About Aether DBS
“Aether” is the mythical fifth element that fills space and connects all other elements. “ DBS” stands for Design Build Solutions. Putting the two together, Aether DBS offers clients full service design/build solutions and custom modular systems for air, water, energy, infrastructure, and environmental projects.
Aether DBS was formed in 2010 from the merger of Hard Hat Services (HHS) and Ely Energy. With four offices in the U.S., and key partnerships in international markets, Aether DBS brings the essential elements of people, talent, technology, and action together to deliver value for our clients' complex problems.
With engineering, construction management, and manufacturing capabilities and expertise, Aether DBS brings world class, reliable, cost-effective services to industrial clients in the power, alternative energy, food and beverage, steel, transportation, chemical/petrochemical, and environmental remediation markets.
Tom Blair, Aether DBS President and former CEO of Hard Hat Services, expressed his enthusiasm about the new company, “The strategic acquisition of Ely Energy represents an exciting new stage of our corporate growth. It places us firmly in the energy sector and allows us to continue expanding our services and capabilities for our clients. In addition, HHS’ turnkey project capabilities bring an added dimension to the Ely Energy customer base. The combined company, Aether DBS, delivers value to our clients by providing practical, sustainable concept-to-completion solutions. With solid relationships in the U.S. and a growing presence in a number of international markets, our expanded resources will result in continued success and more opportunities for our employees, for our clients, and for Aether DBS.”
About Hard Hat Services
Hard Hat Services, headquartered in Naperville, Illinois, was founded in 2000 as a full-service general contractor and licensed engineering firm offering a wide range of construction management and engineering services. The firm’s extensive environmental experience as well as its common sense approach to implement cost effective, reliable solutions provided successful results for critical industrial projects.
In January 2006, Hard Hat Services completed the acquisition of Harrington Engineering & Construction Inc. In addition to engineering and construction, Harrington specialized in marine design, sediment restoration, and dredging, thereby expanding Hard Hat Services’ capabilities, reach, and range.
HHS focused on building long term relationships with clients, providing clean, green, sustainable solutions to problems outside of their core business. Hard Hat has experienced substantial growth since its inception and received a variety of awards commemorating its financial growth and business achievement.
About Ely Energy
Ely Energy, Inc. has been the global leader in the design and manufacturing of gas vaporizers, blenders, and process systems. Ely Energy’s LPG Vaporizers and Blenders form the heart of Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) systems worldwide. Ely Energy’s ammonia vaporization, blending and injection systems have made them a leading manufacturer of components used in air pollution control SCR deNOx processes.
Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Ely Energy’s origins date back to Minnesota in 1898. A small family business called Energy Systems became a pioneer in the design and manufacture of equipment for LPG vaporization and air-gas mixing applications in the mid part of the century. The technologies of Energy Systems allowed propane or LPG and air to be blended together to simulate natural gas for fuel switching applications. This innovative use of "simulated natural gas", or "synthetic natural gas" (i.e. SNG) became both popular and necessary during the turbulent energy years of the mid to late 70’s.
Energy Systems was acquired by Ely Energy in the early 1980s. In the late 1990's Ely Energy diversified into environmental equipment for air pollution abatement while continuing to expand its international footprint in the SNG and LPG markets. By 2010, Ely Energy was recognized as the worldwide leader in large scale SNG and LPG vaporization systems for CityGas systems and natural gas peakshaving. Some of the world's largest SNG systems bear the Ely logo.