San Francisco engineering firm relocates HQ to St. Petersburg

Engineered Fluids, which specializes in creating cooling fluid systems for customers ranging from crypto-currency miners to electric vehicle manufacturers, has uprooted its San Francisco headquarters to St. Petersburg. 

“Seven years ago, when I ran a different company in the region [Star2Star Communications], St. Pete didn’t feel like a true downtown but now, what a transformation we’ve seen. When we bring people down here, they are surprised about how vibrant it is,” said Gary Testa, President and CEO of Engineered Fluids, who’s founded nine companies throughout his career. 

Testa made the move to St. Petersburg last year before relocating his company and has been in stealth mode in working with J.P. DuBuque, President and CEO of the St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation, helping Testa connect with Melissa Rutland of Rutland Commercial Florida Property Group, who found a space for Engineered Fluids in the Tyrone area at 2801 Anvil St. N.

Engineered Fluids’ 18,000-square-foot industrial St. Pete facility includes its systems engineering and research and development lab, some light manufacturing of tanks and cooling systems is also done there. Meanwhile, it will continue to manufacture its proprietary dielectric cooling fluids at Engineered Fluids’ chemical manufacturing facility in Tyler, Texas.

Engineered Fluids’ cooled systems aim to be the solution for thermal requirements for high-performance semiconductors, servers and crypto-mining devices. Its non-conductive biodegradable coolants help companies significantly lower their operating costs, improve performance and increase the reliability of their electrical devices.

Today, about 50% of Engineered Fluids revenue is derived from working with global crypto-based companies. Locally, the company is also interested in working with the marine-based manufacturers that produce aluminum and steel, as it has experience in composite materials, as well as large energy companies. 

“The level of acceptance in new green technologies and innovation also attracted us here,” Testa noted. 

The EDC has helped bridge connections and potential partnerships by arranging meetings between Testa and Danielle Ruiz at Duke Energy for energy insights, and representatives of PTech, the University of South Florida, the St. Petersburg College and CareerSource for tapping into a workforce development pipeline.

Currently, there are 14 St. Petersburg-based employees, and Testa said he plans on hiring 10 to 20 new employees for electrical, mechanical and sales engineering positions. 

Those interested in connecting with Testa can reach out to Engineered Fluids or find him at the Mining Disrupt Conference in Miami, which will be held in late July.