www.constructionglobal.com
November 2014
REACHING NEW HEIGHTS With KONE TM UltraRope
Infrastructure Waste Management Challenges Management & Planning Avoiding Pitfalls in Project Estimation Technology & Equipment AcerMetric: A New Off-Site Construction Method
THE BIGGEST THING WE MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting, transporting, installing and decommis-
tailor-made solutions for engineered heavy logistics. If you are
sioning large structures, we believe your biggest challenges
facing challenges in decommissioning, give us a call. Time may
aren’t about size. They’re about time. Uptime, turnaround time
not be set in concrete or forged in steel. It isn’t even all that
and time to market. In case of decommissioning, where no two
heavy. And yet, it’s the biggest thing we can move for you.
structures are the same, time spent on careful planning and creative engineering results in a solution with an optimal balance
For more information, please call Jelle Lanting, general manager
between time, cost and capacity for each operation.
Decommissioning: +31 6 46 60 25 55. Or send him an email:
With offices on every other continent and a fleet of equipment
jelle.lanting@mammoet.com
that is unparalleled in size and capacity, Mammoet provides
Discover more on mammoet.com
EDITOR’S COMMENT
Taking us higher O F F S I T E C O N S T R U C T I O N I S a growing trend, which is seeing a good
proportion of the innovation in the construction market. To this end, we spoke to AcerMetric Chairman and Founder David Appleford to find out the inspiration behind his revolutionary new construction system, which is in fact more of a manufacturing process. Finnish company KONE was recently named by Forbes as one the most innovative companies in the world for its UltraRope, which uses carbon fibre to change what is possible with lift technology and enable the world’s building to become taller than ever. Construction Global caught up with its Head of Technology for Major Projects, Johannes de Jong, to find out more. A lucrative tender opportunity is of course an exciting prospect. But balancing the desire for profit with the commercial necessity of ensuring your company submits the lowest bid can be a tricky business. Wesley Simmons, Managing Director of construction software specialist EQUE2, gives his expert insight into how to avoid the project estimation pitfalls. Elsewhere we find out how the new Envac’s innovative waste disposal systems are making our cities greener and clear, and discover the top 10 palaces in the world. I hope you enjoy my final issue of Construction Global magazine!
Joel Levy Editor joel.levy@wdmgroup.com 3
Contents
FEATURES
22 Management Planning 5 Steps to Avoiding the Construction Project Estimation Pitfalls
8
Top 10
Infrastructure Meeting Tomorrow’s Waste Management Challenges Today
14 Major Projects KONE UltraRope Takes Us Higher
TM
28
The Worlds Finest Palaces
36
Technology & Equipment AcerMetric Introduces a New Off-Site Construction Method
5
CONTENTS
52
The Joseph Gallagher Group
COMPANY PROFILES EUROPE
USA
46 British Tunnelling Society (ASSOCIATION)
166 Archer Western Construction I-395 Project
52 The Joseph Gallagher Group
176 Lake Oswego & Tigard Water Project
66 Charcon
184 Kaplan Construction
80 M+W Group
192 Tennessee Department of Transportation
CANADA 94 TIW Steel Platework 104 CEDA Group 114 Govan Brown 122 ISM – Industrial Steel Manufacturing 130 Santco 138 Atlas Systems 146 Nordstar 154 Western Refractory Services 160 K-Line Group
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November 2014
AUSTRALIA 202 Buildcorp Interiors 208 Cooke & Dowsett Pty Ltd
AMERICA LATINA 216 KUBIEC-CONDUIT
BRAZIL 228 FMM Engenharia 236 JCB SPECIAL REPORT
250 Liftronic Pty Ltd
104 CEDA Group 202 Buildcorp Interiors
94 TIW Steel Platework
228
FMM Engenharia
184 Kaplan
Construction
7
INFRASTRUCTURE
Meeting tomorrow’s waste management challenges today Jonas Törnblom, Senior Vice President at Envac AB explains how Envac’s waste management solutions are making cities greener and cleaner W r i t t e n b y : J O N A S T Ö R N B LO M , S E N I O R V I C E PR E S I D E NT AT E N VA C AB
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INFRASTRUCTURE BEFORE THE GLOBAL recession took hold, ‘sustainability’ was a focal point. Then, as countries prioritised keeping their economies afloat over keeping them green, it fell out of favour. However there has been a resurging interest in sustainability albeit in its new guise of the ‘circular economy’. The role of waste in the circular economy The waste industry will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in working towards a circular economy. However in a global society, where the population is increasing and developable land, all of which is finite in size, is diminishing, how can waste collection safely and sustainably support this circular vision? Everyone agrees that we need to consume less of our common resources, yet waste generation seems to be inherently linked to economic growth; the more we consume, the more waste we generate. At the same time, as residential and commercial development grows upwards due to restrictions placed on developing outwards, more waste 10
November 2014
Waste facilities at Stockholm Royal S is generated per square metre and less space is available for storage and transportation. This is further accentuated by the need to store and collect separate waste streams in order to increase recycling and reuse. Based on this scenario isn’t it about time to draw a close to traditional truck and tip approaches to collection, where multiple heavy vehicles make multiple manual collections all day, every day? Let’s not forget that sustainable living isn’t just about waste minimisation and the carbon emissions we produce but also about creating inclusive, attractive
Seaport and habitable environments. As sustainable living in attractive cities increasingly involves replacing busy roads with pedestrian zones, parks and cycle routes, waste collection now needs to be as unobtrusive as possible. Technology is the gateway to a circular future Envac is an automated waste collection system that uses an underground pipe network to suck waste from strategically placed inlets to a central waste collection station. Waste inlets are placed at various
Waste inlet Bergen, Norway points throughout the city or site and a fan system sucks the waste through tubes to a central waste station at high speed and over distances as long as 2km. When full the containers at the collection station are hoisted onto refuse vehicles and taken away by the local council or waste collection contractor for treatment. Recent advancements to the system mean that the waste can be directly ‘piped’ in to facilities that use it to generate energy, such as in Korea where Envac has two installations converting the waste directly into electricity. Similarly, 11
INFRASTRUCTURE a typical Envac waste collection station can now be integrated with a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) that separates co-mingled dry recyclables into different material streams such as paper, plastics and metals. The first installation of this type is about to be introduced in Gujarat, India. A recent UN forecast, which predicts the pace of urban development to Envac collection station
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November 2014
rise exponentially and the number of people living in cities to increase from 50 percent currently to 70 percent in 2030, has even been behind the launch of Quantum, Envac’s latest system. Unlike the current system Quantum is capable of handling up to double the capacity of waste volumes despite using smaller pipes, which makes installation alongside new or
MEETING TOMORROW’S WASTE MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES
existing service corridors easier. Technology such as this enables planners, architects and municipalities to future-proof their waste collection methods whilst occupying as little private and public space as possible. Barriers to achieving a circular economy Waste collection and its subsequent treatment is a key piece of the circular economy puzzle, however it is only one of the many factors that need to be addressed in order to complete it. The model’s ultimate goal is to reduce waste, consume less and re-use more. Technology such as Envac addresses all these issues however in order to implement this new technology we need to understand the bigger picture, which is that waste collection in the future will be considered to be more than just an issue of logistics. Cities of today face pressure on two distinct levels. Firstly, there is a pressure to compete with other cities around the globe on a financial footing. Secondly, there is a pressure on cities to consume less and demonstrate an on-going commitment to the environment and the people they serve. There is a general
Envac CEO, Christer Ojdemark misconception that you can have one or the other, however the beauty of introducing new technology is that it has the power to change perception and behaviour. In terms of urban waste management this is long overdue. The concept of a circular economy is hugely commendable however Government now needs to drive change. Without its support there is a danger that sustainability, under its new cloak of the circular economy, could be sidelined once again. 13
MAJOR PROJECTS
KONE: TM UltraRope takes us higher Finnish company KONE, recently named by Forbes as one the most innovative companies in the world, is using to carbon fibre to change what is possible with lift technology and enable the world’s building to become taller than ever. Construction Global caught up with its Head of Technology for Major Projects, Johannes de Jong, to find out more W R I T T E N B Y: J O E L L E V Y
KONE’s UltraRope as seen in an elevator shaft 15
MAJOR PROJECTS KONE, one of the global leaders in the elevator and escalator industry, was founded in 1910. Its objective is to offer the best People Flow® experience by developing and delivering solutions that enable people to move smoothly, safely, comfortably and without waiting in buildings in an increasingly urbanising environment. Providing industryleading elevators, escalators and innovative solutions for modernisation and maintenance, KONE have been committed to understanding the needs of its customers in various segments for the past century. In 2013, KONE had annual net sales of €6.9 billion and at the end of the year over 43,000 employees. KONE class B shares are listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd.
