects in the UK, Europe, Middle East, Asia, and Australia. The company specializes in planning and engineering design for highways, transport, property, water and environment, industrial, energy, defense, and tourism-related projects. Hyder has worked for clients such as international and national bodies, regional and local governments, and private developers. Hyder traces its roots back some 150 years and was involved in the design and construction of such icons as the Sydney Harbor Bridge. The acquisitive company is expanding geographically in high growth markets such as Asia and the Middle East. Hyder also has made several acquisitions in Germany.

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