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FEBRUARY 2015
TECH TAKEOVER
THE INTERNET OF THINGS How technology is creating a smarter world
Management Best Practices Top 10 Canadian Brands
EDITOR’S LETTER
LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR With 2015 well underway, consumers and businesses alike can already see which trends are emerging and which brands are at the front of the line. The Internet of Things, or IoT, is a worldwide phenomenon that is shaping the future on a daily basis. Your watch will monitor your health; your phone will make you coffee; a security camera will not only alert you to the presence of someone in your home or office, but also tell you who it is. Samsung alone plans to invest more than $100 million in the developer community, and researchers predict that the global market for IoT may cross $7 trillion by 2020. The world is getting smarter: Is your business keeping up? While technology is certainly important for business success, don’t let it overshadow the significance of your staff. In this month’s Leadership feature, we offer top tips for effective people management: Ensuring employee satisfaction is a must-have skill for all bosses, no matter how well you put together a PowerPoint presentation. Finally, February’s Top 10 feature focuses on Canadian brands that stood out as the “best-of-the-best” once 2014 came to an end. From “Best Workplace” by size to “Most Sustainable Company” by industry, we reveal 10 companies that stood out among the crowd and are certain to do so again in 2015. E NJOY TH E I S S U E !
Jennifer White
Director of Content jennifer.white@wdmgroup.com
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CO CN OTNETN ETNST S FEATURES
12 Technology 6 Leadership
Top Tips for Effective People Management
Internet of Things Takes Big Steps to Create a Smarter World
20 Top 10
130 NAMCOR
Influential Brands
COMPANY PROFILES CONSTRUCTION
MINING GLOBAL
26 Seko Construction
76 South East Construction
36 PPP Canada
86 Small Mine Development
42 Southeast Stoney Trail
FOOD AND DRINK
50 Paulsan Construction 58 Adler Insulation & Firestopping 66 Surespan
4 February 2015
94 ETG Commodities
HEALTHCARE 102 Z-SC1 Biomedical
26 Seko Construction
50 Paulsan Construction
86
Small Mine Development
94
ETG Commodities
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LEADERSHIP
TOP TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE PEOPLE
MANAGEMENT Balancing the books, creating innovative ideas and implementing strategic plans are all essential components for business success— but don’t forget about the people. Ensuring employee satisfaction is a must-have skill for all managers. W R I T T E N B Y: M E L I S S A M A R T I N E Z 6
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LEADERSHIP MANAGING A TEAM can be a challenge: Each member has an individual working style, personality and management needs. Below are top tips for effectively managing employees and ensuring goals are met. 1. KNOW YOUR team. It is important to evaluate each individual team member’s strengths and weaknesses to plan accordingly. This is done easily when managers interact personally with their team members. Maintaining a friendly atmosphere will boost employee initiative and create an environment in which employees feel comfortable communicating with their managers. 2. BE VISIBLE. Though it may be easier to take refuge in your office to focus on your impending pile of paperwork, isolation from the team may reduce employee motivation to complete their tasks in a timely manner. It can also make a manager appear uninterested, disengaged and unapproachable. 3. REWARD EXCEPTIONAL performance. Contrary to popular 8
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Employee personalities, working styl ensure these differences do not inhib
belief, salary isn’t always a primary motivator for job performance. Recognition is much more effective and appreciated, especially when team morale runs low. If you are in a position of authority, try to regularly recognize exceptional job performance—this can give employees an example of what to strive for when completing their own tasks, and a reason to work even harder.
les and management needs will differ – it’s a manager’s job to bit the success of the team
4. COACH, NOT criticize. As a manager, it is important to understand the difference between effective coaching and criticizing. Correcting behavior may be difficult, but if treated as a productive conversation focusing on specific ways to improve work production, as opposed to a mere criticism of performance, employees are more likely to improve rather than become frustrated and potentially lose confidence in their abilities.
5. CREATE A sense of purpose. As we mentioned earlier, salary isn’t always a motivator for job performance. As a manager, it is your responsibility to share your goals and vision with your team. When a team recognizes that they are a significant factor in a business’s success, they are more inclined to commit to their position with a loyal and protective mentality.
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LEADERSHIP
Managers should avoid isolation, despite workload. Be present, be available and be engaged.
TOP TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE PEOPLE MANAGEMENT
6. LISTEN EFFECTIVELY. Making time for your employees shows that you are engaged in their work experience, and, more importantly, that their voice matters. Provide your employees with time to discuss their concerns, confide with you on a particular issue, or simply let off steam. This will show your team that their concerns will be heard and can drastically improve the workplace environment, not to mention employee morale. 7. TRUST INDIVIDUAL abilities. As a manager, it is common to have difficulty when delegating complex projects or tasks; however, if an employee feels empowered and trusted to succeed, they will most likely perform to a higher standard. If an employee does not feel confident in their abilities due to a perceived lack of confidence from their manager, they may underperform due to the added pressure. 8. RESOLVE CONFLICTS fairly. Though your manager-employee relationship is important, so are your employee’s relationships with each other. Each individual brings their own
personality to a workplace, which may, at times, clash with coworkers. As a manager, your job is to effectively mediate conflict between team members for the continued growth of the company, the team and the individuals involved. A tense work environment is not conducive to a productive, successful workforce. 9. BE AN example. Employees often look to their managers in times of uncertainty, so it is important to set a good example of expectations. When your job performance is exceptional, and your motivation and determination are transparent, it will empower your employees to develop the same mentality. 10. BE COMPASSIONATE. As a person of authority, managers have the resources to show employees that their well being is a top priority, both to you and the other executives at the company. When unfortunate life-situations occur, it is important to be understanding and sympathetic, recognizing everyone’s need for support at times. Showing you are there for your team will build their trust in you. 11
TECHNOLOGY
INTERNET OF THINGS TAKES BIG STEPS TO CREATE A SMARTER WORLD W R I T T E N B Y: P O O J A T H A K K A R E D I T E D B Y: L I N D S E Y R YA N
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As Internet connectivity expands, so do everyday devices.
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TECHNOLOGY IN OUR WORLD today we rely on Internet connectivity in our smartphones or tablets to get through our daily activities. We don’t wait in line at Starbucks without checking our emails; head home from the office before checking the traffic app; or even leave for the airport without checking in on our phones. It’s become something that we have accepted as the norm. But what if Internet connectivity could go beyond our mobile devices and extend into any object that we use in our lives? The Internet of Things (IoT) is making this possible by changing the way we will use the Internet by allowing almost any device to have Internet capabilities. Also referred to as M2M, which stands for Machine to Machine, Machine to Man, Man to Machine, or Machine to Mobile, the Internet of Things cleverly connects humans, devices, and systems by enabling almost any object—from household appliances to cars to industrial machines—to communicate with each other, taking human instruction out of the equation. Since 1969, Internet capability has evolved drastically from mainframe computers to personal computers 14
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and now to mobile devices. The 1990s saw the Internet wave connect 1 billion users and by 2010, the number of computers on the Internet had surpassed the number of people on earth. The mobile wave connected another 2 billion in 2000s. The IoT has the potential to connect 10 times as many (28 billion) “things” to the Internet by 2020. So how does IoT work? When embedded with chips and sensors,
With the IoT, devices can come together to form a smart home where your household appliances will never be seen the same way internet-enabled objects can communicate with humans and allow us to control these devices anytime and anywhere to enjoy their intelligent services. Basically, any device with an on and off switch can connect to the Internet (and/or to each other), making the idea of a “Smart Planet� a dream come true. Once IoT is in full effect, consumers will have a variety of devices they can adopt to
enhance their home, car, health and environment. Smart Homes With Internet of Things, devices can come together to form a smart home where your household appliances will never be seen the same way. Your smart fridge becomes your personal sous-chef as it creates recipes for you based on the ingredients inside. It could interact 15
TECHNOLOGY
The Internet of Things (IoT) is making this possible by changing the way we will use the Internet by allowing almost any device to have Internet capabilities with a grocery store to reorder food while also having the ability to monitor your diet, and even inform its manufacturer when maintenance is needed. And even before you make it to the kitchen, your smart alarm clock will notify the coffee maker to start brewing coffee when you wake up in the morning. Switches and lights in your house will adjust depending on the time of day and location of the residents of the house. A smart security camera at the front door can send a picture to your smart TV and show you who’s ringing your doorbell and with “Belty,” the smart belt that adjusts itself and tracks the size of your stomach, even getting 16
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dressed will be revolutionized! Smart Cities The IoT has the potential to collect a wealth of new data and generate real-time readouts of what’s working and what’s not. Tracking the flow of vehicles, utilities, and people can be essential to maximizing productivity. There are several planned or ongoing large-scale installations of the IoT to create better cities and systems. For example, Songdo, South Korea, is the first of its kind to be a fully equipped and wired smart city. Santander, Spain is currently underway to become another smart city by offering city applications
TRENDS SHAPING MOBILE COMMERCE IN CANADA
on mobile devices. With 180,000 inhabitants, 18,000 of them have downloaded city applications on their smartphones to enable services like parking search, environmental monitoring, digital city agenda and many others. Health and Fitness The Health care industry will experience changes as well once IoT is adopted. The mismanagement of medication costs the healthcare system billions of dollars per year but IoT will enable pill bottles to remind us when we need to take a pill, let our doctor know if a dose is missed, and even notify the pharmacy if a refill is needed. Additionally, pharmacy shelves will place purchasing orders
when stock is low, overall saving time and money in the industry. To improve our fitness routines, wearable technology, such as headsets and watches, will serve as a personal coach that can monitor your heart rate and track your workout. Your smart clothing will even detect movement, speed, breathing and location with the GPS that is woven into the fabric. With IoT, your daily workout will certainly push the limits! Environmental monitoring Environmental monitoring applications of the IoT will utilize sensors to assist in environmental protection by monitoring air or water quality, atmospheric or soil conditions, and can even monitor the movements
Fitbit in push to lead the wearable tech boom
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TECHNOLOGY
Federal Trade Commission’s chairwoman, Edith Ramirez
of wildlife and their habitats. Other applications like earthquake or tsunami early-warning systems can also be used by emergency services to provide more timely and effective aid. Drawbacks of IoT According to a study conducted by Hewlett-Packard in August 2014, nearly 70 percent of all IoT devices are susceptible to being hacked or compromised. The company examined 10 smart devices including thermostats, webcams, and smart TVs and found that each had about 25 potential vulnerabilities. Additionally, in January 2014, 18
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security service provider, Proofpoint, reported that a spam email cyber attack had sent 750,000 virus emails from over 100,000 household appliances including televisions, home network routers, media centers and at least one refrigerator. At the International CES 2015, the Federal Trade Commission’s chairwoman, Edith Ramirez, highlighted several IoT concerns including cybersecurity threats and the ability of sensors to collect sensitive information about consumers. This data can include personal schedules, shopping habits, medication activity and even location of the user at any
F E AT U R E A R T I C L E S H O R T E N E D H E A D L I N E
given time. As more and more devices become connected to the internet in this new IT wave, it seems apparent that a new wave of security will also have to occur. Exciting Times Ahead There is no doubt that the Internet of Things has caught the eye of many industry leaders who are betting big on its success and are excited to get involved. According to research firm IDC, the global market for Internet of Things capable devices could cross $7 trillion by 2020 and industry leaders, including consumer electronics giant,
Samsung, are eager to play a role in the technological advancement. Samsung reports that they plan to invest more than $100 million this year in the developer community through accelerator programs worldwide. The company also has the intention to equip 90 percent of all its devices with IoT capabilities by 2017. As the adoption of the Internet of Things progresses, it is clear that the world we live in will have to adapt but if implemented correctly, the IoT will offer tremendous benefits to our daily lives, in ways we’ve never dreamt!