KONE’s UltraRope and steel rope
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November 2014
CG: Tell me about the rope’s development: When did it begin and what was the journey to delivering the product successfully? Johannes de Jong: While elevators have enabled the rise of city skylines, the technology had reached its height limit: elevator travel distances of more than 500 meters are not feasible as the weight of the ropes themselves becomes so large that more ropes are needed to carry the ropes themselves. KONE is constantly looking at ways to improve the technology, to find better solutions that improve the overall People Flow® experience while also cutting energy consumption. KONE UltraRopeTM responds to the challenges of enabling longer vertical travel distances and reducing energy consumption. Hoisting rope is a component whose weight increases as travel distance increases, and this has been one of the limiting factors. We wanted to find ways of reducing the weight of the ropes and started looking at alternative materials. We benchmarked solutions from other industries and came across carbon fiber technology, which has already been used to reduce
Elevators have enabled the rise of city skylines weight in industries such as aviation, automotive and machine industry (fast moving parts). We also came across many companies who are specialized in carbon composites. CG: KONE was recently named by Forbes as one of the world’s most innovative companies. Tell us about the company’s Research and Development and why you are so innovative. JJ: KONE has a history of innovation. Throughout the past century, we have made systematic and longterm investments into research
and development capabilities, and this is an important element of our success. As we strive to perfect our customer service, we are also exploring technologies traditionally linked to other industries. KONE tracks customer needs and monitors market developments and changes in trends while also seeking ways to improve working methods. We know that to succeed in the future, KONE needs to adapt to a changing world and create new opportunities for growth. CG: How does KONE’s strength compare to that of 17
MAJOR PROJECTS
KONE UltraRopeTM will last twice as long as conventional steel rope, allow elevators to travel up to 1km high and reduce energy consumption
K O N E : U LT R A R O P E TM TA K E S U S H I G H E R
traditional steel cabling? JJ: KONE UltraRope provides similar strength to conventional steel ropes; however, it weighs only a fifth of the equivalent steel rope. Due to its carbon fiber core, UltraRopeTM also has an exceptionally longer lifetime (up to twice as long) as the solid structure does not densify and stretch. For conventional steel ropes, they need to be replaced or shortened every 7-10 years depending on usage. CG: Traditional steel cables have a 500m limit. How much higher can the UltraropeTM take buildings? JJ: Travel distances beyond 500 meters are possible but not practical. At that point, the ropes, for example, begin to with so much that additional ropes are needed to carry the weight of the ropes themselves. The size of the components also begins to grow so much that installation becomes difficult. In the future, KONE UltraRopeTM can enable travel heights up to 1,000m. While UltraRopeTM is ready for this travel height, there are other elevator components that require further development, rigorous testing and certification. Within
2-3 years, the rest of the elevator technology should be ready. Given the planning and construction time, we’ll see such buildings in existence in around 5-10 years from now. KONE elevator technology will be there to support this development. CG: To what extent could the use of KONE UltraropeTM reduce energy use? I understand that it can do so as just one lift is needed, as opposed to transferring to another once the current height-limit is reached. JJ: Comprised of a carbon fiber core, KONE UltraRopeTM is extremely light, meaning elevator energy consumption in high-rise buildings can be cut significantly. For an elevator with a travel height of 500 meters, the energy savings would be 15 percent. Energy saving grow exponentially, and in the future, when elevator travel heights increase, even bigger savings can be made. E.g. for an elevator with a travel height of 800 meters, the energy savings would already be over 45 percent. CG: Do you believe the use of UltraRopeTM is viable 19
MAJOR PROJECTS in terms of cost? JJ: KONE UltraRopeTM technology can reduce the total cost of ownership thanks to many benefits: – reduction on energy consumption, reduction of downtime caused by building sway, longer lifetime of ropes themselves. As the cost of the UltraRopeTM goes down we expect it to be used as an alternative also in low-rise buildings. CG: When do you hope for UltraRopeTM to be used in actual buildings? Any talks ongoing or any sales already? References for KONE UltraRope: Marina Bay Sands Resort – Singapore
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November 2014
MARINA BAY SANDS RESORT – SINGAPORE The first customer installation of the KONE UltraRopeTM technology was done in 2013 at the Marina Bay Sands integrated luxury resort in Singapore. Made up of three impressive hotel towers and a spectacular Sands Sky Park that connects them, the Marina Bay Sands resort was opened in 2010. It houses 146 KONE elevators and 6 KONE escalators. The new KONE UltraRopeTM technology ropes were installed in a passenger elevator that travels from the ground floor to floors 34-57, or 195
Kingdom Tower Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Kingdom Tower Jeddah, The world’s tallest building
meters, in Tower 3 of the hotel. In upgrading the steel elevator hoisting ropes to KONE UltraRopeTM for one of its elevators, the resort has made a further commitment into energy efficiency and smoother people flow. KINGDOM TOWER – JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA The world’s tallest building standing at over one kilometer upon completion in 2018, Kingdom Tower will feature KONE’s innovative people flow solutions and the world’s highest elevator rise at 660m. The building will be equipped with the world’s fastest double deck elevators travelling over 10 m/s based on the KONE UltraRopeTM technology set to break industry limits. 21
MANAGEMENT/PLANNING
5 steps to avoiding the construction project estimation pitfalls A lucrative tender opportunity is an exciting prospect. But balancing the desire for profit with the commercial necessity of ensuring your company submits the lowest bid can be a tricky business Wr it te n by: We s ley S immons , MD of EQ UE 2
23
MANAGEMENT/PLANNING FOR ANY CONSTRUCTION business, a lucrative tender opportunity is an exciting prospect. But cool heads are needed to ensure that your company’s bid is priced correctly. Balancing the desire for profit with the commercial necessity of ensuring your company submits the lowest bid can be a tricky business. To manage the bidding process effectively requires all staff members to have a firm grip on the costs likely to be incurred during the course of fulfilling the contract. 1. Lack of consistency On a big project, you may need more than one estimator. However, the more you employ, the greater the chances that things could go wrong. Without clear and consistent guidelines, which are well understood, three different estimates for the same services or product can end up varying wildly. Don’t forget – estimators are expected to provide a high degree of detail while working to tight deadlines. If they are not using recording systems that are easy to use and provide clear definitions, mistakes and inconsistencies can easily creep into the process. Subcontractors may offer slightly 24
November 2014
Understanding of cost is vital different services or products to one another and it is essential that systems record exactly what each can provide and how that matches with the requirements of the contract. If such differences are not recorded correctly, you might end up bidding 50% lower than your competitor, only to discover you are only offering to do half the work required. It is essential to make sure that the information you are working from has been gathered fairly and consistently. 2. Manipulation Using the proverbial ‘back of a fag packet’ might be useful for rough initial
T H E C O N S T R U C T I O N P R O J E C T E S T I M AT I O N P I T FA L L S
calculations, but that’s about as far as it goes - estimating construction projects requires a level of detail and complexity which can only be provided by more sophisticated tools. In recent years, many firms have adopted complex spreadsheet processes to help crunch the numbers. These are very useful tools for many tasks and can automate key calculations to easily test different scenarios. But such flexibility can also provide dangers, which mean they
are far from perfect. Optimistically manipulating a figure in one column to bring a single cost item down can easily lead to consequences elsewhere in the document and by the time all the calculations have been completed, the effect has been massively multiplied. It’s only when you have won the contract and are about to start work that you might realise that what you thought was one minor change means your figures are way off the mark.
