ALCO Energy Solutions LP is a single source solutions provider for engineering, procurement and fabrication. As a privately owned Canadian company headquartered in Edmonton and operating continuously for more than 50 years, ALCO continues to make an impact locally and abroad.
Since 1972, ALCO has continued to grow in scope and scale, providing industry-leading results in modular process equipment and solutions from a single skid to interconnected multiple skid modules for energy processing plants. Its product lines cover processing equipment from wellheads to pipelines for seamless integration and optimal performance. ALCO has designed and fabricated over 9,800 production and process packages while continuing to reduce its carbon footprint year over year. Beyond conventional energy processing, ALCO supports sustainability projects including carbon capture, hydrogen, natural gas to graphite, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and biofuels, helping move technologies from pilot and demonstration phases to commercial deployment.
Sameh Esmail joined ALCO in 2023 as the senior vice president of engineering and technology. Just 10 months later, he was promoted to president. Esmail, an Egyptian-born engineer, has guided ALCO through a period of transformation. Since 2024, he has expanded ALCO internationally, while simultaneously preparing the company for ISO certification in 2026 to unlock more new global markets.
In fact, 2024 marked ALCO’s strongest sales year to date, backed by a robust project backlog, a testament to the coordinated efforts of the sales and business development departments, and brought to life by the expertise of the engineering and production teams.
Esmail’s personal trajectory is inspirational. Yet he remains very humble and considers all successes of ALCO to be driven by everyone on the team.
Even as a child, Sameh knew exactly what he wanted to do.
“I always wanted to be an engineer,” he reflects.
That clarity shaped how he approached every challenge: methodically, with curiosity and a commitment to mastering his craft.
“Along the way, I was fortunate to have mentors who trusted me and gave me opportunities,” he says. “There is often hesitation to hiring young newcomers to Canada, but I met people who said, ‘let’s see what he can do.’ That trust and the responsibility it carried made all the difference in my journey.”
He adds, “For newcomers or anyone facing barriers, having mentors and supporters can open doors; but it’s also what you do with those opportunities – showing up, delivering consistently and persevering that shapes your path and builds your character.”
Esmail’s technical acumen, critical thinking and disciplined approach made him a natural fit for ALCO, where challenging projects demand problem-solving, agility and consistent delivery.
“One surprising thing people often don’t realize about ALCO is the depth of our capabilities and our 54-year legacy until they visit our state-of-the-art 32-acre fabrication facility. We do all the work in-house, so we don’t need to leave our gate to outsource our core scope. That full control allows us to manage quality, schedules and costs directly, which means our customers benefit from faster delivery, reduced risk and real cost efficiencies. What leaves our gate is the final product, ready for its destination,” says Esmail.
The recently upgraded 250,000-square-foot under-one-roof shop is fully equipped with up-to-date fabrication technologies to execute projects of any size. In addition to in-house capabilities, ALCO’s sister companies provide clients with a wide range of products and services designed to streamline project delivery, reduce risk and help optimize costs all while maintaining a single point of accountability and therefore delivering integrated solutions that most competitors cannot match.
“We not only deliver products to the final destination but also have a dedicated after-sales business unit that supports installation, commissioning and start-up of our equipment.”
He continues, “I have a lot of passion for renewable projects. Oil and gas will remain important but the sustainability initiatives in biofuels and carbon capture excite me the most. When I came to ALCO, we committed that 10 per cent of our revenue would come from sustainability projects, including startup technology companies. Many Alberta startups have grant funding but lack the corporate backing to bring their products to market. Over the past three years, we have been hosting startups in our plant, providing access to water, power and even office space. As they grow, we become part of their journey – building a legacy of sustainability for Alberta.
For Esmail, it will always come down to a vital component – people.
“At ALCO, our people are the foundation of everything we do. Their dedication, skill and passion fuel our success. With that strength behind us, we remain fully committed to exceeding customer expectations and ensuring satisfaction in every project we deliver. ALCO has 32 acres of modern facilities and more, but these buildings would mean nothing without the people who bring them to life. Every team member’s commitment and pride drive ALCO’s achievements. I am simply steering the wheel, and it is the team that powers our achievements.”
That success has built continuously since 1972.
1972 – Founded
- ALCO Gas & Oil Production Equipment Ltd. was founded by Bob Taubner, beginning as a sales agent for ALCO Machine Works in Calgary and with fabrication in Edmonton.
1976 – First Manufacturing Facility
- Ground broken on the first Edmonton manufacturing facility on 75th Street.
1979 – Engineering Relocation
- Engineering and drafting departments moved to Edmonton to enhance coordination between design and fabrication.
Late 1970s–1980s – Facility Expansions
- Expanded engineering, drafting and fabrication capabilities to support growing project demand.
1984 – Digital Adoption
- Early adoption of digital tools for modeling, tracking and automation improved design and production efficiency.
1990s–2000s – Global Reach
- ALCO expanded internationally, delivering major modular energy solutions across the Americas, Europe, Asia and beyond.
2019–2020 – Early Carbon Capture Projects
- Executed its first carbon capture solutions with Delta Tech and InnoTech Alberta (Sheppard Energy Centre) and subsequent carbon capture towers for Entropy.
2021 – Nig Creek Gas Plant
- Delivered ALCO’s large‑scale EPF modular project for Black Swan.
2023 – Portfolio Expansion
- Expanded product offerings with Alberta Exchanger and NEXT Compression joining ALCO’s portfolio.
2024 – Leadership Update
- Sameh Esmail appointed president.
