GREENVILLE, S.C. — Greenville, S.C.-based AMECO recently began an equipment rental operation in Iraq, CEO Gary Bernardez told RER.

AMECO's parent company Fluor has teamed with Amec, a British firm, to try to win reconstruction work based in Baghdad. “We mobilized a start-up fleet there, which we are expanding on a monthly basis,” Bernardez said. “We operate as a local rental firm, working with about 20 different customers.”

Bernardez said the company's rental offerings include heavy-armored vehicles, construction equipment geared toward the power generation business, consumable supply items and portable secure sleeping quarters. Bernardez said AMECO has about 12 to 15 expatriate personnel in Iraq, some third-country people and a local staff that varies between 30 and 50 depending on current requirements, primarily working on a contracted basis. “We use as much local content as possible to not stick out like a sore thumb,” he said. “We often need to bring machines into the green zone and we follow security procedures carefully.” Bernardez said company or contracted personnel has not suffered any injuries or casualties to this point.

“We're taking a risk, looking past the reconstruction period into what we hope will be an eventual peace,” Bernardez added. “If that occurs, they will need to build the infrastructure of the country going forward. We're supporting more than $1 billion of work. We've made a significant investment.”

AMECO is No. 12 on the new RER 100.