Eque2’s specialist estimate software
MANAGEMENT/PLANNING 3. Bidding too low Even if costs are estimated consistently and accurately at an early stage, dangers still lurk around every corner. Your company may notice that one of its teams is finishing a job elsewhere and assess that the new contract would be the perfect fit. The temptation might then arise to lower the bid to win the work and keep staff employed – calculating how you will make a profit from the work can always be done later – can’t it? Additionally, ensuring that you
include a profit margin on top of your project costs estimate might sound obvious, but it is surprising how often this simple calculation can be overlooked. Unless systems are clear on what costs the figures refer to, misunderstandings can arise, particularly when documents are being forwarded between different departments. Mistakenly assuming the overall cost includes the profit margin can be disastrous. Whether deliberate or by accident, bidding too low is easily avoidable through
Software can play a key role in reducing process time
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November 2014
T H E C O N S T R U C T I O N P R O J E C T E S T I M AT I O N P I T FA L L S
the use of clear, simple software. 4. Software problems Software can play a key role in reducing process times and even automatically flagging up holes in estimate documents. But placing your faith in badly-built software can lead to errors which go unspotted during the estimating process. Research shows that faults can develop in software construction, programme performance, hardware incompatibility and an inability to incorporate data sourced from other software. But by far the most important factor in software effectiveness is how it interacts with the “fleshware” – in other words, the humans tasked with operating it. If systems are difficult to use - or even understand in the first place - then estimating can become an uphill struggle and errors are more likely to occur. Systems need to be user-friendly and full training and support for staff can help improve buy-in and significantly improve the final cost estimates. 5. Lack of transparency It is all very well providing accurate estimates for every nut and bolt
in a project. But a comprehensive assessment of costs is only half the battle in the bid process. The detailed cost estimates need to be understood easily by staff at all levels of a company. If detailed information is only presented in one rigid format, such as on a single spreadsheet, then staff members have to put more effort into working out the figures they need. The estimate needs to provide an overview, as well as a detailed breakdown for those at the top of the company structure. But it also needs to give clear and relevant information to staff further down the chain, including project managers and members of the commercial team. Such transparency in estimates also encourages engagement, the sharing of best practice and informed conversations between all those responsible for producing a finely-honed bid and ultimately delivering a successful project. So how do you make a profit? One way is to thin about saving money, and the guide ‘How to save money on construction projects without cutting corners’ provides a number of solutions on how to boost your bottom line. 27
TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT
AcerMetric
Introducing a new off-site construction method Wr i t te n by: J O E L LE VY
28 November 2014
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TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT WHILE THE INNOVATIVE new AcerMetric building system has the potential to have a considerable influence on building techniques, it was in fact inspired by a personal experience for Founder and Chairman David Appleford. After buying his first house in the mid-2000s, Appleford was frustrated to be told not to redecorate for a year to allow for subsidence and cracking, and to make a list of faults for the builder to address at a later date. He said: “I’ve had an older car and didn’t have to do that; you would be furious if within a year things started to crack and fall apart. I thought, this is crazy, we shouldn’t be building houses like this, and asked how we would build if we designed it as a massproduction system, as a machine, to forget it being a building.” In answering this question, AcerMetric was born. Appleford used dominoes to test the concept and discover how best to align the geometric shapes in 3D, before it became apparent that in building a cube with dominoes, the pieces won’t fit. “In the ideal cube there are 12 edges that don’t interlock. Houses 30 November 2014
AcerMetric construction elements ca are totally reliant on the foundations; if there is any subsidence it will collapse and when you stand back you think ‘how complex actually is a house or building?’ Why are we paying huge sums of money for houses which, despite the size, are much simpler to produce than cars, for example?” Eureka The breakthrough came when Appleford found a way to interlock the walls to the floors and the ceiling with the same geometric pieces. “At first we thought symmetrically, but I couldn’t get the shapes to lock in
an be hand carried on site three dimensions, and it was only when it took them asymmetric or rotationally symmetrical that we had the eureka and I was able to interlock the floors with the walls and ceilings,� he explained. To his surprise, no similar patents had been filed, and he set to perfecting the locking system, using camlocks as a base, but in 3D. The 3D locking element around the edge of the geometric shapes became the heart of AcerMetric’s first patent. It has since taken up 20, including three in China and Macau. The 3D locking system also allowed for easy clamping of beams or columns
A wall element is quickly moved into place along the seams, meaning structural elements could be made extremely stable, creating a very strong building using just a single hand tool. For the panels, Magnesium Oxide boards were selected as a durable, cost-effective fire-resistant material, while timber frame with Rockwool provided insulation, using the seams running around the system to clamp the cladding. Appleford said: “What we have ended up with is not so much a building system as a construction kit that allows us to create all sorts of structures including buildings or even 31
TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT
Design for AcerMetric Terraced Town Houses bridges. It’s not limited to houses, although this is the obvious need at the moment along with schools and hospitals. There is a huge demand for these buildings and we have a system that can meet that demand.” First project After seven busy years’ development, during which time it became a Buildoffsite member, gained a manufacturing licensee in South Woodford and a licensed installer, AcerMetric was ready for use in 32 November 2014
genuine projects, in addition to its demonstration house. The Coppice Primary School in Essex provided an ideal chance to showcase what the system can achieve, and the project was begun October 2013. The school: a self-contained, two-storey, 460 sqm building, was particularly appropriate to demonstrate AcerMetric’s many benefits. In an educational environment, minimal disruption was essential, and that the system requires no heavy machinery or tools, and a team of
NEW OFF-SITE CONSTRUCTION METHOD
just four to assemble was hugely beneficial to achieving this. “When we build the system it uses muscle power, not cranes or electrics. It only takes a couple of hours to train a labourer to assemble the system. It’s easy to understand and the guys enjoy putting it up,” said Appleford. “There is no mess and no fuss. The school was not disrupted at any time and it was quiet. There was no heavy machinery. There were only three or four skips, no wastage and no noise, just four workers were on-site on average including the supervisor. Normally a job of that nature would take about 20 people. We did it with four, and in terrible weather!” The process AcerMetric’s is a fast and simple process from start to finish. Using a powerful CAD system, the design phase is essentially a one-man job. It is efficient in engineering, training, and light on labour. Just five people were required on the factory floor for the school. Once a client is on board, and the cost and design finalised, the order is placed by the licensed installer, at which point, AcerMetric’s factory
“There is a huge demand for these buildings and we have a system that can meet demand” – Founder and Chairman, David Appleford supplies the flat pack. Then, the installer assembles it on-site and adds finishing touches like M&E. The whole process can take as little as a week from factory to finish, but if a particular kit is already available, the factory element can be eliminated, making just the transportation and assembly necessary. If this sounds impressive, it is a process that will only be refined with more projects under AcerMetric’s belt. Because it is designed to be mass production, the technique will inevitably become cheaper and faster. Additionally, the system boasts green credentials. The manufacturing process uses little power, the timber used is a sustainable, recyclable product, the flat pack requires minimal transport delivery to the site, and when it arrives, no potentially polluting machinery is necessary to assemble it. 33
TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT
David Appleford pictured in front of the AcerMetric show house
ACERMETRIC Adaptable Cost-effective Ecological Reliable Manageable Energy Efficient Thermally Effective Reusable Innovative Compliant 34 November 2014
NEW OFF-SITE CONSTRUCTION METHOD
In price terms, AcerMetric also compares favourably to rivals. Appleford said independent architects set a price for a comparable school building of about £2000 per sqm, while AcerMetric’s offering came in at £1450, with larger classrooms and corridors than the architect could achieve within its budgets. He added: “Even if we were the same or similar price to existing methods, we gain on the cleanliness, the speed, no mess or fuss, no noise. In every single area we are a far superior product.” With the primary school successfully delivered, Appleford is keen to take advantage of the market to offer schools classroom-by-classroom on a leasing basis: a truly modular approach. Various kits can be supplied, allowing the school to build the best design for the available land. The team aims to standardise on school design based on the knowledge gained from this first build, allowing more options and faster project delivery. Future Now that the school has given AcerMetric a ‘visiting card’, a quality successful build to show potential manufacturers and licensees, the
future looks bright. Appleford said: “We want to be able to say ‘here’s what our system can do. Do you want to have a submanufacturing license, or a license for installation and building?’ We can train in the factory and offer an expandable template.” The development phase is complete, with tourist accommodation buildings in Abu Dhabi and Ghana, as well as an office added to the portfolio. AcerMetric also recently won a contract from a council for an extension on an existing property for an occupant with motor neurone disease. Importantly, industry feedback has also been excellent. The company’s structural engineers have told Appleford they believe AcerMetric to be the only system designed from the outset for mass production, requiring just 41 pieces to produce the panular elements. Appleford concluded: “We designed it as if we were making cars, but with less than a tenth of the complexity, and have developed a completely new way of building houses which is very quick, very clean and very energy-efficient: not just when the building is completed, but throughout the process.” 35
TOP 10
TOP10
Palaces These former seats of power represent both the outstanding architecture of their times, and the wealth of the supremely powerful, who were able to create the residences of their dreams as Joel Levy explains
Pena National Palace, Portugal
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TOP 10
Schönbrunn Palace
10
Schönbrunn Palace, Austria
A popular Viennan tourist attraction, the palace dates back to 1569, when Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II purchased floodplain land containing the Katterburg mansion to be used as the court’s recreational hunting grounds. The mansion was converted to the impressive Baroque palace of today in the mid-17th century by the wife of later Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II, a keen hunter. 38
November 2014
09
Pena National Palace, Portugal
Built in 1842 by King Ferdinand II, it is the oldest European example of a Romantic-style castle. It was built on the remains of a monastery destroyed in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. It sits atop a hill overlooking the town of Sintra, and is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. (See previous page for picture)
PA L A C E S
Mysore Palace, south gate view
Summer Palace
Mysore Palace, front view
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07
Summer Palace, China
Used in the summer months by the imperial rulers of China, it provided a break from another entry on this list, the Forbidden City. The ‘palace’ is actually a complex of gardens, lakes and buildings that cover an area of 2.9 sq km. It dates back to the 12th century, when Jin Dynasty emperor Wányán Liàng built the first palace on what is now Longevity Hill.
