Fluid Life is celebrating it’s 40th anniversary this year! Starting out in 1981 as a small Edmonton lab with one major contract in the mining industry, we have grown to over 100 employees with three state-of-the-art labs providing reliability and laboratory services to multiple industries across North America.
From humble beginnings
Industra-Lube Testing Laboratories was started in the spring of 1981 by a chemist named Devar Chisholm. Within a couple of years, Larry Dick joined the company as a full partner, adding his knowledge of computerization and software as well as matching Devar’s entrepreneurial spirit. The company grew modestly during the 1980’s but turned a corner in 1991 when it bought the assets of a struggling rival lab called Oil Check, adding both customers and employees to Industra-Lube.
In 1992 Industra-Lube Testing Laboratories underwent a full-scale rebrand and Fluid Life was born. This new corporate name and image reflected the broader range of laboratory services now offered including testing of fuels, greases, coolants, and filter debris.
After Devar’s untimely and unexpected death in 1993, Larry took over the company and it remains in his family to this day. During his time as President, Larry oversaw continued growth and expansion. Fluid Life opened a second Canadian lab in Ontario in 2001 followed by a US facility in Minneapolis in 2010. The company achieved multiple quality certifications (ISO 9001 and ISO 17025) in all three labs and maintained steady growth in market share and revenues.
Passing the torch
By 2011, Fluid Life enjoyed a solid reputation as an innovative, customer-focused leader in laboratory services and Larry decided it was time to retire. Two of his daughters had been with the company for some time – Heather Nichols since 1995 and Sarah Henson since 1998 – and so Larry passed the torch. Heather assumed the role of President and Sarah continued her role in HR as VP.
It was at this time Heather recognized Fluid Life’s customers were becoming more sophisticated. They needed a higher level of comprehensive machinery reliability information to properly manage their equipment maintenance. This led to the evolution of Fluid Life from being known as “just a lab” to becoming an equipment reliability solutions provider.
This re-invention led to several changes in the services that Fluid Life offered. Testing packages were developed and branded to be industry specific. A Reliability Services division was formed to offer a range of high-level consultative offerings such as failure analysis, industry benchmarking, and flagging optimization. A service called CARE (Condition Assessment & Reliability Evaluation) was developed to help customers respond more efficiently and effectively to lab results thereby improving their own company’s performance.
In 2020 Fluid Life was recognized for the fourth consecutive year as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies, achieving Gold Standard status in this prestigious program.
We continue to build on our vision to transform our industry through continuous innovation and significant investment in people and technology, all with the goal of improving our customers’ bottom line.
Heather Nichols, President
This vision will come to life again in 2021 as Fluid Life prepares to open its fourth facility in Dallas, TX.
Culture of innovation
Investment in innovation has always been part of Fluid Life’s DNA. Even in the early years, Devar saw the need to provide electronic oil analysis reporting for his customers. This led to the development of the ground-breaking Remote Oil Analysis Services Terminal (ROAST) application in 1989, a DOS-based platform which enabled users to view and register samples using 300 baud modems and phone lines. Fast forward to today. Fluid Life’s myLab application is a robust multi-functional oil analysis and reliability management web platform and mobile app to support the needs of nearly 20,000 users.
Other innovations from Fluid Life include:
- An automated viscometer which provided a high degree of accuracy and throughput. Commercial versions of the instrument were sold internationally between 2001-2017.
- Sample Rank™ which launched in 2014 and provides fully automated scoring of test samples to improve the efficiency of sample review.
- Coming soon, we’ll be offering a new lab service, SEM / EDS Wear Debris Analysis!
People are our core
At Fluid Life, we have a saying: “We don’t hire you; we adopt you.” As a family owned and operated company, this sense of family extends to all Fluid Life employees. Our culture of innovation underlies the development of Fluid Life’s industry-leading software solutions, new products and testing methods. These have helped position Fluid Life as a market leader.
We recognize that having a sense of connection and belonging makes a big difference. Fluid Life is passionate about extending that approach beyond our walls by being a part of the broader community. We proudly sponsor several charities and events every year, making a difference in each of the communities we work in.
To all our employees, suppliers, and customers, thanks for being a part of our family! Join us in celebrating 40 years of innovation.