About Us
About Furnace Improvements Services
Founded in 1996 in Sugar Land, Texas, FIS is a specialized engineering firm focused exclusively on fired heaters, reformers, boilers, waste heat recovery systems, and HRSGs. We help refiners and petrochemical operators get more capacity, better efficiency, and lower emissions from the equipment they already own — and when a new heater is needed, we design and deliver it turnkey.
With offices in Sugar Land, TX and Noida, India, our global team works around the clock to support clients across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Over nearly three decades, we've completed 500+ engineering projects for operators including Valero, Phillips 66, Citgo, Marathon, IOCL, and Total Energies.
What We Believe
Do It Once, Do It Right
We don't cut corners on analysis or design. Every recommendation is backed by rigorous thermal modeling and, where needed, CFD simulation — so the solution works the first time and keeps working for years.
Transparency and Honesty
Our reputation is built on repeat clients. If a revamp isn't the right answer, we'll say so. If a new heater makes more sense, we'll tell you. Our clients trust us because we give them straight assessments, not just the project we'd like to sell.
Practical Over Theoretical
We're operators' engineers. We design for real-world constraints — existing plot space, turnaround windows, pressure drop limits, and budget — not idealized conditions. The best solution is the one that actually gets built.
Relentless on Schedule
With engineering teams in Texas and India, we operate around the clock. Turnaround windows don't wait, and neither do we. We've built our entire workflow around delivering on time against aggressive refinery schedules.
What We Do
Revamping Fired Heaters — Our core business since 1996. We increase capacity, improve efficiency, reduce emissions, and extend run lengths on existing heaters — typically at a fraction of the cost and downtime of replacement.
New Fired Heaters (Turnkey) — Since 2002, we've designed and delivered new fired heaters on a turnkey basis, incorporating our patented technologies as standard.
Convection Section Upgrades — Targeted upgrades to recover waste heat, lower stack temperatures, and boost overall thermal efficiency.
Steam Methane Reformers — Engineering studies, revamps, and performance optimization for SMR heaters in hydrogen and syngas plants.
Additional Thermal Equipment — In addition to Fired Heaters, we have revamped and supplied Steam Methane Reformers (SMRs), CO Boilers, Waste Heat Recovery Units (WHRUs), and HRSGs
CFD Modeling — We use computational fluid dynamics as a standard design tool — not a premium add-on — to validate burner selection, flame patterns, and heat distribution before anything is built.
Training — API 560 fired heater courses, SMR training, and operator training programs to help your team get the most from your equipment.
Our Modern Approach
We solved the problem most vendors ignore. Most fired heaters are still designed using correlations from the 1940s — developed for short-flame premix burners that no longer exist. Today's ultra-low NOx burners produce flames up to four times longer, fundamentally changing heat release patterns inside the firebox. Yet the industry's standard design methods haven't caught up. As a result, many heaters built to API 560 standards struggle with performance and reliability issues.
Furnace Improvements Services (FIS) addresses these challenges head-on. We align our heater designs with modern burner technology to deliver better performance, efficiency, and emissions control. Our patented inclined firing system is specifically engineered for ULNBs. It optimizes firebox geometry to accommodate longer flames and promotes uniform heat distribution throughout the radiant section. We also perform Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling as part of our standard design process to ensure optimal burner selection and performance. All FIS-supplied heaters include these technology enhancements—at no additional cost. You don’t just get a heater; you get a modern, performance-optimized system.
What Sets FIS Apart
Experience – For over 30 years, our business has been dedicated to fired heaters. This experience informs every project we undertake, particularly new heater designs, where we anticipate and prevent common failure modes and operational issues.
Technical capability – We combine practical, field-tested expertise with proprietary heater models and advanced analysis tools such as CFD and simulation software to deliver the best heater designs.
Innovation – Solving the toughest heater challenges often requires thinking beyond conventional approaches. Our four patents reflect a commitment to testing and implementing new ideas and technologies.
Reputation- Our reputation is built on delivering results. This is demonstrated through our extensive reference list, repeat clients, and long-standing industry relationships.
Let's Talk About Your Heater
Whether you're troubleshooting a performance issue, planning a capacity increase, or evaluating a new heater, we'd welcome the chance to discuss your project. Reach out and we'll provide a preliminary assessment.