2025 – Rebranding & Growth
- ALCO Gas & Oil Production Equipment Ltd. rebranded to ALCO Energy Solutions LP and launched new corporate website.
Late 2025 – International Expansion & Strategic Partnerships
- Expanded into Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Indonesia and Oman.
2026 – Recognition
- ALCO recognized as Exporter of the Year (YEG) at the Edmonton & Northern Alberta Export Awards.
“Few companies can claim more than 50 years of expertise in energy processing while continually evolving to meet the demands of a rapidly changing industry,” Esmail says. “Rebranding to ALCO Energy Solutions is more than a name change. It reflects who we are today: a single-source solutions provider, delivering turnkey EPF projects worldwide. We are redefining our legacy, combining our experience and expertise with a renewed vision of building energy solutions for a better tomorrow with sustainability at the heart of everything we do.”
One of the hallmarks of ALCO is its adaptability. Esmail explains that the company is “competing in a market that is highly price sensitive while maintaining quality, schedule certainty and long-term value for our clients; at the same time, balancing strong execution in our core business while continuing to invest in emerging energy and sustainability opportunities.”
“We are adapting quickly to changing materials, politics and international stability. We stay ahead of things,” he adds. “We have stock and we focus on our presence. You cannot sell Canadian products globally when you stay at home. We find the paths to deliver value for both our clients and the countries where we operate in. For example, when ALCO has a project in the Middle East, we share the fabrication across both nations to support the local labour while maintaining quality. Quality and safety are always non-negotiable – we never take shortcuts.”
For international work, Esmail highlights a little-known feature.
“We have completed projects in 22 countries and on six continents and are in the enviable position of being sought out for projects to come to us. Over the course of time, we learned that every country’s Canadian embassy can greatly assist corporations with cross-border business.”
For Esmail, there are some projects that stand out, including Nig Creek Gas Plant (Tourmaline formerly Black Swan Energy). Taking approximately 16 months, this was ALCO’s full EPF execution on a major 180 MMSCFD gas processing facility. It was delivered on time and on budget.
Also of note is the Glacier Gas Plant Carbon Capture (Entropy Inc.) project.
“One of the most impactful engagements for ALCO has been our participation in the carbon capture deployment at Glacier,” says Esmail. “We delivered a CO2 absorber tower with a modular amine regeneration package for Phase 1a and a second CO2 absorber tower for Phase 1b. For Phase 2, two large-scale CO2 absorbers and one amine regenerator tower were delivered.ALCO fabricated equipment forming a key part of the facility’s first-of-its-kind modular carbon capture and storage system. It also demonstrates the trust of our repeat customers – ABC/Advantage/Entropy selected ALCO for Phase 1b and Phase 2 after our successful delivery of Phase 1a. The project has already captured tens of thousands of tonnes of CO₂ per year and is being expanded to ultimately capture approximately 180,000 tonnes annually, with capture efficiencies exceeding 90 per cent.”
Innovations ALCO leads in include deep-cut processing, which is often selectively deployed due to its technical complexity and economic thresholds, requiring advanced cryogenic expertise and substantial fabrication capacity owing to its size. It is also economically driven by gas composition and ethane/NGL value. ALCO stands out with in-house engineers and production teams who have successfully designed, built and commissioned these systems, delivering reliable results at scale.
ALCO’s story is not just one of longevity. It’s one of adaptation, growth and leadership. With continued international expansion, strategic partnerships with technology providers and a commitment to building energy solutions for a better tomorrow, ALCO exemplifies how a 54-year legacy can evolve into a forward-thinking, globally competitive company.
Esmail is excited about ALCO’s future.
“We are growing. We are expanding our teams, investing in automation to modernize our manufacturing processes and equipment, and forming partnerships worldwide to support our global growth. On the international side, we will achieve ISO certification in 2026. This milestone positions ALCO not just to compete globally, but to lead in delivering modular, scalable and reliable projects worldwide.
“Sustainability will remain at the heart of our vision. We are scaling solutions such as amine-based carbon capture, renewable ethanol-to-hydrogen, SAF and biofuels, turning pilot innovations into operational reality.
“The strength of ALCO lies in our people. Their perseverance carried the team through a demanding year, keeping projects on track. Supporting them and nurturing a strong team culture is what drives me most.”
In addition to gratitude for the teams, he notes, “I also want to acknowledge our clients, whose trust allows us to grow, scale and pursue bigger opportunities, and our partners and vendors, whose support helps us consistently meet our commitments, and I would like to recognize ALCO’s owner, Mr. Bob Taubner, for his staunch support of ALCO’s growth through continued investment in assets and equipment to modernize our fabrication capabilities and for championing ALCO’s Canadian-made products in markets around the world. ALCO is his legacy.”
As Esmail reflects on his time with ALCO, he concludes, “What I find most rewarding is earning and maintaining our clients’ trust by delivering on schedule, on budget and to the highest standards of quality and safety. We are enabling critical energy infrastructure that supports communities and the economy. It’s also incredibly rewarding to be part of a company with a long legacy while helping drive improvement, growth and new opportunities. For me, the greatest satisfaction comes from supporting our people, growing a strong team culture and seeing ALCO succeed – all while ensuring everyone works safely and goes home to their families each day.”
He smiles, “Build with ALCO for certainty you can count on. We understand the complexity of energy projects and the pressure of tight timelines. Our commitment is simple: disciplined execution, on schedule and on budget, delivering reliable energy solutions that perform exactly as promised.”