Nov Logo PNG
Well drilling requires equipment that can withstand high pressure, extreme temperatures, and constant loads in challenging conditions. These systems and components operate on offshore platforms and onshore projects, ensuring stable resource extraction and production. The NOV logo represents a company that develops and supplies drilling, production, and maintenance equipment for the oil and gas industry.
NOV Inc.’s history begins in 1862, when the National Supply Company was founded in Toledo, Ohio. The company produced equipment for Pennsylvania’s first oil wells. In the 1920s, production expanded as oil extraction grew in Texas and California.
At the same time, the Oilwell Cable Tool Company was established in Pennsylvania. Later, it became known as National Oilwell. The company specialized in rotary drilling rigs, which gradually replaced cable tool drilling. In 1957, it merged with U.S. Supply.
In the 1990s, National Oilwell began acquiring drilling system manufacturers. In 1996, the company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker NOI. In 2005, it acquired Varco International for $ 1.8 billion. As a result, National Oilwell Varco was created and became a leader in global oilfield engineering.
In 2007, the company purchased Grant Prideco for $ 7.8 billion. This made it the largest drill pipe producer. The economic crises of 2008 and 2014 led to large-scale layoffs and business restructuring.
In 2017, the company changed its name to NOV Inc. The new name reflected its shift toward simplifying its structure and renewing its technology. Since 2018, NOV has been investing in automation, digitalization, and equipment for wind and geothermal energy.
The company remains one of the world’s largest manufacturers of oil and gas equipment. It provides comprehensive drilling solutions and develops projects in clean energy and carbon-reduction technologies.
Meaning and History
What is NOV?
An American engineering corporation headquartered in Houston, specializing in technologies and equipment for the oil and gas industry. The company operates hundreds of facilities worldwide and covers every stage from drilling to well maintenance. Its structure includes the divisions Wellbore Technologies, Completion & Production Solutions, and Rig Technologies, which produce drilling systems, pumps, generators, pipes, and hydraulic fracturing equipment. The brands Mission, Sandmaster, Vortex, and Magnum represent the products. The company manufactures drilling and offshore platforms, cranes, winches, and renewable energy equipment.
2005 – 2021
National Oilwell Varco was formed in 2005 through the merger of 2 oilfield equipment manufacturers. The combined name retained the names National Oilwell and Varco. The first letters of the 3 words formed the abbreviation NOV, which became the stock ticker and the basis for the corporate logo, featuring a red sphere in place of the “O.”
The oldest chapter in the group’s history dates back to Oilwell Supply Company. John Eaton and Luther Atwood founded it in 1862 to supply the emerging oil industry with pumps, derricks, winches, and spare parts. National Supply Company, operating in the same field, was established 31 years later, in 1893. NOV traces its industrial heritage to Oilwell Supply.
In 1930, United States Steel took control of Oilwell Supply, and it became known as USS Oilwell. National Supply joined Armco Steel in 1958. The oil market downturn of the 1980s prompted the owners to merge their divisions. National Oilwell was formed in 1987. The first part of the name came from National Supply, while the second preserved the Oilwell Supply name and its reference to oil wells.
Varco’s history began in 1908 with Abegg and Reinhold Company, founded by Walter Abegg and Baldwin Reinhold. Edgar Vuilleumiere joined them in 1915. The abbreviation VARCO was formed from Vuilleumiere, Abegg, and Reinhold Company. In 1973, the business became Varco International. The brand became known for drill pipe handling equipment, power tongs, top drive systems, and integrated drilling rig systems.
National-Oilwell, Inc. and Varco International, Inc. completed their merger on March 11, 2005. The new corporation was named National Oilwell Varco, Inc., connecting it to the history and engineering developments of both companies. Its shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NOV on March 14.
In the logo used from 2005 to 2021, large “NOV” lettering appeared above the full name. Dark gray “N” and “V” letters flanked a red circle that replaced the “O.” Below, “NATIONAL” was set in red uppercase letters, with “OILWELL VARCO” on the next line. The abbreviation shortened the company name, while the text below explained its origins.
The red sphere was nearly the same height as the letters and partially overlapped them. A curved white stroke crossed it diagonally from bottom to top. It suggested a globe with an orbital band, referring to the company’s international reach. The circle served as both the letter “O” and an image within the name. Its overlap with the neighboring letters brought the 3 parts together in a tightly arranged design.
The “N” and “V” used heavy sans-serif lettering with rectangular strokes and diagonal inner cuts. The left side of the “V” was vertical, while the right side slanted. The letter’s shape framed the sphere on the right. The full name below was set in a dense, heavy typeface. Its stroke weight complemented the large “NOV” lettering and suited applications on industrial equipment, drilling rigs, workwear, and signs.
After the merger, internal teams and outside consultants further developed the visual identity. Westfall Marketing Group had worked with National-Oilwell and continued working for the combined corporation. The agency produced trade show displays, printed materials, technical documentation, signage, photography, and video. Over the course of the collaboration, the blue-and-orange combination gave way to red, gray, and black, and later to red, gray, and white.
Siegel+Gale subsequently studied how customers, investors, and employees perceived NOV. After numerous acquisitions and mergers, divisions presented the company in different ways. The agency aligned the visual identity and communication guidelines around the phrase “We power the industry that powers the world.” The corporate principles were named “Global Family,” “Purposeful Innovation,” and “Service Above All.” They referred to a united international team, purpose-driven development, and a priority on service. The project covered events, employee materials, and divisional communications. The core NOV emblem with the red sphere was retained.
2021 – today
In 2021, National Oilwell Varco changed its name to NOV Inc. The renaming reflected the expansion of its energy business. The company continued to manufacture oil and gas equipment while applying its accumulated expertise to wind energy, geothermal energy, biogas production, carbon capture, and other low-carbon fields. The historic name referred to oil wells, although its engineering, manufacturing, and project development work already extended beyond traditional extraction.
The company announced the upcoming name change on December 21, 2020. Chairman and CEO Clay Williams linked it to the expansion of the company’s energy mission. The legal name became NOV Inc. on January 1, 2021. The stock ticker NOV remained unchanged. The abbreviation used since the 2005 merger became the basis for the full corporate name.
The international agency Lippincott participated in the brand and logo update. The main revision concerned the length of the wordmark. The 2 lines reading “NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO” beneath the emblem were removed, and the remaining “NOV” was enlarged. The 3 letters now represented the entire company and its businesses as its full commercial name.
The design retained its previous construction. Gray “N” and “V” letters sit on either side of a red circle in place of the “O.” The sphere partially overlaps the inner sections of the letters, joining them in a tightly arranged horizontal block. A curved white band crosses the circle, suggesting a globe with an orbital arc. The red “O” serves as both a letter in the name and an image within the logo.
Removing the expanded name reduced the logo’s height and made it more elongated. The existing colors maintained a connection to the historic brand after the name change. In addition to the primary red, gray, and white version, the team provided single-color versions for equipment and technical applications.