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TOP 10
TOP10 Influential Brands Regardless of industry, the following brands were at the forefront of Canadian business in 2014, and are certain to remain at the top in 2015. Written by: Mana Tulberg
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TOP 10 FROM THE FALLEN oil prices to
the recent rise in Canadian stock to the large acquisitions such as Repsol’s plan to purchase Talisman and Burger King’s merger with Tim Hortons, 2014 was an interesting year for business in Canada. With 2015 well underway, we would like to shine a spotlight on 10 noteworthy brands that that are sure to continue leading the way for the future of Canadian business:
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Best Workplace (Large and Multinational):
Great Place to Work Institute Canada has elected Google Inc. as the best workplace for a large
Toronto 22
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company in Canada. Their list recognized 50 large and multinational companies with more than 1,000 employees working in Canada or worldwide. The metrics used by Great Place to Work Institute consisted of assessing a company’s Trust Index employee survey, workplace cultural assessment process, Trust Audit and Trust Appraisal.
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Best Workplace (Medium):
The list of best medium workplaces in Canada, published by Great Place to Work Institute, consists of 50 companies with 50-999 employees working in
TOP 10: INFLUENTIAL BRANDS
Canada. With 106 employees, the software company 360 Incentives ranked number one as the best medium workplace in Canada.
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Best People Practice:
For attracting and retaining Aboriginal talent, TD Bank Group was named the company with the best people practice in Canada. Note: For the next four categories, Corporate Knight measured variables such as carbon emission, energy consumption, use of water, non-recycled waste produced, diversity, executive compensation linked to clean capitalism-themed performance and CEO pay expressed as multiple compared to average worker.
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Most Sustainable Company (Energy Industry):
Joyce F. Carter, FCA, CEO Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Husky Energy ranked number one as 2014’s best performing company in the energy industry in Canada.
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Most Sustainable Company (Financial Industry):
The member-owned financial co-operative, Vancouver City Savings Credit Union, was named 2014’s most sustainable company in the financial industry.
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Best Performing Company (Industrial Sector):
The aerospace and transportation company, Bombardier, ranked number one as the 2014’s best performing company in the industrial sector in Canada.
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Best Performing Company (Material Industry):
The best performing company in the industrial sector, Teck Resources—a metals and mining company—accepted the honor as the best performing company in the material industry in 2014.
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TOP 10
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Most Responsible Corporate Leader in Canada:
Corporate Knights’ list of Future 40 Responsible Leaders in Canada
that each company on the list has a) proven itself viable, b) found a stable and scalable group of customers and c) sustained growth for longer than many companies even exist. And in almost every case, they have a
consists of companies that disclose environmental, social and governance data. Greater Toronto Airports Authority ranked number one on 2014’s list of most responsible leaders in Canada—and we’re sure they will remain at the top of the list.
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Fastest Growing Company in Canada:
The PROFIT 500 evaluates businesses in all sectors on fiveyear revenue growth, meaning 24
February 2015
In support of World Pride Day in 2014, TD Bank Group decorated a branch in Toronto. This may be one reason the company was considered to have the best people practice in Canada. (Photo credit: mikecphoto / Shutterstock.com)
TOP 10: INFLUENTIAL BRANDS
Tim Hortons was recognized as the Best Place to Work in Canada in 2014. Will the company keep the title in 2015? (Photo credit: Niloo / Shutterstock.com)
strategy to keep the momentum going. With a revenue growth of 7,308 percent, FourQuest Energy Inc. was placed at the top of the 2014’s fastest growing companies in Canada and shows no signs of slowing down in 2015.
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Best Brand in Canada:
Based on a survey performed by Reputation Institute, Tim Hortons was the top Canadian brand in 2014. The poll seeks opinions on aspects of a company’s reputation ranging from product quality to governance, citizenship and workplace culture, among others. Will they maintain the title this year?
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Seko Construction Ltd.
The top quality contractor thr Western Canada
The design-build general contractor takes pride in providin services that help organizations go from good to great Written by: Stephanie C. Ocano
Produced by: Richard Gentile
roughout
ng design and construction
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C O M PA N Y N A M E
Techmation - Reception
W
ith a reputation as a top contractor in Western Canada, Seko Construction is a design-build general contractor that specializes in commercial, industrial and recreational facility construction. Originated from pre-engineered steel building business The Permasteel Group in 1953, Seko 28
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Construction made a name for itself as a contractor of choice in the industry rather quickly. “As we grew, we were approached by our clients to provide additional solutions within the projects we were completing currently,” said James Savage, VP of Business Development, during a recent interview. “We naturally saw this as
SECTOR
an opportunity to offer these solutions to other prospective clients and therefore expanded our services and capabilities into the general contracting marketplace.” “Today, as we have been for some time, we have extensive experience in building with conventional steel, pre-engineered steel, structural concrete, wood frame, and basically all major types of construction,” Savage added. To add to its unique design-building process,
James Savage
w w w. s e k o c o n s t r u c t i o n . c o m
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Seko Construction is a design-build general contractor and proud partner
S T I PU L AT E D PR I C E CO NS T RU C T I O N
of the Permasteel Group of Companies. We understand that time, budget, attention to detail, and open collaboration are important to our
CO N V E N T I O N A L B I D T E N D E R
clients. Our philosophy is to include our client’s team from the onset of the development process, educate and advise them about the construction
CO NS T RU C T I O N M A N AG E M E N T S E RV I C ES
process as it applies to their ideas, and ensure that the building created reflects their unique vision and company personality, while meeting their expectations, both financially and in terms of growth.
sekoconstruction.com | permasteel.com
COM M E RC I A L R E N OVAT I O NS
S E K O C O N S T R U C T I O N LT D . Seko Construction recently realigned the brand and has partnered with Percon Building Systems, XPS Contracting and The Permasteel Group to operate under one owner. With all companies now operating as Seko Construction, the company is bringing design, construction and project management professionals into one team that will help clients efficiently accomplish design-build goals on time and on budget. + Establishing Safety Parameters Safety is a primary priority at Seko Construction, and the company has taken extensive measures to be
CONSTRUCTION
certified in all aspects. “We’ve built or are currently building for a number of companies such as Suncor, Harvest Energy and Keyera, and many of these projects are on strict safety protocol plant sites,” said Savage. “We’ve proven throughout work and safety records with these companies that we’re a contractor that prioritizes safety within the office and also out in the field.” Seko Construction’s approach to safety is through layers. The company has developed its own safety program which addresses not only specific safety protocols but is also tailored for specific clients.
SUPPLIER PROFILE
SEKO
PERMASTEEL
Permasteel is dedicated to excellence in the design and constructionof buildings. We are recognized for our strong customer service ethic, cost efficiency, innovation and the high standard of our low-rise construction expertise. To add to our unique design-build process, Seko Construction has recently acquired its partners, Percon Building Systems – Vancouver; XPS Contracting – Calgary; and The Permasteel Group – Vancouver to operate under one owner. Adding to our pre-engineered expertise, we still work closely with our sister company Permasteel – a trusted expert in pre-engineered metal buildings since 1953. Website: www.sekoconstruction.com
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S E K O C O N S T R U C T I O N LT D . “We have a committed full-time safety manager, Stacey Leclaire, who is based out of our Edmonton office, and she routinely meets with our Vancouver and Calgary safety officers,” explained Savage. “Our implemented safety procedures are regularly reviewed by our president, Stephen Elliott, who takes an active interest in reviewing these procedures to ensure a successful safety system.” A Driven and Committed Work
Exceptional experience. Superior skill.