Mysore Palace, India
Mysore provides a truly stunning scene at night, illuminated by more than 10,000 bulbs during the Dasara Hindu festival in September and October. Commissioned in 1897 to replace the old building destroyed by a fire, it is the most impressive example in a city of many palaces, and in no way an eyesore!
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TOP 10
Potala Palace
06
Potala Palace, Tibet Autonomous Region, China
The current palace on Red Hill of central Lhasa sits on the site of an earlier construction built by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo which was destroyed with the collapse of the family dynasty. The current architecture dates from the 17th century, when the palace became the residence of the Dalai Lama and the seat of government. It measures 400m by 350m and was the world’s tallest building between 1653 and 1889. 40
November 2014
05
Royal Palace of Madrid, Spain
The palace, which is used today for formal state occasions by the country’s royal family, was built for King Philip V between 1738 and ’55 after the old one burnt down. It is built on the site of the Alcazar of Madrid, the castle built in the 9th century during the reign of Mohammed I, Emir of Cordoba. Today’s palace covers an area of 125,000 sqm and has 3,418 rooms. Architect Giambattista Sacchetti used projecting wings to preserve views of the city.
PA L A C E S
Royal Palace of Madrid
Alhambra Palace
Buckingham Palace
04
03
Alhambra Palace, Spain
Alhambra was originally built for military purposes in the ninth century. It was later expanded to serve both as a fort, a palace, and small, self-contained town by 1333. The network of buildings is a fine example of Moorish architecture and its peachcoloured walls are particularly striking.
Buckingham Palace, England
The Royal residence in London was originally built as a townhouse for The Duke of Buckingham in 1703, but was sold in 1761 to King George 3rd and the Royal family. His son George 4th transformed it into today’s palace in 1826 with the help of architect John Nash, and it became the official royal residence on Queen Victoria’s ascension to the throne.
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Big landscapes Inspire big thinking
THERE’S NOTHING LIKE AUSTRALIA FOR YOUR NEXT BUSINESS EVENT. This year we chose Australia for our global congress. It was an easy choice, as Australia’s proximity to Asia gave us the opportunity to attract many new delegates. The program was one of the best in years. New Australian developments in our field attracted a lot of interest and strong international research partnerships were established. Australia is on everyone’s list to visit, and it lured our highest number of delegates yet. There’s no doubt they’ll be talking about this convention for years to come. Dr Louise Wong, International Board Member
visit australia.com/businessevents/associations for everything you need to plan your australian event.
PA L A C E S
02
Forbidden City, China
Constructed between 1406 and 1420, Forbidden City, which was envisaged as the centre of ancient Beijing, was home to Chinese emperors from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. The 180-acre complex houses 980 separate surviving buildings. Construction took 14 years and more than a million workers. 43
TOP 10
01
Versailles, France
This royal chateau was originally designed as a small hunting lodge for Louis 13th in 1624, and only when his son succeeded to the throne was it expanded into a Royal Palace. Over a period of 46 years, and four building campaigns beginning in 1664, architect Louis Le Vau, landscape architect André Le Nôtre, and painter-decorator Charles Lebrun renovated and transformed Versailles. Louis 14th hoped to gain greater control of the nobility by moving the court away from Paris and closer to his own influence, and chose the site at Versailles 10 miles south-west of the capital, partly for its abundant game for hunting purposes. The Hall of Mirrors is particularly striking feature within a fine example of Baroque architecture that remains a symbol of the absolute monarchy that was nearing its end.
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BRITISH TUNNELLING SOCIETY Written by: Roger Bridge, Chairman
The entrance hall at the Associated Society of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) where BTS is based 47
BRITISH TUNNELLING SOCIETY
F Roger Bridge,
Photo credit: Lars Plougmann / Flickr
Chairman
or the majority of people in the UK, tunnels are a brief but essential part of daily travel avoiding the surface congestion in our cities. Very few are aware of the full extent of the engineering excellence that goes on beneath their feet as workers undertake the tasks associated with the creation of the underground spaces for road, rail, water, sewers, utilities and many more applications. The recent TV coverage of Crossrail has given the public an insight of what ‘tunnelling’ is all about and the general feedback tends to be one of awe and amazement. We can easily become somewhat indifferent about the significance of our daily challenges and achievements and such coverage makes people realise what does go on beneath their feet and raises the profile of the industry. We have a world-class heritage of tunnelling The Thames Tunnel, engineered in 1893 by Marc and Isambard Kingdom Brunel, is still operational today
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Photo credit: Eurotunnel
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The Channel Tunnel
Jubilee Line extension
with the world’s first sub-aqueous tunnel built under the River Thames by Marc and Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1843 and still operational today. Our extensive network of tunnels serving London Underground again bears testament to the ingenuity of tunnellers in the UK, as do the sewers built by Bazalgette and opened in 1865. More recently, we have had the Channel Tunnel, Heathrow Express, Jubilee Line, HS1 and the A3 Hindhead Tunnels. It was my pleasure and an honour to take over from Damian McGirr as Chairman of the BTS in May this year. The BTS is an Associated Society of the ICE. With a current membership of over 700 individual members and in excess of 60 corporate members, it is one of the most vibrant gatherings of professional tunnellers in the world. We are a forum to assist and encourage the dissemination of information relating to tunnelling
The Telford Theatre plays host to BTS lectures
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Tunnel infrastructure of the HST 1 network
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and to act as a catalyst in the development of new technologies and standards that benefit the industry by improving knowledge, sustainability, efficiency, quality and safety in the construction and use of underground space. It is true to say that UK tunnelling is globally recognised and our standards and guidance are regularly adopted by projects around the world. In recent years, the lack of Tunnel schemes in the UK has seen large numbers of skilled personnel leave for international projects. Now we have the prospect of increasing demands for tunnellers in the UK once again, there is a potential for a shortfall in capacity. One of the
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society’s aims is the attraction of ‘new blood’ into the industry. Through our Young Members, we regularly attend schools, universities and career fairs, giving prospective tunnellers a taste of what the industry offers. A strength of the BTS is that we welcome all tunnelling personnel within the industry, giving a greater depth to the ability and knowledge available. The society has strong ties with both TunnelSkills and TUCA; these bodies are the industry’s response to the potential shortfall of skilled and competent personnel to ensure its future capability to deliver. As an industry we have probably never had such a promising period ahead of us, with a range of projects currently underway or in the pipeline, and there has never been a better time to embark on a career in tunnelling. With numerous LUL contracts and National Grid Power Tunnels well underway and Crossrail recently passing the halfway mark, we are looking to the next phase of works. Hinkley, Shieldhall, Bank Station and Northern Line Extension are all due to begin soon; Tideway, Silvertown and HS2 will become a reality in the near future. I cannot begin to mention numerous small schemes for utilities that tend to go unnoticed in the press. In summary, the UK tunnelling industry is in an excellent position and I look forward to the coming years and the challenging work ahead for all of us.
Association Information A S S O C I AT I O N TYPE
A Learned Society. The BTS is an Associated Society of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). L O C AT I O N
The Institution of Civil Engineers, London, UK. FOUNDED
1971 KEY PEOPLE
Chairman, Roger Bridge, Vice Chairman, Mark Leggett NO. OF M E M BE RS
In excess of 700 individual members and 60 corporate members
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The Joseph Gallagher Group
expands into Middle-East after shrewd acquisitions Written by: Joel Levy Produced by: Richard Durrant
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THE JOSEPH GALLAGHER GROUP
The ambitious company is forging a reputation for quality work across the region after adding several complementary businesses to strengthen and diversify its offering
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pecialist civil engineering contractor Joseph Gallagher is taking its ambitions to the next level after strengthening and expanding its capabilities with key acquisitions in recent years and entering the booming MiddleEast. The Group has enhanced its services via the shrewd acquisition of four companies: crawler crane specialist N.R.C. Plant Ltd; hired tunnelling equipment expert Specialist Plant Associates; Iseki Microtunnelling; and Johnston Trenchless Solutions. The latter pair have allowed the company not only to expand northward from its Orsett, Essex base, but has opened a path to new opportunities further afield. Middle-East Tunnelling Director Richard Dexter said: “We have in the last four years, through the acquisition of Iseki and Johnston, started business in the Middle-East and now have offices in Bahrain and Kuwait. We operate up and down the GCC. Half the Iseki machine fleet is kept in the Middle-East and can be quickly brought back to the UK if required. “The region has a massively growing population and huge oil and gas reserves. We do a lot of microtunnelling in oil and gas pipes, road crossings for the oil and gas industry, and with a growing population and a need to house and utility these people there’s significant capital
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Iseki Micro Tunnelling: The fleet of microtunnelling equipment has installed over 80km of finished pipeline, most of it operated by the company’s own operators
investment in drainage. “With the amount of building development going on there is the potential to forge ahead and build a reputation there, and we are doing this now.” In a challenging market to break into, reputation counts, and with the company now approved in Bahrain as a tunnelling and microtunnelling contractor, it can bid with clients directly for work, and in the past four years, Joseph Gallagher has already forged a positive image. While largely working as a subcontractor for larger builders, Gallagher’s ambitious management are keen to win more work as lead contractor. With more than three decades experience, it has the skills to do so. Dexter said: “We have been principal contractor on several occasions but a ratio of
A typical project, sinking a shaft onsite in Kuwait
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+44 (0) 1302 329911 | mail@alanauld.co.uk | www.alanauld.co.uk
Recent projects Green Park Underground Station Upgrade – Temporary works & site setup logistics Dorchester Hotel Annex Utilities Tunnel – Detailed design of tunnel and access shafts Connaught Tunnel, Crossrail Project Tunnel widening temporary works & construction sequencing Kilroot Salt Mine Detailed design of 1200m long, 7m diameter, 1200m long shotcrete lined access decline
Underground Design and Technical Support Specialists Alan Auld Engineering has worked with the Joseph Gallagher Group on many complex underground construction projects, providing engineering support from tender concept through to project completion. In addition to tunnel design we are specialists in underground construction sequencing and temporary works, including tunnel worksite logistics.
