Arpi’s Industries, a 60-Year-Old Business Built to Last

WRITTEN BY RENNAY CRAATS | PUBLISHED BY COURTNEY LOVGREN

Alberta was built by hardworking entrepreneurs whose spirit fueled the province’s growth and shaped its future. It is no wonder, then, that Arpad “Arpi” Berdin decided to build his legacy in Calgary. He immigrated from Slovenia in 1954 to escape communist oppression and found work in Alberta’s booming oil patch.

“He was a tool push on the oil rigs, but he didn’t like what he termed the ‘gypsy life’. He wanted to settle down,” says Julie Berdin, Arpi’s daughter and president of Arpi’s Industries.

Arpi became a certified journeyman sheet metal worker in 1961 and set out to make his mark on the city and beyond. He borrowed $1,000 from his in-laws and established Arpi’s Heating Ltd. in 1963, operating out of his and wife Malvina’s home. Arpi’s Heating, with Arpi as the sole technician and Malvina helping with the books and administration, offered heating and air conditioning installation to Calgary clients. As the business grew, Arpi could finally hire some help to share the heavy lifting and accommodate the growing demand. After he landed his first big commercial job in 1966, the company outgrew the garage and moved into its own commercial space in 1969 and moved again in 1971 as he expanded the business’ scope further.

““He was a tool push on the oil rigs, but he didn’t like what he termed the ‘gypsy life’. He wanted to settle down,” says Julie Berdin, Arpi’s daughter and president of Arpi’s Industries.

The company started offering sheet metal installations and quickly earned the respect of custom home builders. From there he expanded into small commercial work, then larger commercial work until it became what it is today: one of the largest combined mechanical contractors in Western Canada and one of the top mechanical contracting firms in the country. The name no longer expressed what the company could do, so he rebranded to Arpi’s Industries to show the breadth of its abilities.

During that period of growth came another move to its current location in 1982, and a recent renovation modernized and freshened the space. Arpi’s operates out of a 100,000-square-foot facility on nine acres in the city’s southeast where the various disciplines can service all customers under one roof.

“We try to do as much in-house as we can to control quality and the safety of our employees,” says Julie.

Its 20,000-square-foot sheet metal shop produces ducting for Arpi’s projects and is equipped with $5 million-worth of top-of-the-line machinery including a full coil duct machine. This allows the company to make over 2.5 million pounds of sheet metal product annually. The 7,000-square-foot fabrication shop boasts two five-ton overhead cranes to safely handle large piping and materials, three welding stations and two grooving stations capable of producing 700 weld-groove inches of fabrication per day. There is also a mechanic bay run by a full-time mechanic tasked with maintaining Arpi’s impressive fleet of over 200 vehicles.

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The three primary departments of residential, commercial and commercial service definitely keep Arpi’s inhouse shops, head office, various job sites in the greater Calgary area and the Banker’s Hall office busy. Arpi’s residential team services some of the city’s best-known new home builders, providing their services and innovations with duct work, plumbing, furnace installation, air conditioning and air filtration systems.

Calgary homeowners can also look to Arpi’s to install a new water heater or furnace in their home or invite one of the well-trained HVAC or plumbing professionals in to maintain or service their existing equipment. Residential crews visit about 130 homes each day, keeping clients’ environments healthy and their equipment running well. No matter the need, clients know they will receive great service and quality products. Arpi’s continues to maintain longterm relationships with major suppliers such as Lennox, solidifying themselves as one of the top 25 Lennox dealers in North America.

Arpi’s also seeks out ways to reduce its carbon footprint with its product lines and processes, both at work and onsite, whether that is installing smart thermostats in the office, supporting manufacturers prioritizing environmental innovations or installing heat pumps that optimize a furnace’s heating function so it uses less gas.

“We’ve been advocates for energy efficiency for 60 years, looking for energy savings by lowering utility costs. The future is very exciting with all of the

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“Arpi’s also seeks out ways to reduce its carbon footprint with its product lines and processes, both at work and onsite, whether that is installing smart thermostats in the office, supporting manufacturers prioritizing environmental innovations or installing heat pumps that optimize a furnace’s heating function so it uses less gas.

latest technology, green initiatives and the focus on indoor air quality for a healthy environment,” she says.

On the commercial side, Arpi’s crews tackle large commercial projects and have been part of some of Calgary’s most iconic construction projects including The Bow tower, the new Central Library, National Music Centre and currently the BMO Centre Expansion. As the prime mechanical contractor, the team executes all plumbing, HVAC, refrigeration, building management systems (BMS) and fire protection scopes of work and will deliver the project on time and on budget.

The commercial team manages all mechanical components such as plumbing, heating and ventilation all in house and subcontracts trusted partners to complete such services as insulation, BMS and fire protection. From data rooms to condominium maintenance to recreational and educational buildings, Arpi’s handles the gamut of HVAC/R and plumbing demands in commercial spaces.

The diversity of its offerings and the different client bases have allowed Arpi’s to weather the economic ups and downs over the past 60 years; if new construction or downtown markets soften, the service and residential arms pick up the slack. Arpi would say “a different horse pulls the wagon,” and that has really been key in the company’s longevity.

“The diversity of its offerings and the different client bases have allowed Arpi’s to weather the economic ups and downs over the past 60 years; if new construction or downtown markets soften, the service and residential arms pick up the slack.

This full-service aspect has always been important to the Berdin family. In 1999, Arpi experienced health problems and sold the business to Lennox but after a few years, Lennox wanted to sell the commercial side and focus just on the residential business.

“My father, who was in his 70s at the time, said, ‘if you’re going to do that, let me buy it back.’ He bought the company back in 2004 and here we still are today,” Julie says.

This dedication to the well-being of both the company and staff has been paid back with loyalty. Julie is proud that of her 350 staff, 44 have been with the company for over 20 years and about seven have been with Arpi’s more than 35 years. That is a testament to the positive environment, respect, fairness and a sense of being family that Arpi engrained in the company from its inception.

“I try really hard to be a small company at times because when you get too big you lose your personal relationships with your colleagues and clients,” she says.

No matter how large the company grows, it will continue to provide personal service to clients and support the community that has supported it. Every fall, Arpi’s and Lennox host the ‘Feel the Love’ event: a deserving family or hero is selected through a nomination process, Lennox donates a furnace and the Arpi’s team installs it for the winner for free. On top of supporting community causes like the Ride for Cancer, Habitat for Humanity and minor sports, Arpi’s is also actively involved in the industry, sitting on boards such as the MCA, developing curriculum and apprenticeships through SAIT, innovating with processes and products to better serve their clients, mandating indentured apprenticeships for all applicable tradespersons, encouraging gold seal certification among many of their staff and utilizing industry specific courses through the CCA and partners.

Whether clients need a one-hour maintenance visit at home or a three-year commitment to manage a new commercial build, they know the award-winning teams at Arpi’s will deliver. Even after 60 years, Arpi’s Industries is just getting started.

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6815 - 40th Street S.E.

Calgary, Alberta T2C 2W7

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Email: arpiscal@arpis.com www.arpis.com