ProjECt ManagEMEnt ELECtriCaL SubContraCtS gEnEraL SErviCE & MaintEnanCE DESign/buiLD ProjECtS
For over 25 years, Crestview Electric Ltd. has established itself as a respected commercial, industrial, service, and maintenance contractor in the Calgary and Alberta construction field.
infrarED thErMaL SCanS PowEr anaLYZing StruCturED CabLing tELECoMMuniCationS SECuritY firE aLarM
24/7 Service: 403.279.6661 | www.crestviewelectric.com
Force With a staff distributed amongst five offices from Calgary to Vancouver, Seko Construction pays careful attention to ensure that every employee is trained properly and feels like a part of the team. “We have a very much decentralized structure within our Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton offices,” said Savage. “It basically means [these offices] manage their own work force. With that being said, with substantial resources
CONSTRUCTION
throughout our five offices we can match the right resources and work force to the right project no matter where it is in Western Canada. That’s why our geographic footprint is so important to us, and that’s why “we can do that”. “We’re very thorough in our hiring process to start with, and through a number of assessments from simple identification of past experience to more complex personality profiling, we ensure we’re matching the right people to the right opportunities. We value our people immensely and treat them accordingly,” continued Savage. “Our corporate culture within the company is an important factor to our client relations which we value. So in order for us to succeed, we need to ensure we are providing our staff with the proper resources to do so, whether it’s enabling our junior positions to achieve a desired carpentry trade ticket or experience, continue product and software training for our project management and coordination teams, or ongoing leadership training at the executive level. We are complete supporters of our staff and their desires to
succeed.” State-of-the-Art Technology At Seko Construction, allowing clients to relate to their future building space and site plan layout is vital, as it allows owners become comfortable with their future investment. “We employ a variety of programs and mediums within our resources. Early on in our sales and proposal processes we employ programs such as Revit, Tekla, AutoCAD, and also SketchUp to provide our clients with the ability to physically view and grasp the overall scope of the project and the details that relate to the future building space,” explained Savage. “Something we also feel is important is matching the technology to our clients and also the market sector. Our turnaround times on our visuals and proposals are critical, and in some cases there isn’t a need for employing a program such as Tekla if a less advanced technology will deliver exactly what is needed.”
Top 5 Construction Projects w w w. s e k o c o n s t r u c t i o n . c o m
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S E K O C O N S T R U C T I O N LT D . When asked which projects Seko Construction was most proud of, Savage listed the following five: • Techmation Electric & Controls Ltd. • Cervus Agro / John Deere • Toad & Turtle Pubhouse & Grille • Chemco Electrical Contractors • Harvest Energy Each project in itself was customized to the clients’ list of requirements. “In the case of Techmation, we created a 35,000 sq. ft. head office in Alberta for them. This development needed to be an extension of their business mindset and corporate values and when you walk through the front door, its impressive,” said Savage. “What’s also impressive is quite frankly Techmation’s safety record. They’ve gone 4,770 consecutive days without an incident are recognized as Canada’s Safest Employer 2014 Gold Winner. 2014, and in the Top 50 Best Managed Companies in Canada. Working together as a team with Techmation created a facility that stands alone, from the three storey atrium, employee amenity roof-top patio, and exceptional 34
February 2015
level of finishing both to the interior and exterior of the facility. Our relationship with Techmation also enables us to tour future and current clients through the facility and speak with Techmation to discuss the facility and construction process with Seko.” The Cervus Agro project was 90,000 total sq. ft. of dealership showrooms, service and machinery storage. “The scale of the building really matches the scale of the equipment, whether it is the 40 foot wide aircraft hangar-style doors, numerous overhead cranes for heavy equipment maintenance,” said Savage. “When looking at the Toad ‘n’ Turtle Pubhouse & Grill, it’s the total opposite from the showroom dealership. It’s a twostory English-style pub which we recently completed in Calgary,” said Savage. “It’s got a rooftop patio, in-house meat smoker and extensive commercial kitchen. It differs greatly from a manufacturing project.” What’s in Store for the Future? “The year 2015 is going to be
CONSTRUCTION
another exciting year for us at Seko,” said Savage. “We have recently expanded Seko Construction’s presence in both Alberta and British Columbia. With the emerging LNG market on the north coast of British Columbia we feel that our Terrace operation will be well positioned to provide our unique construction solutions within this geographic area and market sector. In southern Alberta we are in the process of opening our Lethbridge office as well. Staff for this office are long-term Lethbridge area residents and we are excited about bringing our service, knowledge, and expertise to the Lethbridge and area marketplace. We’ll continue to focus on design-building general contracting in Western Canada in commercial and industrial areas, and with our new locations and additional resources, we’re expecting serious continuous success.” “But with that being said,” he continued, “our heads aren’t in the sand. Today’s economic climate, in Alberta specifically, will definitely come into play. Therefore we plan on expanding our already successful position in the senior and assisted living facility construction market, along with possible future public tender opportunities as well.”
Company Information INDUSTRY
Sector HEADQUARTERS
Calgary, Alberta, Canada FOUNDED
1953 EMPLOYEES
70
w w w. s e k o c o n s t r u c t i o n . c o m
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PPP Canada
P3 Knowledge, Leadership and Expertise Submitted by: Lisa Mitchell Director, Strategy and Market Development PPP Canada
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PPP CANADA
I
n Canada, Public-Private Partnerships (P3s) are about retaining ownership of infrastructure while protecting taxpayers by shifting responsibility for unexpected costs -- such as overruns, design flaws, and premature deterioration -- to the private sector. This is achieved primarily through effective and robust risk transfer to the private sector, lender due diligence and the bundling the design, construction, financing, operations and maintenance work associated with an asset into one contract with a single consortium. P3s can generate greater value for taxpayers when compared to traditional procurements because they consider the whole lifecycle of an asset, encourage private sector innovation, and harness the discipline of capital markets through the use of project finance and lender due diligence. Responsibility for unexpected costs across a project’s lifecycle (i.e. cost overruns, design flaws, and premature deterioration) is also transferred from the public to the private sector where 38
February 2015
appropriate. P3s are the right procurement solution when the benefits exceed the costs – but how can a government predict unexpected costs? This requires a very detailed assessment of the various risks linked to the asset, as well as an examination of the ancilliary costs associated with P3 procurement. This process is known as a Value for Money (VfM) analysis. A rigorous VfM analysis is considered Canadian P3 best practice. Although methodologies can differ between Canadian jurisdictions, they are structured to reflect an unbiased and transparent representation of the benefits and quantitative differences between procurement models. Value for Money 101 A thorough VfM analysis gives procuring authorities an opportunity to evaluate different procurement options, including traditional (design-bid-build) and P3 delivery models, and examine the qualitative and quantitative differences in order to choose the option that provides best value for tax dollars.
ENERGY
SRO Dowtown Eastside Vancouver_BC Housing
Using past projects as benchmarks, a government can evaluate probabilities and assign dollar figures to the various asset-related risks over the life of the contract. In a P3 model, the government can also identify opportunities to transfer, share or retain such risks and engage in an apples-to-apples comparison of different procurement options. VfM analysis considers the wholeof-life costs of a project, from design, construction and financing to operations and maintenance of the asset. In the planning phase of a project – well in advance of the start of a procurement process – cost estimates for the P3 option
are compared against those of a traditional model, known as the public sector comparator (PSC). The analysis is designed as a check to ensure that projects are appropriately selected as P3s and that the risk transfer is cost effective to the public sector owner of the asset. Costs are adjusted to account for different levels of retained or transferred risk, and cash flows are discounted throughout the life of the project in order to provide the net present cost of the project. This includes an evaluation of any efficiency gains that might be offset by such things as risk premiums to compensate the private partner for assuming additional risks for w w w. p 3 c a n a d a . c a
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PPP CANADA
Evan-Thomas Water and Wastewater Treatment Facility project Kananaskis Country, Alberta
the P3, as well as higher private financing and transaction costs. If the VfM analysis concludes that these elements (including the additional costs associated with private finance) are offset by the cost savings from transferring selected risks to the private partner, the overall net present costs of the project will be lower under the P3 approach. The difference between the two estimates, known as VfM, is typically expressed in terms of a percentage of the total overall project cost. In the example below, 11.8% VfM is expected to be generated for the public sector through a P3 procurement. VfM analysis is not a static 40
February 2015
analysis and is refreshed at the awarding of the contract, or Financial Close, using actual costs to confirm the effectiveness of the procurement – yet another check that public dollars are being responsibly spent. Why Use Private Finance? We all know private finance costs more – so why do we use it? By asking a private partner to finance an asset, the government can guarantee the company will remain attached to the contract even if unexpected costs arise. Because the private partner is dependent upon the contract’s payment stream to repay its debt and generate a return on its investment, they are incentivized to correct
ENERGY
deficiencies and absorb cost overruns. In addition, lenders perform extensive due diligence on the private partner’s business plan and throughout the procurement phase. This additional scrutiny provides government with an added layer of security. Walking the Talk: Putting Value for Money to work Value for Money analysis lies at the heart of the Canadian P3 model, and in addition to preparing this analysis for federal procurements, PPP Canada performs intensive due diligence on the VfM analyses prepared for projects seeking support through the P3 Canada Fund, the New Building Canada Fund and at the federal level to ensure that the proposed project truly fits the P3 bill. P3s deliver value for money because the value of the risk transfer as well as private sector efficiencies and innovation, outweigh the incremental costs of private financing. However, varying and often complex approaches within the domestic market to VfM can be confusing to Canadian taxpayers. Canada is recognized as a global leader in P3s, in particular for the use and emphasis on VfM analysis as a decision tool for the P3 delivery model. As more projects are realized as P3s in Canada, PPP Canada and other P3 agencies continue to look at ways to refine methodologies, deliver more projects on-time and on-budget, and ensure the best value for taxpayers in the delivery of public infrastructure.