The company was formed in 1958 specialising in fabrication of bespoke steelwork and has progressed into the leading designer and manufacturer of purpose built steel formwork. Clients include most major contractors in the UK and Ireland. Projects include tunnel and shaft linings, sea defences, windfarm bases, bridge piers, columns, curved & straight walls, sewage tanks and precast moulds etc. Our CNC manufacturing equipment ensures the highest standards of quality and accuracy.
Dorchester Hotel Service Tunnel, London
Whitelee Wind Farm, Scotland
Bridge Pier, Dublin
Shaft Lining, Norfolk
Special Formwork A division of Mercian Weldcraft Ltd Stubbers Green Rd Aldridge W Midlands WS9 8BN
Fleetwood WWTW
Forth Bridge Columns
Tel: 01922 451909 Fax: 01922 454520
E-mail wdm@formwork.co.uk
Video www.formwork.co.uk/video
Website www.formwork.co.uk Lyme Regis Sea Defences
THE JOSEPH GALLAGHER GROUP 5:1 as a subcontractor. As our turnover hopefully increases to the £100m bracket over the next five years we will pick up more roles as principal contractor. “The duration of our contracts over the last 10 years has increased from one-to-two months to one-to-two years, allowing us to attract and retain staff better because they become more settled and we can offer more stable positions.” Dexter believes the acquired companies strongly complement each other, and that with their expansion of Joseph Gallagher’s capabilities, the decision to take on the existing liabilities of the Johnston business - both its equipment and skilled workforce – has been justified. “We saw synergies in the business, so we could take on the roles played in-house without any additional costs, which reduced the costbase of the company. We already had significant space for equipment and a head office and were able to reduce the office space costs. “The company had some exceedingly good employees and we could integrate the business they had with our existing business and our previous acquisition of Iseki Microtunnelling and our desire to make inroads into the Midlands and northern England.” Gaining Johnston’s directional drilling arm, equipment it had previously lacked, also gave Gallagher directional drilling and auger boring capability, where it had previously had to subcontract.
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Key Personnel
Joseph Gallagher Group Chairman 40 + years experience tunnelling & shaft sinking as Miner, Lead Miner and Foreman for most of the UKs major tunnelling contractors. Founder Joseph Gallagher Ltd, had involvement in almost every major UK tunnelling project as Plant Labour or subcontract suppliers. Helped expand the business into RC frame construction which now forms 40% of turnover.
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JOSEPH GALLAGAR
Launch rings
“We bring a variety of options to the table that many don’t, including very high regard to health and safety, a large engineering input, and an experienced tunnelling workforce” – Richard Dexter, Tunnelling Director, The Joseph Gallagher Group Limited 58
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History These recent developments are just the latest step of a 32-year history. Eponymous founder Gallagher began his own company in 1982 after working for years as lead-miner and foreman for various large contractors. As the new venture grew, the company won its first major contract on the DLR Bank Station project in the late 1980s. Successful completion of the Bank extension to the Docklands light railway laid the foundation of the Group’s reputation for competitive pricing and programme-achievement. True to its background, the company has retained its core activities, including shaft sinking and specialist groundworks, while also expanding into all types of civil engineering and construction, like spray concrete and microtunnelling.
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Projects Boasting a comprehensive set of skills in ground excavation, Joseph Gallagher remains involved in large-scale projects in the capital, including for Crossrail, for which it created five grout shafts at Bond Street C411 for Costain-Skanska, and the Connaught tunnel section of the Connaught passage for Taylor-Woodrow, a contract worth over £6 million. It is still working on the C360 Costain-Skanska Mile-End and Eleanor Street contract worth circa £10m. Elsewhere, for the London Underground, Gallagher is building the Bond Street station upgrade for Costain-Laing O’Rourke for £15m and working on the National Grid London Power Tunnels for Costain-Skanska, valued at £20m over three years. Another specialist area and key part of the business is Gallagher’s exceptional deep basement and zero pile work for private property developers working on multi-storey housing in central London. Gallagher has also performed strongly in the mining sector for a decade, successfully delivering multiple projects for various clients, including a new mine in County Monaghan, Ireland in 2006 for a British Gypsum subsidiary. The Group also recently completed a 1.2 kilometre, eight-metre tunnel for a private mine in Northern Ireland, demonstrating its specialist capabilities in design and construction of mine access tunnels.
Key Personnel
Richard Dexter Tunnelling Director 30 years experience tunnelling and shaft sinking for Cairo wastewater, Channel Tunnel, Jubilee Line extension, CTRL phases 1 & 2 and now Crossrail 315 & 360
Tunnel Construction for Thameslink 2000
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Precast Concrete Solutions. FP McCann offers a complete range of Tunnel and Shaft solutions including our Smoothbore Shafts from 3.66m - 25m diameter, bespoke cover slabs made to specification, full range of Jacking Pipes from DN450 - DN2400 and Caisson Rings from DN2100 - DN4000.
Contact Stuart Carson on 07850 234136 01455 290780 scarson@fpmccann.co.uk www.fpmccann.co.uk
OSIL are proud to be supporting Doosan Enpure with their Bellozanne project. Our in house process consultants consider the initial odour issue, the current legislative targets, legal compliancy and the individuality of the particular site. We then combine our expert process knowledge and product ranges to deliver the most efficient cost effective solutions.
Odour Services International Limited Unit 14, Morston Court, Kingswood Lakeside, Cannock , Staffordshire, WS11 8JB, UK
T: +44 (0) 1543 506855 E: info@osiltd.com W: www.osiltd.com
Key Personnel Drummond Mine
Gallagher often works collaboratively with clients, performing soft ground tunnelling works before the customer takes over for the hard rock mining development, while Gallagher leaves a small crew on-site for additional drill and blast and other works. This provides a more cost-effective solution to customers’ needs. Adaptability Such adaptability has made the company greater than the sum of its parts. While smaller in an industry of giants, Gallagher has punched above its weight, growing revenues fivefold in a decade from £12m to nearing £60m. Dexter believes the company’s ingenuity and attitude to risk has elevated it above many rivals. He said: “We bring a variety of options to the table that many don’t, including very high regard to health and safety, a large engineering input, and an experienced tunnelling workforce. We can value-engineer a client’s scheme to make our input worth people’s faith in us and bring clever
Steve Harvey Managing Director 30 years experience micro-tunnelling, shaft sinking and utilities, early years micro-tunnelling and pipe jacking most of the UK contractors in the field. Managing Director 7 years Laserbore Far East, Project Director for Southern Water, Lewes plus multiple other schemes. Operations Director Brown McNicholas, EDF framework Operations Director for Laing O’Rourke
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THE JOSEPH GALLAGHER GROUP
Tunnel construction
Lowering equipment into the tower 62
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CONSTRUCTION
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Vantage Tower
Staff are all directly employed
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THE JOSEPH GALLAGHER GROUP ideas to the table, such that we can take the client’s original scheme and make it more economic. “We also bring various contract options. Unlike many, we supply labour on a contract basis. For example, half the national grid London power tunnels were labour-supplied for TBM Operations, but the other half was lump-sum work for shaft sinking and spray concrete access tunnels. “There are some who do lump-sum contracting and several labour-only, but very few companies of our size can cope with the risk-profile on modern contracting jobs for high-profile clients.” Opportunities A 500-strong workforce, many of whom have been at the company as long as 20 to 30-plus years, underpins the Group’s achievements, and a growing workload offers greater career opportunities. With health and safety high on the company’s agenda, it is not just employees’ careers that are secure, but those that do choose to move on take away a wealth of on-site experience in various disciplines for a respected company, with the extensive work the Group undertakes. Going forward, there are exciting prospects both for the staff, and the Group itself, as it forges an ever-growing reputation and expands its portfolio and Middle-East strategy. Dexter concluded: “We want to further increase our credibility throughout the various authorities in the Middle-East amongst a lot of competition.