Company Information INDUSTRY
Federal Crown corporation HEADQUARTERS
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada FOUNDED
2008
w w w. p 3 c a n a d a . c a
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The Southeast Stoney Tr
The benefits of being a P3
Garry Lamb, Southeast Stoney Trail (SEST) Project Manag discusses the final phases the project— how being a P3 pr what it will bring to the community upon completion. Written by: Lindsey Ryan Produced by: Mike Magno
rail Project
ger at Alberta Transportation, roject has been beneficial and
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C O M PA N Y N A M E
SE Stoney Cranston Blvd Interchange - Photo credit to Keith Walker – Peak Experien
S
ince the 1970’s, bringing an additional road network to Calgary and Edmonton has been identified as a provincial priority. In 2003, construction of the provincial project officially began and the project has since been moving along sequentially 44
February 2015
around Calgary in four different quadrants. Starting in the west and moving to the east, the Northern half of the project is now complete and in 2009, the third quadrant of the Calgary Ring Road project, the Southeast Stoney Trail (SEST), was commenced.
SECTOR
nce Imagery
About the Trail The Southeast Stoney Trail consists of a six lane roadway which runs 25 kilometers from 17th avenue SE to just east of Macleod Trail. There are nine interchanges, 27 bridges, one road flyover and two rail flyovers. This $769M public private
partnership (P3) is the second largest highway project in Alberta. The project was awarded to Chinook Roads Partnership (a jointventure between SNC-Lavalin Inc. and Acciona S.A.) in March 2010 and being a P3 project, the designbuild contract also includes a 30 year w w w. s estproject.ca
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THE SOUTHEAST STONEY TRAIL PROJECT
SE Stoney Deerfoot Tr Interchange Area - Photo credit to Keith Walker – Peak Experience Imagery
maintenance and operation agreement. With a predicted traffic availability date of October 1, 2013, the project was only slightly behind schedule, opening on November 21st, 2013. The road has been open since then and is already improving the traffic flow in the area. “We’re seeing traffic volumes in the upwards of 50,000 vehicles per day which shows that it is a much needed project for the area because it’s being well utilized already,” explains Garry Lamb, SEST Project Manager at Alberta Transportation. Currently Stoney Trail is open to traffic, offering 70 kilometers of roadway, which is about 70% of the total project, and upon completion it will
ENGINEERED SILENCE
4000 Projects 100 years experience 20 years in business
Acoustical Engineers in the Province of Alberta Since 1981
BURNCO Rock Products Ltd is pleased to have been the supplier of ready mix concrete for the SEST project. 877-528-7626 | burnco.com Proudly serving our customers with Excellence, Integrity and Passion since 1912.
With more than 100 years of bench strength and 20 years in business, Patching Associates have been the trusted acoustical engineers for Alberta Transportation on many successful projects like Southeast Stony Trail. www.patchingassociates.com
CONSTRUCTION
offer approximately 100 kilometers of roadway. Due to the harsh winter conditions, the project is temporarily on hold but Lamb expresses that the road is proving to handle the weather well. He states, “We’ve gone through a full winter season last year and the start of winter season this year. Winter driving conditions are always challenging but I think this road is behaving well and it’s being well maintained. The public is being served appropriately by a high quality road that is operating well in both winter and summer conditions.” P3 Benefits The SEST has experienced multiple benefits from being a P3 project. The contract was signed in March 2010 and only two and a half years later by November 2013, the road was open to public traffic. According to Lamb, this is an impressively quick construction turn-around time for the size and scale of the project. Additionally, Chinook Roads Partnership’s bid of $769M was well below the estimated $1.8 billion predicted for the project. And because there is only one contractor working on the project, all risks such as weather delays or inflation are assumed by the contractor. In regards to the project’s funding, Lamb explains, “On this particular project the province has contributed over $200M during the construction phase, the federal government also contributed $100M during the construction phase and the contractor is paid the remaining costs
SE Stoney Chaparral Blvd Interchange - Photo credit to Keith Walker – Peak Experience Imagery
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THE SOUTHEAST STONEY TRAIL PROJECT
SE Stoney - Deerfoot Trail Looking West - Photo credit to Keith Walker – Peak Experience Imagery 48
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CONSTRUCTION
in monthly payments over 30 years plus their operation and maintenance costs over the 30 years.” Community Improvement While it’s almost impossible to receive a positive response from everyone in the community surrounding a project, Lamb is proud to report that a majority of the Calgary citizens are happy with what the SEST means for the community. Opening the SEST has certainly reduced congestion and improved traffic flow in the area for both individual and commercial users. “We’re pleased that the road is open and its being well used by the public. That’s a sign of success in our world; it’s obviously meeting a need and its operating safely.” Additionally, an Environmental Management System (EMS) has been implemented to manage the potential impact the SEST will have on the environment. There have been written procedures and regulatory requirements that have been met to ensure the protection of the wildlife surrounding the project.
Company Information INDUSTRY
Construction HEADQUARTERS
Calgary, Alberta, Canada FOUNDED
2003
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Con
Q
How one con
Paulsan
nstruction Inc.
Quality Work, Caring Service
nstruction company is making a name for itself in Ontario Written by: Ian Hanner Produced by: Rich Gentile 51
PA U L S A N C O N S T R U C T I O N I N C . D E S I G N . B U I L D . C A R
T
aking a project from design all the way through build is already a tall order for most construction companies, but Paulsan Construction Inc. does more than that: they care. Founded in 2011, this Ontariobased company has quickly established itself as a reliable contractor with an eye for quality. While still relatively young, it’s quickly developing strong relationships with clients that know they can depend on Paulsan to get the job done right and on-time. Paulsan Construction was founded by partners Paul McCaig and Sandro D’Ambrosi. McCaig has served since as the managing partner and president. Among other duties, he establishes the direction for sales while facilitating active relationships with clients and prominent suppliers. “We are managing our growth,” McCaig said. “Our staff has grown to 25 employees very quickly, we are taking on larger projects and continuing to implement systems to handle more expansive projects while at the same time continuing to service our clients like a small company.” 52
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Keeping that small company attention to detail is incredibly important to Paulsan Construction. In fact, one of the cornerstones of the company’s business is an outlook on jobs that they call “Design. Build. Care.” The words are more than just a motto. In a nutshell, it’s a promise to plan and execute a project from design through to completion with the most innovative, quality and lasting solutions possible. While harder to define, caring means that the company is dedicated to ensuring that the customers’ needs are being met and they will never cut corners to achieve this. The founding partners are just as invested in a project as their employees in the field and the attitude is paying off—quickly. With a wide range of ongoing projects, clients are already recognizing the special attention to detail that Paulsan Construction was founded on. One example is the construction management of two large apartment buildings in Brantford. “We started construction in the fall on the first one – a seven story,
E.
CONSTRUCTION
Paulsan Construction Inc. was awarded the construction of the new Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre’s Sports Hall of Recognition by the City of Brantford. The new Sports Hall is an exciting new tourist attraction featuring display cases, memorabilia, interactive trivia game, and mini-theatre to honour Wayne Gretzky and the many accomplished athletes in the Brantford area now and for years to come.
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PA U L S A N C O N S T R U C T I O N I N C . D E S I G N . B U I L D . C A R
New Port Dover branch of the Norfolk County Public Library
153-unit apartment building,” McCaig said. “These buildings will be identical and will be the first major expansion for market rent units in the Brantford area in many years. They will be higher end finishes for the 50 plus crowd that does not want the hassle of ownership.” At the same time, Paulsan Construction continues to nurture a strong relationship with leading natural health retailer, Goodness Me! The company is currently in the middle of interior fitouts for their fourth and fifth stores for Goodness Me! located in Paris and Waterloo. According to McCaig, the two parties are already discussing plans for additional stores in the next year.
INDuStrIAl & COmmerCIAl
456 Queensway W. Simcoe, ON N3Y 2N3
519-426-2619
J Visser Painting is a father and son owned company, spanning three generations. With our combined experience, professional equipment, and quality workmanship, we ensure your project gets completed to the highest standards, on budget and on time.
Store hours: Mon-Fri: 9am to 5:30pm Sat: 10am to 3pm Sunday: Closed
905.701.0068 | fax 289.738.0068 | jvisserpainting@gmail.com 230 Broad St. W | Dunnville, ON N1A-1S9
E.
CONSTRUCTION
McCaig explains that the partnership continues to strengthen and grow due to the similar values the two companies share. He states, “We found that we had common interests, ideals and we shared the same type of business ethics, objectives and relationship building. We both want to work with good people that are honest, dedicated and responsive to the customer’s needs.” Partnerships built to last Warwick Flynn, Development Manager for Goodness Me! explains, “When we initiated and signed the first contract for Mississauga, we didn’t know what Paulsan was capable of. We just entrusted they would do a job well done.” He continues, “That project was the foundation of our relationship. We trust and know that Paulsan will provide a quality job because of the work they have already done for us.” Additionally, in a testimonial, Warwick writes, “My overall experience with your organization was very positive and I look forward to working with all of you again. I would without a doubt recommend Paulsan for any future Goodness Me! projects to any potential clients”. In fact, Paulsan Construction is currently working on its sixth project with Goodness Me! Paulsan Construction’s portfolio extends beyond private contracts, having completed numerous projects for the Grand Erie District School Board (GEDSB), including the Norfolk Public Library and Lakewood Elementary School.
Paulsan successfully completed multiple projects for Sheridan College ranging from underground services to interior renovations
Paul McCraig (left) and Sandro D’Ambrosi (right), founding partners of Paulsan Construction
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PA U L S A N C O N S T R U C T I O N I N C . D E S I G N . B U I L D . C A R
Complete interior renovation of historic building in downtown Brantford for the new head office of Extend Communications Inc.