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Company Information INDUSTRY
Construction HEADQUARTERS
Essex, UK FOUNDED
1982 EMPLOYEES
500 REVENUE
£60m PRODUCTS/ SERVICES
Civil Engineering and Construction
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Charcon:
Building made Faster, Smarter and Safer Written by: Joel Levy Produced by: Richard Durrant
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CHARCON
Charcon is setting the standard in an ever-expanding offsite industry, offering efficient, effective structural solutions for a wide range of project specifications
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harcon Construction Solutions is leading the way in the growing UK offsite construction industry with a comprehensive range of innovative structural products and solutions. With a wide selection of prefabricated products for roofing, flooring, foundations, lift and stair cores, structural frames and hydro, the company has won work on several large projects in recent years, and with an impressive portfolio lined up going into 2015, looks set to go from strength-to-strength. Justifiably ambitious Managing Director Andrew Dix is confident that Charcon will come to be recognised as the number one in its industry, setting the standard for lean construction. In doing so, he expects the company to continue growing with new factories and an expanded workforce buying into the mentality that has already made the company a leading light in its sector. This ambition is already being seen in its Morpeth facility, where Charcon has recently expanded both its product range and manufacturing capability with a significant investment into its T-beam range.
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Aggregate Industries Charcon’s partnership with Aggregate Industries in 2009 represented a collaborative
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Construction team on-site
strategy that Dix, former MD of Aggregate, says took full advantage of both companies’ strengths, with start-up Charcon seeking a foothold in a struggling industry during the recession and Aggregate confronting the challenge of corporate entrepreneurship. Since the joint venture agreement, Charcon Construction Solutions has continued to provide quality cross-sector precast concrete solutions, appropriate to the specific and varied needs of residential, school, healthcare,
‘Charcon has recently expanded both its product range and manufacturing capability, with a significant investment into its T-beam range’
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www.springvale.com
Insulation products from the experts... At Springvale we recognise that insulation products must not just perform thermally but also provide exceptional green credentials. Springvale Platinum EPS is not only a modern material but is also one of the most environmentally friendly solutions available. Together with it’s long life qualities Platinum EPS provides a constant performance for the lifetime of the building into which it is installed.
™
Beamshield ™ Ecobead ™ Roofshield ™ Floorshield ™ Hydroshield
These products are only available from Springvale • ECONOMICAL • HIGH PERFORMANCE • VERSATILE • SUSTAINABLE • ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY • ZERO ODP • GWP < 5 • USER FRIENDLY • 100% RECYCLABLE
FLOORS
WALLS
ROOFS
Beamshield Plus Floorshield Gridshield Grooveshield Pipeshield
Ecobead Fulfil Platinum Alreflex Wallshield
Roofshield Hydroshield Roofshield V & S Platinum Warmsark Platinum Warmsqueez
The ultimate combination in insulation.
FM13871:ISO 9001
For free expert advice on how Springvale products can combine to help you achieve SAP 2012 call our technical help line on 0845 769 7452
SUPPLIER PROFILE
SPRINGVALE
AIMC4, Noble Park, Epsom. With kind permission from Crest Nicholson.
Housebuilding, along with energy conservation and our carbon footprint have become hot topics in the media in recent years. Springvale EPS has lead the way in promoting the fabric first approach to house design, incorporating vital increased insulation into the most important possession in any persons lifeâ&#x20AC;Ś their home. From installed systems to retrofit systems Springvale has a proven range of products perfect for this vital role. For many years expanded polystyrene (EPS) was seen as the poor relation to PIR, XPS and fibrous materials but Springvale through extensive testing and development has proven that no other material has the flexibility, robustness, economy and builder friendly credentials of EPS. More stringent building regulations have brought insulation systems into closer focus and the introduction of Springvaleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Platinum products has been perfect in its timing. Beamshield Plus was successfully showcased in the AIMC4 project for Crest Nicholson and is now used extensively to achieve fabric insulation targets within Part L1A and SAP 2012 and every level of the Code for Sustainable Homes. Beamshield Plus has also proven to be of help with the ever-increasing concern over health and safety on building sites. The advantage of using EPS over the concrete blocks it is replacing is a material handling success story and is certain to be a major driver to the use of EPS infill systems in the future.. In walls Platinum Ecobead gives a waste free, fast and economical solution to fully filled cavity walls. The Ecobead advantage over installed solutions is now widely appreciated and the unsurpassed continuity of the thermal envelope will prove to become even more important in years to come. Website: www.springvale.com
CHARCON
Precast concrete for seating and stairs at the Velodrome, London 2012 Olympics 72
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office and commercial buildings. Its extensive services include the supply and installation of precast stairs, landings and bespoke builds, and via its network of offices nationwide, the company is able to offer highprofile schemes complimented by focused project management, tailored to the client’s specific construction requirements and budget. Projects Though it has effectively delivered numerous smaller systems, Charcon’s high-profile projects include works at the Olympic Park for the 2012 Games, where it provided precast concrete for seating and stairs at the Velodrome. Another £600,000 project at Gravesend Station during Christmas last year showcased perfectly the company’s ability to work in tough conditions and the suitability of precast solutions for quick turnaround times. Over 72 cold and windy hours, three crews installed a complete precast concrete platform, allowing the station to quickly return to full operation. Charcon’s expertise in designing, planning and installing specialist precast were tested to their limit to guarantee the platform was installed as-designed on-schedule, with the crews working back-to-back 24 hours a day. That the project was delivered so quickly is testament to the months of careful planning and offsite installation which proceeded it; an approach that typifies the company’s attention to detail.
Key Personnel
Andrew Dix Managing Director
From box culverts and bespoke rail platforms, right through to bespoke precast designs. Whatever the specification, Charcon bring innovation, quality and performance to any project.
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CHARCON
Barge Dock
Kingston Barge
Another fine example of this was seen with Charcon’s skilled work at the £70m Kingston Heights Barge Dock residential development last year. Here the company installed a platform of four concrete heavy load transfer beams to support construction of a new restaurant and accommodation within the development. Time was a key factor due to the barge dock’s location in a public park, and that the work was completed in a few short hours, causing minimal disruption to locals was an important factor that Charcon certainly delivered on. Health and safety Though speed is a defining factor of Charcon’s work, so too is safety. As President of the
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CONSTRUCTION
British Precast Concrete Federation, Dix has made it a priority to promote health and safety standards in the construction industry, and passionately applies this ethos to the wellbeing of the 550 workers Charcon employs across its seven production facilities. Moving construction away from the potential hazards of the on-site location and into the controlled factory conditions eliminates the most common cause of injury and fatally - fall from height. Nowhere is this more relevant than roofing work, and it is an area where the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s innovative MODUROOF solution is helping negate the problem. Built off-site at ground level in the factory before being lifted into position on- site
Charcon is commited to offering training opportunities to its employees
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Griffin Freight Services (Retford) Ltd
General Haulage • Vehicle Mounted Cranes • Red Arrow Courier Service www.griffinfreightservices.co.uk | 01777 705767
BUILD YOUR FUTURE forward thinking. inventive techniques. Lexcel Nig. Ltd is a forward-thinking, multi-disciplinary construction company committed to delivering the best solutions in building and construction within the oil and gas industry. Lexcel is a major player in the Execution of the Multi million Dollar Golf Estate (above right) Construction project in Port Harcourt Nigeria. We offer the following services: Design • Building • Civil Works • Highway Engineering • Dams Pre-Post Construction • Oil & Gas Services With our business model, you get the talent without the overhead, assuring you of responsiveness, flexibility and results.
Contact Us:
LEXCEL House: #2 Owhor Street, Off Liveration Stadium Road, PO Box 7415, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria Plant Yard: Plot 478 Peter Odili Road, Trans Amadi Industrial Layout, PHC
Tel: +234-84-747122, +234-8033093560 Email: alexn.lexcel@gmail.com Web: www.lexcelgroup-ng.com
CHARCON
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by crane, MODUROOF dramatically reduces workers from these dangerous situations which can be made even more treacherous by factors exclusive to an on-site setting, such as poor weather conditions and other site activities. The controlled factory environment additionally reduces the risk of injury from repetitive lifting and use of heavy tools in the less predictable on-site environment. The company is also committed to offering its employees training opportunities to improve their skills and the ability to progress through the ranks. Dix is a firm believer in the promotion of young and local talent, and described how Charcon has recently taken on three apprentices. As a company, it is keen to play an active role in combating the looming skills gap in the UK construction industry, at the same time as championing the benefits of offsite construction as a member of the organisations Build Offsite and the British Precast Association.