New Goodness Me! Guelph Store opened December 2014.
“We continue to work with the GEDSB on small projects and have been awarded some of their larger projects too,” McCaig said. “We 56
February 2015
Paulsan Construction Team
treat their staff with the upmost of respect, making sure that their projects, goals and objectives are met. Our practice when it comes
E.
CONSTRUCTION
to costing and budgets has been very good for them. We treat them fairly and pride ourselves in not taking advantage of unknown conditions.” Paulsan Construction has covered a lot of ground in a very short period of time and their employees are growing with them. The company provides their dynamic and motivated employees with benefits, incentives and training, all designed to make them feel welcome and to allow them to grow along with a company that treats them like family.
Company Information INDUSTRY
Construction HEADQUARTERS
Ontario
And that’s central to Paulsan’s future. “[We want to] be better at what we do – it is not important to grow at such a pace, but what is important is that we will continue to do quality work and stay on top of innovation advancement in the industry,” McCaig said. “Everyone has room to develop and grow in their skills and, in doing so we will continue to provide exceptional service to our clients.”
FOUNDED
2011 KEY PEOPLE
• Paul McCaigPresident • Sandro D’Ambrosi Partner SERVICES
Include • Design-Build • General Contractor • Construction Management
Design innovative and lasting solutions for our customers Build upon our expertise to deliver outstanding, high-quality solutions, completed on-time and on budget.
Visit Us On-line www.paulsan.com
Care about everything we do each and every day
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Adler Insulation and Fire
Professionalizing the Unprofe
How Adler Insulation and Firestopping is Bringing Consiste Written by: Ian Hanner Produced by: Rich Gentile
estopping:
essional
ent Quality to Canadian Market
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A D L E R I N S U L AT I O N A N D F I R E S T O P P I N G
The Adler Calgary Team
W
ith a mission to “professionalize the unprofessional,� Adler Insulation 2005 Ltd. & Adler Firestopping Ltd. are keen on bringing a responsible eye for quality to a market flooded by bottom dollar, high-risk amateurs. Founded in 1984 by Harold Scheewe, Adler started out as a 60
February 2015
one-man operation specializing in mechanical insulation. Now, after more than 30 years in business, the company has evolved to keep up with the constantly changing economy, growing from 12 employees in 1999 to over 100 employees today, with offices in Alberta and Saskatchewan. When Scheewe passed away in
CONSTRUCTION
Why Adler? Growth
1999, ownership of the company passed on to his kin, Curt Scheewe and Karla Williams. While the pair credits their father for taking the company from inception to a thriving entity, they’ve tried to change the delegation of responsibilities within the business to make sure everyone has a stake in the day to day operations. In a prior interview with the Edmonton Construction Association’s Breaking Ground, Curt Scheewe said, “Dad was a one-man show, and he did well at that. But [my sister and I] began to delegate to other people and give them things
to do that they were good at, and the business took off.” In the time since the siblings took over the business, the pair have diversified Adler’s services to include firestopping and fireproofing while still retaining the company’s insulation roots. “Looking back and reflecting on the changes that have happened, Adler has embraced those changes to sustain itself over the last 30 years,” said Joe ChinYaVong, business development. “That’s not an easy accomplishment, it requires vision and dedication.” While firestopping and fireproofing w w w. a d l e r i n s u l a t i o n . c o m
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A D L E R I N S U L AT I O N A N D F I R E S T O P P I N G exist within the same sphere of operation, they couldn’t be more different in how they function. As ChinYaVong explained, firestopping is essentially compartmentalizing a blaze in a way that slows, or in some cases outright stops the spread of smoke and fire from room to room. In this way it allows inhabitants of a building time to evacuate and buys firefighting personnel time to arrive on site and get to work. Conversely, fireproofing is the process by which structural supports are covered with
cementitious or intumescent coatings that protect the loadbearing steel from the rising temperatures of a fire. The necessity of this process is undeniable. Both firestopping and fireproofing are considered passive forms of fire protection, as opposed to active forms which include things like sprinklers and smoke detectors. Adler has had a lot of success with these services. The company is currently working on the development of the Edmonton Downtown Arena, which is designed
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Collaborative scheduling with clients is crucial to any projects future success
to be the standard for North American sports and entertainment facilities. “This is a high profile project with a demanding schedule,” ChinYaVong said. “But we’re definitely up to the challenge.” The company is also hard at work on the NAIT Centre for Applied Technologies (NAIT CAT) building at the Northern Alberta Institute
of Technology, National Music Centre, Fort Hills Oil Sand projects, numerous Southern Alberta hospital projects and much more. According to ChinYaVong, a large part of Adler’s success is the result of building a reputation of quality and delivery, working with clients who are partial to value and not completely driven by price has w w w. a d l e r i n s u l a t i o n . c o m
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A D L E R I N S U L AT I O N A N D F I R E S T O P P I N G
Johnson Cobbe Energy Centre CGY
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helped build positive relationships.” He added, “Well much like we know in our everyday lives, lowest prices don’t always mean the best quality, you get what you pay for. I believe those who’ve worked with us know our brand, they know what we’re about and they know its quality. Thus we build a steady brand and credibility through our performance.” While the company has been around for over three decades now, they’re the first to admit they’ve still got room to grow and that they always have room to improve. With a host of industry safety recognitions from ISNetworld, PICS, ComplyWorks, CanQual Network to COR, contractors recognize Adler as a quality insulator, firestop and fireproofer with a proven record in safety. While it’s hard to say exactly where the company plans to go next, it seems the sky is the limit. “I’ve been preaching from the start that strategy and growth isn’t about being the biggest, strongest or fastest guy out there, or even being the ‘best guy’ out there because everyone is going to say that,” ChinYaVong said. “Those qualities mentioned can be by-products of what is truly important…It’s about the differentiation. What are we going to do differently and what kind of value are we going to add to the marketplace and to our clients?”
Company Information INDUSTRY
Construction HEADQUARTERS
Acheson, Alberta FOUNDED
1984 EMPLOYEES
120
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Sure Con
From ch
Surespan Construction
espan Leading Wind Turbine, nstruction Industry in Canada
hainsaw to business empire in just over 35 years, Surespan is nothing short of a success story Written by: Ian Hanner Produced by: Rich Gentile
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S U R E S PA N C O N S T R U C T I O N
South Kent Wind Farm 68
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F
rom humble origins as a small, independent forestry bridge and construction service, Surespan has spent more than 35 years becoming the Canadian industry leader that it is today. Surespan was founded in 1977 by Nigel Bester (principal of the Surespan Group), a South African expat living in Vancouver, with little
more than a borrowed chainsaw and the knowhow to achieve results. According to the company website, Surespan’s early success was largely centered on erecting bridges in remote environments in British Columbia. “Today, Surespan Construction is the recognized specialist in permanent and portable bridge w w w. s u r e s p a n . c o m
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S U R E S PA N C O N S T R U C T I O N
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supply and construction,” the company said. “[It took] always staying ahead,” said Jordan Hiebert, divisional manager, on 35 years of business. “The technology, investing in new equipment and not being afraid to try new things… We’ve really made a push into wind energy in the last couple of years and that’s been driving a lot of our growth.” According to Hiebert, Surespan first got into wind energy doing infrastructural development— predominantly roads and bridges. Seeing opportunity in turbine erection, Surespan purchased some specialized equipment for heavy-lift crane installations and has been able to carve out a substantial market share in the time since. “Growth has been very steady and fast in Ontario, and throughout the rest of the country,
SUPPLIER PROFILE
Turbine Holst
TEAM -1 ACADEMY
TEAM-1 Academy Inc. Renewable Energy Services provides you with all the up to date, most advanced equipment needed to perform each and every job safely, efficiently, offering great rates and piece of mind knowing that the job will be done correctly and everyone will go home safe!!! TEAM-1 Academy Inc. is FULLY INSURED, we have the correct clearance certificate from WSIB & all of our technicians are FULLY CERTIFIED. Website: www.team1academy.com
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Experience the Progress. Liebherr cranes for wind power. Liebherr offers optimized crane concepts for the most diverse situations and requirements for the erection of wind power generators for highest efficiency and economy.
Top capacities in all lifting classes Variable boom systems for diverse requirements Efficient application due to optimized transportation components Comprehensive comfort and safety features Worldwide customer support by manufacturer
Liebherr-Canada Ltd. 1015 Sutton Drive Burlington, Ontario L7L 5Z8 Tel.: +1-905/3 19 92 22 E-Mail: info.lca@liebherr.com www.liebherr.com
The Group
S U R E S PA N C O N S T R U C T I O N
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it’s a project here, a project there. There are usually one or two large projects in Western Canada, but it’s hard to say what the future looks like,” Hiebert said. Aside from several infrastructure projects relating to power developments, the company’s website currently lists two turbine erection projects underway— the Grouse Mountain and Chatham-Kent Wind turbine erection projects. According to Surespan Wind Energy Services’ (a subsidiary) website, Grouse Mountain is the first wind turbine in North America to be built at what’s considered an extreme high altitude location. The company had the challenge of lifting a 1.5 megawatt, 250 tonne turbine into place in an area with exceptionally poor access. “The unique aspects of this project included
SUPPLIER PROFILE
LIEBHERR-WERK EHINGEN GMBH
Liebherr is the leading manufacturer of mobile and crawler cranes. The range of the all-terrain mobile cranes extends from the two-axle 35 t crane to the heavy-duty crane with a lifting capacity of 1,200 t on nineaxle chassis. The lattice-boom cranes on mobile and crawler chassis achieve lifting capacities of up to 3,000 t. The Liebherr plant in Ehingen covers a total area of 850,000 m2, of which 240,000 m2 is a roofed manufacturing facility. The Ehingen plant employs a workforce of 3,000. A comprehensive, worldwide service guarantees the high availability of mobile and crawler cranes. Website: www.liebherr.com
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S U R E S PA N C O N S T R U C T I O N
The Right Choice, The First Time.
At Industrial Choice supply we pride ourselves on being more than a catalogue of parts - we are a full service partner that can provide value, solutions and continuous improvements to your business. 151 Thames Road East Exeter, Ontario N0M 1S3, Canada 855.535.3976 fax 855.297.0302
SALES • SERVICE • RENTALS • CALIBRATION • CERTIFICATION
McCann Equipment is the leading supplier of Torque Tools for the wind and solar industry for all their construction and maintenance needs. McCann Equipment offers repair, calibration and certification services for all makes and models of torque products. Each of its branch offices is ISO17025 accredited.
info@torquetools.com | www.torquetools.com
industrialchoicesupply.com
One Stop Shop for all of your Industrial and Construction needs. BUILDING SUPPLIES | ABRASIVES | CHEMICALS | JANITORIAL | CUTTING TOOLS ELECTRICAL | FASTENERS | PLUMBING & HVAC | TOOLS & ACCESSORIES | SAFETY WELDING | MATERIAL HANDLING | TAPE & PACKAGING | PNEUMATICS & HYDRAULICS
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MONTREAL 514-636-6344
TORONTO 905-542-1333
WINNIPEG 204-774-2277
EDMONTON 780-414-1808
VANCOUVER 604-596-4077
CONSTRUCTION
mobilizing to the peak of Grouse Mountain up a winding narrow old mountain road,” the company stated. Surespan was also contracted for turbine erection at the Chatham-Kent Wind farm— Canada’s largest. According to CTV News, “The farm utilizes 124 Siemens 2.3 megawatt wind turbines, which are estimated to produce renewable energy for up to 100,000 local homes.” “We are committed to the local communities and are pleased to see more than 800 jobs dedicated to wind turbine blade manufacturing and tower fabrication in the Province,” said Jacob Anderson, who was VP of wind power for Siemens at the time of comment. Equipment plays a large role in distinguishing Surespan for jobs like these. With the largest truck-mounted crane in Canada, the company is able to gain access in ways competitors can’t. “We purchased a crane that allows us to install turbines up to 150 meter hub height. That will allow us to stay competitive for a number of years into the future and also lift in much higher wind speeds,” Hiebert said.
Company Information INDUSTRY
Construction HEADQUARTERS
North Vancouver, BC FOUNDED
1977
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South East Construction
The Easy Button for Compan
An unrivaled dedication to continuous improvements, safe become the service provider of choice Written by: Robert Spence Produced by: Bobby Meehan
n
nies
ety and client trust is helping SEC
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SOUTH EAST CONSTRUCTION
Heavy Civil Construction and Site Development for Mining
L
ocated in the prairie providence of Canada, Saskatchewan, South East Construction (SEC) is a multitrade industrial construction company specializing in the Potash mining and milling industry. The company, which began in 1986 as a contractor to local Potash mines in the area, has transformed into an all-in-one service provider for a wealth of industries. “We looked at our core business and realized there was a lot more we could provide to clients. We decided to revamp ourselves from being just a contractor, to being a service 78
February 2015
provider,� say Mike Silvernagle, chief operating officer of South East Construction. New businesses In 2010, the company began diversifying its business. It commenced an array of divisions within the company adding concrete, carpentry, electrical, earth works and site services to its repertoire. The company also has it hands in construction and maintenance, conducting structural steel and piping for companies as well as maintenance and sites service
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Storm Water Management, and Buried Services
work, including snow removal, road maintenance, water and waste removal. SEC also has a fully integrated steel fabrication and painting facility equipped with an industry leading PythonX robotic CNC plasma cutting machine as well as a full service paint shop. South East Construction is trained and certified CWB certified, Boiler Branch Certified, ISNet registered, SCSA Certified and a member of the Saskatchewan Construction Labour Relations Association. “It doesn’t matter what people want, we want to be the easy button for companies.”
Easy button In an effort to become the easy button for companies, SEC continuously strives to be better. The company confides in management and team members to find new ways of improving productivity, efficiency and pricing for clients. “Continuous improvements is learning from one another and continuing to resource consultants and people within our company to help us build what we’re trying to do,” says Silvernagle. “We have a continuous improvement meeting weekly and part of the meeting is focused on changing each w w w. s e c o n . c a
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A Company Built on Integrity, Safety & Quality Pryme Concrete Construction Inc. offers concrete services to include but not limited to new construction, demolition, restoration and general contracting. We handle a variety of industrial and commercial projects in central Saskatchewan, Canada.
Bryce Field President-Owner
Reg Field Superintendent-Owner
Pryme Concrete Construction Inc. | Office: 306-743-2290 | Fax: 306-743-2254 | Email: pryme@sasktel.net GRAVEL • CONCRETE • EXCAVATION • AGGREGATE
Brockman Enterprises a supplier of transit redi-mix concrete along with many excavating services, including track-hoe work for trenching, tracksteer/loader work for landscaping and snow removal in the winter months. We specialize in sand and gravel products along with screening, washing, and crushing of the products. Chilly’s Water & Septic Inc. is an experienced water, septic and hydrovac service provider located in Saskatchewan, specializing in a variety of services within the mining, excavation and service industry at competitive rates.
Proudly serving Humboldt and area for 89 years 306-682-4340 | Fax 306-682-2413 Email: brockmanenterprises@sasktel.net
P.O Box 388 | Stockholm, SK SOA 3Y0 | Canada 306-793-3060 | fax 306-793-3061 chillyswaterandseptic@hotmail.com www.chillyswaterandseptic.com
SOUTH EAST CONSTRUCTION section to be more efficient, more streamlined and overall better for the client.” According to Silvernagle, the goal behind its continuous improvement plan is to build trust among clients. “It boils down to how fast you can do business when the trust component is there. Once you have trust, the speed at which you can do business is remarkable. We’ve proven the way we do business works. The company recently invested over a quarter of a million dollars into software programs to better control costs. The investment allows SEC to be more thorough, detailed and conscious of where every penny is going. “Trust with the client is built through safety, productivity, and cost-effectiveness,” says Silvernagle. “We made the software investment to help us control our costs so we could lower rates and provide clients with the best deal possible.” “Our clients want to know we are managing there money properly. Trust among the client is vital, and if you have that, the client retention follows.” Other continuous improvements
CONSTRUCTION
include personnel. Within its organization, SEC has highly qualified people, including Construction Manager, Project Managers, Superintendents, General Foreman, Health and Safety Manager, Safety Administrators as well as numerous long term employees in foreman and tradesman positions. However, unlike most companies, SEC doesn’t just look at qualifications. “It’s all about character and Integrity in our business,” says Silvernagle. “I’ll browse resumes but I like to look future employees in the eye and see if they’re personal, intriguing and what they’re built like. Character is everything to me., and we want employees that will drive to ensure our clients are looked after” Safety driven company South East Construction is committed to a strong health, safety, and environmental program that protect employees, subcontractors, clients, property and members of the public from hard. The company has an extensive training program for new employees w w w. s e c o n . c a
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YOUR BUSINESS RUNS 24/7. SO DOES TR PETROLEUM. Locally Owned and Operated in Saskatchewan for over 35 years
FAST, RELIABLE SERVICE WHERE AND WHEN YOU NEED REFUELING. NO SPILLS, NO SHORTAGES, NO STRESS. TR Petroleum brings what your industry needs to stay running—from Oil & Gas, Mining, Agriculture, Forestry, and Construction to local service stations and more. Nordic Industries is the largest fencing installer, manufacturer and wholesaler, in the province. Efficient production, diversity of products, large supply of stock and a reputation for experience and quality is what makes Nordic Industries the answer to all your fencing needs.
Since 2001, we’ve built our business by providing reliable service, and putting our clients and safety first. 1323 FLETCHER ROAD SASKATOON, SK S7M 5H5
nordicfence.com Saskatoon, SK 306-653-3663
Saanichton, BC 250-652-0022
Prince Albert, SK 306-763-5185
You’re building the future. We’re here to help.
P 306-668-1033 F 306-668-2282
trpetroleum.com
E trpetro@shaw.ca
trust EarnEd through PErformancE
™
You need the right equipment, at the right place, branch network, we are ready to help you round the clock service and support means the equipment will work just as hard as you do.
Wolseley Industrial Canada (formerly Goodman Industrial) is proud to supply Pipe, Valve and Fitting products and services to the Potash Mining Construction industry.
4010 Thatcher Avenue Saskatoon, SK S7R 1A2 306-374-3666
1390 Longman Crescent Regina SK S4N 6J4 306-721-6288
UnitedRentals.com 800.UR.RENTS © 2014 United Rentals, Inc.
wolseleyindustrial.ca two Locations saskatoon | 17 Wurtz Ave, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 306-931-2900 | Mike Perrin - Sales Manager Esterhazy | 931 Gonczy Ave, Esterhazy, Saskatchewan 306-745-6453 | Michelle Shire - PVF Sales Manager
SOUTH EAST CONSTRUCTION that encompass a wide range of training and safety initiatives in the workforce. Along with a traditional orientation with the company, SEC has new employees go through its Safe Start program for training. “The main question we ask is ‘what would happen if you didn’t come home tonight?’ As we force them to write this down, it’s amazing what happens. It hits home for people,” says Silvernagle. “After two weeks on the job we bring them back to finish the safety program. It not only helps refresh them and hold them accountable, but it shows we care about their well being.” SEC focuses on daily assessments. This includes daily job requirements as well as everyday job hazards. It’s reviewed daily with the employee and foremen to ensure employees understand the risks each day and for each job. In addition, South East Construction has a corporate safety manger that ensures the company goes above and beyond the call of duty in safety. “We take safety very seriously and we like to reward employees who’ve been exceptional in that department,” says Silvernagle. “We elect an employee at each site who has gone above and beyond the safety bar and reward them a gift. We like to make it personal to show we care.