MODUROOF solution
Better living Of course it is not just the staff that gain from Charconâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s approach to construction, but also its customers. With Integrated Solutions, many elements of Charconâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s products and services are designed, supplied and installed as a high performance structural shell. Besides offering thermal performance to code level 6 and passive standards, the system offers time and cost certainty, minimal w w w. c h a r c o n c s . c o m
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CHARCON
Residential Build
MODUROOF installation
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waste and architectural design flexibility. With Integrated Solutions, the company’s vision is to create an enhanced living environment which offers better, fresher interior conditions all year round. This is achieved through the quality of the builds, which achieve excellent thermal and acoustic performance, outstanding air tightness and attractive exterior finishes.
Company Information INDUSTRY
Construction HEADQUARTERS
Wiltshire
Suppliers Fundamentally important to Charcon’s success has been the long-term positive relationships built up with suppliers local to its production facilities, including Marshalls, Titan Cement and Breeden. Working closely with trusted partners has been beneficial both to the company and the areas’ industry, with Charcon prepared to pay more to keep the supply chain as local as possible and avoid excess road-miles that damage the environment. It is an appropriate strategy for a company which takes its environmental responsibilities seriously and manufactures highly sustainable products in energy-efficient facilities, with an emphasis on the use of recycled and reclaimed materials. With the manner in which the company invests in young talent, and the dedication and positive attitude of its workforce complementing an innovative spirit, responsible ethos and classleading products, the MD’s ambitions for the future look set to be realised sooner rather than later.
FOUNDED
Not disclosed EMPLOYEES
550 REVENUE
Not disclosed PRODUCTS/ SERVICES
Offsite construction products and solutions
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M+W Group
Sees a World of Opportunity Written by: Sam Jermy Produced by: Rosie Rowe
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M+W GROUP
Global markets are being transformed by technology and the accelerating pace of change. M+W Group, the high-tech engineering and construction company, outlines its approach to delivering the facilities that are helping to shape the modern world
Biomasse facility
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n 1912 in Stuttgart, Germany, Karl Meissner and Paul Wurst invented a revolutionary woodchip extraction system. From these modest beginnings, M+W Group has grown to become today a company that employs over 8,500 people worldwide, operating in over 30 countries and with a turnover of over EUR 3billion. Applying innovation and engineering excellence remains firmly at core of the group. With its extensive technology, process and design and construction engineering resources in-house, the company only operates in high-tech sectors. Specialising in engineering, procurement and construction, M+W Group delivers stateof-the-art manufacturing facilities, energy solutions and scientific research centres. By focusing in this way, the company has become recognised as a market leader in the delivery of new facilities in a number of industry sectors
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including semiconductors, photovoltaics, pharmaceuticals and waste to energy. The company also designs, fabricates and installs precision HVAC systems and ultrahigh purity pipework solutions for the most demanding operational environments including the nuclear and microprocessor industries. Working with major blue-chip organisations, the foremost science and research institutes as well as the most innovative technology companies, M+W Group has a demonstrable track record of delivering many of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most advanced and technically challenging construction projects. The challenge of remaining at the cuttingedge of technological developments â&#x20AC;&#x201C; both in the industry sector and in the application of the latest construction methodologies â&#x20AC;&#x201C; means that the company is continuously seeking new and improved ways of working.
Above: Segment chemicals facility
8,500 Number of staff the company employs across more than 30 countries
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M+W GROUP
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Alex Goude, M+W Group’s Business Development Director for North West Europe, explains; “The projects M+W Group delivers are technically challenging, highly complex and never standard. Achieving the best results demands a different mindset and a specialist approach. So, rather than starting with, ‘how we are going to build this?’ we start by asking, ‘what is our client looking to achieve and what do we need to engineer to deliver it?’ It’s a fundamental difference of approach that focuses on our client’s aims first rather than the required input.” Key to the M+W Group approach is the role that technology and people play in the process. As Alex states: “First and foremost, having the best people and the right culture is absolutely critical. Engineers are by their nature problem
SUPPLIER PROFILE
“The projects M+W Group delivers are technically challenging, highly complex and never standard” – Alex Goude, Business Development Director for North West Europe
ICE ELECTRICAL
I.C. Electrical Ltd is based in Burton upon Trent, Stafford, and was founded in 1986. Our highly skilled and experienced electrical contractors offer complete electrical engineering solutions across the UK, from cost analysis and budget preparation, through to in-house electrical design, including Control panel design, HV and LV electrical system design, communications system design, automation system design, small power and lighting design. Website: www.icelectrical.co.uk
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POWER TO THE PEOPLE At BPS World each project and every placement demands the same exacting standards. It’s thanks to our people, who challenge the status quo, push harder and look further every time to deliver great results on time and in budget. It’s our clients, who seek the best and brightest and reach higher to find them. And, it’s our candidates who want to work with a partner who understands their career path and strives for the very best outcome.
So, if you are looking to Engineer a change Think BPS World - Powering the change in Recruitment. Website – www.bps-world.com Follow us on twitter @bps_world Facebook – BPS World LinkedIn company page – BPS World Nominated for the REC best recruitment company to work for A top 250 listed recruitment company 2014
M+W GROUP
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solvers and, as an engineering-led company, M+W Group is an organisation with innovation in its DNA. We are constantly looking to apply technologies and methods from across other industries to improve our performance. An important part of our approach is that we are technology neutral. Every one of the projects we are responsible for is unique and only by working with the technology best suited to meet our client’s specific needs can we ensure that our solutions are fit for purpose. We have to work hard to ensure we fully understand the technology options we have but it’s one of the key things that differentiates us from our competition. Once we have got the value-added element – the technology – right we can ‘wrap’ the building around it. Many of the facilities we deliver are
Babraham project
SUPPLIER PROFILE
BPS
BPS World is a resourcing specialist with a difference, we believe in rethinking the world of resourcing to deliver a best in class service for our clients and candidates. Our resourcing experts work with clients globally to optimise and enhance their talent and resourcing programmes. We push the boundaries through our innovative solutions and our capability is far broader than the traditional recruitment remit. Website: www.bps-world.com
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“In 2007 we were turning over about £20 million and had about 25 staff; today we have well over 800 in the UK and we turnover approximately half a billion euros” – Alex Goude
The 42 metres high, ‘Blue Turm’ demonstrations project Herten, Germany
EUROPE
more akin to machines rather than buildings”
Key Personnel
Strong and sustainable growth Just over a century has seen M+W Group grow significantly. Most recently, the UK has mirrored the Group’s success. Alex explains: “In 2007 we were turning over about £20 million and had about 25 staff; today we have well over 800 in the UK and we turnover approximately half a billion euros (€500 million). That this was achieved against a backdrop of the most challenging economic environment in generations is testament to the quality of the solutions we are able to offer and our strategic focus.” Being global also helps as Alex explains, “Our strategy is based on working only with customers that share our values and with whom we can work on a repeat-order, collaborative basis. We also focus only on the growth markets in those regions where the investment plans are visible and underpinned by long-term economic and regulatory needs. There are of course, parts of the world that are at a different level of development in certain sectors. For example, in the UK, our markets in the nuclear and waste to energy sectors are particularly buoyant. We see a great opportunity to take the knowledge and lessons learnt from working on the projects here and applying them to the overseas markets that are looking to develop the next generation of facilities in these sectors. Another advantage of being global is that
Alex Goude Business Development Director NW Europe Alex has over 15 years experience working in the construction sector across a range of market sectors including energy and utilities, engineering and infrastructure, telecommunications and marine. He is responsible for Business Development across the UK, Ireland, Benelux and Scandinavian region and has been part of the senior management team responsible for successfully expanding the business across this region.