CONSTRUCTION
South East Construction provides snow clearing, waste management, materials handling, and disposal
Underground Mine
Recent projects and plans for the future South East Construction is engaged with Potash Corp and Mosaic in a collection of new and
Construction
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ongoing projects around Canada. The company is involved in numerous Structural Steel , Mechanical and electrical projects on surface and underground. “We are local to 5 mines in our area. We wouldn’t be were we are today if it wasn’t for Mosaic and PCS. They have helped us grow and supported us all the way. Since 2011, SEC has been providing site services for the exciting new Jansen Potash mine for BHP Billiton. These services include snow removal, Dust control, Janitorial, misc carpentry, offloading , electrical maintenance, and land management. There workforce has grown to include construction of roads, ponds, potable water, septic and Hydrovac services, road building as well as concrete foundations. “BHP Billiton’s commitment to safety and operational efficiencies is serious and it forced us to be better at what we do,” says Silvernagle. “BHP is an outstanding client to work for and we are extremely proud to there” One of the larger, and more challenging, projects South East Construction has undertaken was rebuilding the Tazin Lake Dam for SaskPower. “It was extremely challenging but it really represented who we are. It was a job we had no experience in but our team stuck together and got it done. The project turned out great and through all the challenges it really showed our integrity as a company.”
Company Information INDUSTRY
Construction HEADQUARTERS
Esterhazy Saskatchewan, Canada FOUNDED
1986 EMPLOYEES
51-200
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Small Mine Development (SMD)
Customized solution providers for the mining industry
General Manager Keith Jones discusses how Small Mine Development has become a leader in mining solutions by integrating safety and employee satisfaction into its company culture Written by: Robert Spence Produced by: Bobby Meehan
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SMALL MINE DEVELOPMENT (SMD)
An Atlas Copco ME7 Simba finishing drilling a long-hole stope blast pattern.
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eadquartered in Idaho, Small Mine Development (SMD) is a leading underground mining contractor. Since 1982, the company has earned a prominent reputation for building and operating some of the largest underground mines in the United States, as well as for being a leader in productive and innovative mining solutions. Similar to their approach to 88
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mining, the company is building a safety-based culture by integrating tried-and-true methods developed by major mining companies and creating new approaches to the idea. Customized solutions Through the years, Small Mine Development has developed a comprehensive approach to mining operations. The company, which
MINING
Remote mucking in a stope utilizing a Nautilus Buddy System proximity detection system.
maintains an excellent working relationship with both their client and regulatory agencies, understands the strict policies and requirements in the mining industry and continues to adopt and comply with the policies for each specific job. One of the many ways SMD provides new solutions is through its expertise. The company’s workforce, which includes years of experience in various stages of mining activities, helps SMD implement cutting edge tactics and initiatives into operations. “We bring specialized skills and expertise to the table for our clients,” says Keith Jones,
General Manager of Small Mine Development. “As a mining contractor, we provide customized solutions for mining projects.” According to Jones, projects sometimes require the need for customized solutions such as equipment needs, and many companies aren’t versed in that aspect. “Sometimes you have to modify machines and build your own gear. We’ll work with the manufacturers to upgrade equipment and provide new additions and solutions to equipment. In the past, we’ve worked with clients in implementing new initiatives such as bio diesel to improve operations.”
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DRIVING SUCCESS TOGETHER We’re proud to see our equipment working hard for Small Mine Development as they continue in their success. 355 W. River St, Elko, NV 775-777-2204 | www.atlascopco.us/elko
Building a culture of safety As a leader in mining solutions, SMD is more than just a contractor. The company employs roughly 400 members across the organization and is committed to cultivating a workplace free of injuries and occupational illness. The company actively strives to uphold its motto— The most important job you have is to go home safe and uninjured at the end of your shift— and has implemented a rejuvenated approach to do so.
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Launched in 2011 by Newmont Mining, the Safety Journey is a program that describes a company’s safety culture in terms of a journey. The stages range from simple awareness of safety issues to full integration where it’s simply how business is conducted. It provides tools for changing a safety culture within an organization and is meant to be an employee-driven program aimed at ensuring workplace safety. A key piece of the program is Vital Behaviors. There are six
SMALL MINE DEVELOPMENT (SMD) sources of influence and to incorporate lasting change, at least three to four of the six specific behaviors must be affected to facilitate lasting change. Employees are asked to consider their actions in terms of the motivations and abilities to ensure that their actions are aligned with safe work practices. Workers are asked to consistently choose the Vital Behaviors that could have an impact on the job’s safe outcome. “The Safety Journey program is essentially a mechanism to build a company culture based on safety,” says Jones. “The program integrates safety management training and leadership programs to achieve that culture.” The company’s safety accolades speak for themselves:
MINING
Remote mucking in a stope utilizing a Nautilus Buddy System proximity detection system.
2013 – Nevada Mining Association’s Underground Operations, Small Category (20-99 employees), First Place at Starvation Canyon Mine. Crews here worked 82,000 hours injury free in 2013. 2013 – Nevada Mining Association’s Underground Operations, Small Category (20-99 employees), Third Place at the Lee Smith Mine. Crews here worked 185,000 hours with one injury for a Reportable Rate of 1.09 in 2013. 2012 – Sentinels of Safety Winner for the Small Underground Metal Group at the Fire Creek project. A total of 45,715 hours were worked injury free. 2011 – Sentinels of Safety Winner for the Small Underground Metal Group at the Fire Creek project. The portal pad, infrastructure, portal and
Employees review their five-point work area inspections and complete a safety share underground.
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SMALL MINE DEVELOPMENT (SMD)
A two-boom jumbo drilling a round in Northern Idaho.
2,000 feet of drifting were completed skills within its management and while working 27,250 hours. workforce to establish a solid company culture centered on safety. According to Jones, the program “The program initiates employees has helped SMD achieve the to speak up and ask questions as 92
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well as build leadership qualities. The program has enhanced our safety record in 2012 and 2013 and Newmont was gracious enough to allow us to make it our own.” In addition to the Safety Journey initiative, SMD incorporates a number of in-house initiatives. These include: High-Level Risk Assessments on various tasks the company encounters; Inspecting work areas to ensure areas are completed utilizing its 5-point safety system, including a field level risk assessment; and holding daily lineout meetings to discuss immediate on-site job concerns as well as conducting weekly in-depth “tool box” meetings for each member.
Company Information INDUSTRY
Mining HEADQUARTERS
Boise, Idaho FOUNDED
1982 EMPLOYEES
400
Employees and vendors As well as creating a company culture based on safety, the company is dedicated to being an employer of choice. SMD has worked with a large amount of people in the mining industry and is arguably one of the best mining contractors to work for. The company, which was recently given the bronze award for best employer in Northern Nevada, believes its employees and vendors are a vital part of their success. “We value their support and sometimes we’re pretty demanding,” says Jones. “Vendors and employees are a key part to our success. We can’t do what we do without them.”
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ETG Commodities
Changing the Grain Game with ETG Commodities Written by: Sasha Orman
Produced by: Sean Bakke
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ETG COMMODITIES
VP, Victor Swierad at Saskatchewan Facility
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xport Trading Group is a multi national company in the business of exports, imports, distribution and processing of various commodities. One of its most recent expansions has been the launch of ETG Commodities, its Canada-based wing. Operating on a sustainable business model of managing end to end supply chain of agricultural commodities from farm to retail shelves worldwide .ETG Commodities has witnessed swift success in the Canadian special crop industry since its inception. Throughout its global growth today and into the future, the 96
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business is committed to maintaining its personalized link with farmers and users of its products on a ground level. Global Reach Present in 46 countries around the world from Australia to the Ivory Coast, ETG is a company with extensive global reach. With more than 300 warehouses and processing facilities around the world, the company moves 3.2 million tons of special grains and manages 26 commodity verticals including oilseeds, pulses, cereal grains, fertilizers, and more. But despite this massive reach, ETG
FOOD DRINK & FRANCHISE
ETG Toronto Team
is committed to superior supply chain management, adding value and staying close to the farming community and its supply chain partners in every country it does business. “We operate in a fast changing world of commodities, where we constantly need to innovate to stay ahead ” says Rav Kapoor, CEO at ETG Commodities. “In today’s world, changing weather and consumption patterns is one of the biggest challenge for our societies and that’s where we come in with our global reach and dynamic team of individuals to narrow the
gap between excess supply in one region with strong demand in other. For example North America is one of the largest producers of specialty crops and Asia is the largest consumer. Our presence on a ground level in both continents helps us keep us ahead of the curve of this ever changing supply and demand matrix. In addition, we strongly believe in a 2 way business model in the countries we operate, for example in 32 African countries we provide seeds, fertilizers, and all the inputs to farmers and then buy back the crop they produce. It’s a 2-way business model where we w w w. e t g w o r l d . c o m
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Delivering your containers on time, safe and secure in Regina and across the prairies.
Slinkemo is in the business of helping high volume shippers to maximize productivity, by creating transportation solutions that provide seemless flow of their client’s goods to market. We take the time to study your business, then develop solutions that allow your rapidly growing business to thrive. When you are utilizing intermodal – the 1st mile and the final mile are key components of your supply chain. Slinkemo can provide the solution.
contAineR stoRAge
contAineR tRAnspoRt
DRAyAge
contAineR HAnDling
pick up AnD DeliveRy
3 0 6 . 5 2 9 . 6 2 0 5 | 7 5 0 D At k i n s o n s t | R e g i n A , s k s 4 n 7 R 7 | w w w. c o n tA i n e R t R A n s p o R t. c A
Integrated Logistics Solutions
Think Efficient! Ray-Mont Logistics is your “one-stop shop” for all of your North American export logistics needs; whether it is through our terminal logistics group for all container transloading activities or through our international logistics group for all your international freight forwarding vessel cargo business, we have experienced staff to handle your shipments with care. As an ISO 22000:2005 certified company we also hold the following certifications: • Organic certification in Canada • CFIA sampler certification in Vancouver • Government certified scales • Specialization in the handling of agricultural products including soybeans, wheat, and all special crops • CIFFA & FIATA members • Bonded terminal in Montreal for US origin cargo • NVOCC status and FMC licensed freight forwarder in the USA.
Contact us to learn more: sales@ray-mont.com 1-888-933-4449 | www.ray-mont.com
ETG COMMODITIES benefit from selling all the input and buying all the output which then is used in our processing plants and distribution centers around the world. “Staying close to the farmer helps us understand the farmer’s needs very well,” says ETG Commodities COO Harjee Makkar. “We’re present in 46 countries, and that helps us stay updated on destination market dynamics. At the same time, our presence at the farm level helps us understand the origination dynamics—what farmer is planning to seed and what kind of costing he has. If we are in 2014, we can contract with them for 2015, and that can only happen if you’re close to the farmer and understand what he’s planning.” Ground Presence in North America Export Trading Group has been in business for decades, and in 2012 the company expanded its reach into North America with the incorporation of ETG Commodities in Ontario to reach markets in Canada and the United States. Just over two years later, ETG Commodities has rapidly grown into one of the largest exporters
FOOD DRINK & FRANCHISE
in Canada, exporting more than 250,000 tons of pulses and oilseeds out of the country on a yearly basis. It’s growth that ETG Commodities attributes to a dynamic team that knows the market and is committed to staying ahead of the curve. “ETG’s market intelligence and ground level presence helps us understand the international perspective better than our competition. For instance, yellow peas are grown in multiple regions around the world. Other than North America, Ukraine, Russia and Australia are major origins in the world, since we are present in all of these countries, we know international supply dynamics very well,” says Makkar, explaining ETG’s techniques for staying at the forefront of the industry. “ETG is a global brand today in the commodity world and we have been quite successful in developing good strategic partners at every point of the supply chain. May it be the farmers, shipping lines, transloaders or the importers around the world, these relationships have been instrumental in our growth. We stand behind our quality and our w w w. e t g w o r l d . c o m
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commitments, whether it is at the destination or at the origination. We will deliver on the quality, we will ship on time, and when it comes to the origination site we will make sure the farmer is paid promptly.” The experience of the ETG Commodities team also plays a key role in the company’s growth and continued strengths. “Our traders and merchandisers are well experienced and understand the various risks of the business. When hiring new employees we ensure 100
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they have the market intelligence and connections which we can leverage on” notes Anshul Nagar, CFO at ETG Commodities. “ETG believes in mitigating the risks and thrive to innovate tools for the same, from hedging mechanisms to insurance products ETG has every tool at its disposal to make sure interest of our share holders and stake holders are protected at every step we take.”
FOOD DRINK & FRANCHISE
Agents of Change ETG Commodities has hit the ground running, and only has plans to grow further from here. This year the company successfully completed its first acquisition in TW Commodities, allowing ETG to increase its in-house capacity for processing, grading, cleaning and packaging grain. ETG is also branching out into newer crops like soybeans and wheat, and is actively seeking out new partners to expand its distribution reach further within Canada and the United States. It’s all part of the company’s quest for growth and success, and that means embracing the ups and downs and changes involved in the commodities market by utilizing effective risk management tools. “We believe in out of the box thinking and nurturing innovative ideas to overcome the challenges in our industry” says Kapoor. “Shipping and commodities is an ever changing world, and our ability to adapt to the ever changing world keeps us ahead of the curve.” “We are a group of people who drive change,” adds Makkar. “In this market things change every single day, and that’s something we are very good at handling. It’s about anticipating change, and sometimes even being an instrument to cause the change. It’s this foresight and anticipation backed with fundamental knowledge of the market that has contributed to the swift increase in our market share. We have a lot of drive and motivation in this team and a hunger to do better.”
Company Information INDUSTRY
Grains and pulses HEADQUARTERS
Mississauga, Ontario FOUNDED
2012 EMPLOYEES
42 REVENUE
$150 million
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Z-SC1 Biomedical
The ‘cool’ biotech company
The developer of biomedical laboratory equipment is chan of the scientific community. Literally. Written by: Stephanie C. Ocano Produced by: Cedrick Adolphe
in Canada
nging the face
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New Show Room
Z
-SC1 Biomedical Corp. is a Canadianbased company with a successful record of developing laboratory equipment for the biomedical and biotech industry. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada with manufacturing bases in Seoul, South Korea, Z-SC1 Biomedical is revolutionizing the scientific community, and with it, the world. “Being in the scientific community for 20 years, we have learned something special,” said Jean Fallacara, CEO of Z-SC1 Biomedical, in a recent interview. “The more you work closely with research and development, the more you try to represent the voice of the customer, is the way you plant a seed and remain a leader.” Every company claims to have re-shaped the
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New Necroscopy Facility in Québec equipped with ZSC1 Biosafety Cabinets. (picture by www.healthywildlife.ca)
technology of the past to create better products, but at Z-SC1 Biomedical, that claim is true. The biotech company is the first to have analyzed the industry, discovered a crucial dilemma and come up with the perfect solution: a Twincore ultra-low temperature freezer. “We changed the world with the Twincore freezer technology,” said Fallacara. The Safest, Ultra-Low Temp Freezer Around The Twincore freezer is the first and only of its kind, featuring two independent compressor systems each capable of maintaining -82C. Its pull down and pull up times are remarkable as well as its energy efficiency. Standard ultra-low temp freezers rely on a
“Being in the scientific community for 20 years, we have learned something special.” – Jean Fallacara, CEO of Z-SC1 Biomedical
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“Helping Further Research” WorldWide Life Sciences (WWLS) a technologically advanced, quality-driven provider of essential laboratory wares and services to the scientific community, is dedicated to exceeding the wants and needs of our clients. We are the premier US dealer of Zsc1 ULT’s and equipment, and a distributor of consumables, chemicals, large and small equipment, PPE, custom products, etc. Our BioExcell® High Fidelity Research Products represent the broad spectrum of cutting edge research laboratory supplies and tools needed for every lab to succeed. 866.889.WWMP (9967) | InTernaTIonal 609.570.1100 844.705.3285 | emaIl sales@wwmponline.com www.wwmponline.com
U.S. Toll-Free Fax
Z-SC1 BIOMEDICAL cascade refrigeration system. Meaning that if the system fails, the freezer and any samples stored inside have to removed in a couple of hours. LN2 or CO2 backups only sustain temperatures for approximately seven hours, and require routine re-filling, maintenance and supervision. But aside from the impressive maintenance of temperature, every Twincore includes the WizBox monitoring system which adds peace of mind to your lab making the safest even safer. In addition to being an alarm system, it lets you manage your samples and inventory, history and events remotely. Z-SC1 Biomedical is a sustainable company, and the Twincore freezer is proof of the company’s promise of staying green. The freezer projects 75 percent less heat rejection than standard cascade refrigeration, is made from 85 percent recyclable material and 10 percent of that material can even be used to generate energy. “We are one of the only manufacturers of freezers that stays with natural refrigeration gases,” said Fallacara. “Sustainability has
H E A LT H C A R E G L O B A L
been on my mind for many years. We try to reduce our operating costs by 25 percent along with reducing the water consumption in our industry.” Why Is Everyone Talking About Z-SC1? In short, it’s “sexy and cool.” At least this is exactly how Fallacara describes his company when talking about the culture and atmosphere. “Honestly, our company has that image where people who look at our marketing tools, our communication, the way we act, find us to be different for the field we are in,” explained Fallacara. “Everyone who pictures the scientific community thinks of old scientists with white hair and white coats working in the lab. Here, in every single lab, there are young guys that ride a skateboard, like cars, like music and this is the way I want to project the image of our company.” Aside from attracting young scientists who want to further grow the community, it’s pretty easy for Fallacara to retain his employees once they arrive at the company. And it’s all in his management style. w w w. Z -SC1.com
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Z-SC1 Biomedical are delighted to announce that 20 units of the ZSC1 Ultra Low temperature Freezers, 24 CuFt are going to the New C.H.U.M 108
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H E A LT H C A R E G L O B A L
“For me, and for us, every interaction counts, and every individual matters. I don’t care much about corporate strategies – who’s the boss of who and things like that. What is really important is building relationships – creating motivation and empowerment where everyone is free to set their own targets, to perform and to work at the time they want the way they feel is best to do it,” added Fallacara. Fallacara aims to find talent in every employee at his company. He therefore believes that the management of a workforce is not very complicated because it’s not required. “People are focused on their job; they want to perform,” he said. “And when they don’t perform by themselves, they ask for more advice on what they can do better and the team will then help them to succeed.”
Company Information INDUSTRY
Biotech HEADQUARTERS
Westmount, QC, Canada FOUNDED
1993 EMPLOYEES
115
Looking Ahead The Twincore is only the first step in Z-SC1 Biomedical’s advancement and future plans. There are a number of new ideas and products set to be rolled out entering the new year. “We want to keep the revolution going and change the whole industry where refrigeration is involved,” said Fallacara. “We’re still a small company compared to our main competitors (Panasonic and Turbo). So, I would like to see our company ranked where it is deserved, which means no less than the first row.”
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