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MD-2 DUAL-DECK SHALE SHAKER WITH DURAFLO COMPOSITE SCREEN TECHNOLOGY
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International HR consultancy specializing in the implementation and support of SAP SuccessFactors and SAP HCM. www.gavdi.com
Gavdi, the people management solutions company
Andy Hodges E. aeh@gavdi.com | T. +44 (0)7557 910330
Design, engineering and project management of the construction of distribution facilities, offices, laboratories, factories and public buildings in Western Europe. abetec@abetec.be www.abetec.be
M+W GROUP
EUROPE
we can allocate the technical resources and expertise necessary to meet our client’s specific needs, wherever they are in the world”. Because of the global markets M+W Group operates in, one of the key challenges facing the company is selecting which are the best opportunities to pursue. Alex states “The last thing we are trying to be is all things to all men in all places. Delivering on our promises is key to our future success and it is essential that we do not dilute our approach. We are therefore extremely thorough in our selection process of the projects to become involved in.” An example of the success that M+W Group’s focused approach has had is the company’s recent appointment to deliver major programmes of work in the nuclear sector both in the UK and in Finland. The company is on course to undertake over £100 million of work in the sector from a virtual standing start just a few years ago. A key element in securing these contracts was demonstrating the strength of M+W Group’s engineering capability, technology integration expertise as well as the company’s leadership in lean construction. The company now has the opportunity to challenge the existing providers of construction services with new thinking, new techniques and a fresh attitude to set a new benchmark. Another area that the company sees as key to the successful project delivery is the implementation of lessons learnt from other
For more than ten years, M+W Group has been the market leader in the design and construction of new and upgraded photovoltaic fabs
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M+W GROUP
Aerial view of Biffa facilities
“We think the future is a very positive place and the challenges for us will be retaining, attracting the requisite calibre of staff as there is always a skills shortage in the UK” – Alex Goude
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industries and experience from elsewhere around the world. Alex explains, “many of the techniques and disciplines involved in designing and constructing a multi-billion dollar semi-conductor production facility, ontime and on budget, are relevant, for example, to the delivery of the major energy projects. Often, the complexity and scale are directly comparable. The best companies – the learning organisations - strive relentlessly to improve their performance. M+W Group is determined to be a leader in each of the sectors we operate in”. Future focus For M+W Group, the trends of increasing global population and urbanisation alongside changing patterns of consumption are driving demand in areas that play to the company’s strengths. Alex states, “By focusing only on high-tech sectors and investing in equipping our people with the latest technology and training they need to be
EUROPE
leaders in their fields, our aim is that M+W Group is the trusted partner of choice. Whether that’s for a new and more sustainable source of energy; or for a state-of-the-art production facility to produce the most advanced products we want; or for a research laboratory that will enable the next breakthrough in medical science.” Alex explains “Because of the long-term potential of the markets we operate in, our focus will remain on serving our clients in our core sectors. We also see compelling opportunities to expand geographically. To cite just one example, we believe there is significant potential to offer renewable energy and waste management solutions in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. With this in mind, we are developing our plans for the next phase of our growth, using the experience and expertise we have developed in places like the UK, and applying it to new international markets”. For over a hundred years M+W Group has grown to become established as a major global engineering and construction company. What, then, is next for the company? “Over the next five years M+W Group will deliver many of the world’s largest and most technically challenging projects working in some of the most dynamic industry sectors. The achievements of the people at M+W Group since we were first established are incredible. However, I think the next phase of our development is going to be the most exciting yet”.
Company Information INDUSTRY
Construction / Energy HEADQUARTERS
Stuttgart, Germany FOUNDED
1912 EMPLOYEES
800+ in UK REVENUE
Worldwide c. €3 billion+ PRODUCTS/ SERVICES
Construction and engineering
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TIW Steel Platework Inc.
TIW Steel Platework Inc. Houses Experience and Efficacy Leading the industry since 1907, TIW Steel Platework Inc. attains consistent product quality and customer satisfaction throughout Canada Written by: Stephanie C. Ocano
Produced by: Rich Gentile
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API 650 Storage Tanks Under Construction In Central Alberta
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riginally known as the Toronto Iron Works Company, TIW Steel Platework Inc. has grown since its inception in 1907 to evolve into a fully-integrated unit of mechanical design, manufacture, construction and service repair. Part of the Canadian Erectors (Canerector) groups of companies, TIW is engaged in the fabrication, construction and distribution sectors of the steel industry. The nature of work that TIW accomplishes requires an extensive technical support staff which is fully conversant with the applicable building codes and procedures. 96
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Founded by 3 partners in 1947 as Canadian Erectors Limited, the company began as a small boiler field repair business in Montreal, Canada. Over time, the company expanded its capabilities to include the engineering and fabrication of structural steel and field erected storage tanks. In 1978, Stan Hawkins, one of the original shareholders, and his son Cecil, purchased the partners’ shares and began to establish a new framework for the business which harmonized their love of the company with good management principles. ““In 1983, TIW, originally known as Toronto Iron Works, was purchased
CANADA
TIW Head Office and Fabrication Facility - St. Catharines Onatrio
by Canerector and has continued to operate as an autonomous subsidiary to the present day,” said John Raposo, General Sales Manager. “As a whole, Canadian Erectors owns and oversees something in the neighborhood of 60 divisions and we’re one of them,” continued Raposo.
is empower our people to be self-sufficient – make their own decisions,” said Raposo. “We do that by paying them well, by giving them yearly bonuses and pretty decent benefits. Overall, if you’re an employee, we’re a company you’d like to work for and you can see that from our turnover. Our turnover is very low.” An Experienced and The turnover rate at TIW is indeed Empowered Workforce very low, and when questioned what When it comes to the staff at TIW, the primary reason believed to be the management system is viewed for this outcome, Raposo said it as traditional. Employees are given a was “because we share the wealth sense of empowerment and the trust with everybody.” to exceed. The senior management of TIW “What we generally like to do Steel Platework Inc. believes that a w w w. t i w s t e e l p l a t e w o r k . c a
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Safety First. Quality Second to None.
Advance Coating Solutions Inc. is honoured to celebrate 45 years in the industrial market. Advance is an industry leader with an extensive range of coating capabilities. These include application of internal and external coatings to the vast volume of steel in the industry; including pipelines and storage tanks. Our fleet of portable abrasive blasting and coating units are complimented by NACE trained employees. Thus providing our clients with exceptional production and a lasting, high quality end product. Advance continually invests energy into product & process development and innovation, allowing for responsiveness to the evolving demands of the oil and gas industry.
10130-24st NW | Edmonton AB | 780-449-1700 | 1 866 Blast 4U | www.AdvanceCoating.com
T I W S T E E L P L AT E W O R K I N C . truly professional and successful company must have a good safety record, including the protection and preservation of the natural environment. TIW endorses a safety program as the framework in which they execute their work in the pursuit of a safety performance that will further reduce their accident frequency. “Our near-misses have dropped year over year,” said Jack Strohak, Regional Sales Manager at TIW. “Our safety record is practically second to none as far as the type of work that we do.” “We have a full safety manual with
SUPPLIER PROFILE
CANADA
written procedures for all the work operations that we perform and this is monitored and updated as needed and on a required basis,” Strohak added. In order to achieve optimum safety records, TIW insists on the involvement and co-operation of employees and subcontractors at all levels. All employees and subcontractors are expected to be familiar with and work within the Safety Program, the Provincial Health and Safety Act, Regulations and Guidelines pertaining to their work. What sets TIW employees apart
ADVANCE COATING SOLUTIONS
Advance Coating Solutions Inc. is honoured to celebrate 45 years in the industrial market. Advance is an industry leader with an extensive range of coating capabilities. These include application of internal and external coatings to the vast volume of steel in the industry; including pipelines and storage tanks. Our fleet of portable abrasive blasting and coating units are complimented by NACE trained employees. Providing our clients with exceptional production and a lasting, high quality end product. Advance continually invests energy into product and process development & innovation, allowing for responsiveness to the evolving demands of the oil and gas industry. Website: www.advancecoating.com w w w. t i w s t e e l p l a t e w o r k . c a
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Family owned and operated
Empire Transportation Ltd. is a trucking company that specializes in the transportation of oversize, and overweight cargo. For over 40 years, our professional staff has built a foundation of trust, reliable service and unsurpassed customer satisfaction. Contact us, or visit our website, to find out what we can move for you today!
905-945-9654 | 800-263-0240 | www.empiretrans.com
Full-Contact Surface Design Reduces Emission Surface Area by 97%
Sandborn Roofs has been manufacturing and installing our patented full-contact internal floating roof (IFR) systems since 1979, servicing oil and gas producers in North America and across the globe. Please contact us, or visit our website, for more information about our full line of storage tank products.
www.sandborn.ca
•
info@sandborn.ca
BRETON ND TESTING INC With 35 years of experience, Breton ND Testing Inc. provides the latest innovative techniques in non-destructive testing (NDT), quality assurance and quality control services. We are committed to providing you with state of the art NDT services, efficiently and cost-effectively, and performed to your complete satisfaction. Western Division 220 Fullerton Drive, Fort McMurray Alberta, Canada T9K 1R5 780-715-0382
eastern Division 2054 Sydney Road, Reserve Mines Nova Scotia, Canada B1E 1J8 902-842-9220
A proud service provider for T I W TL & LTL Service Throughout North America: • Open Deck • 3PL Services
• Dry Van • Warehousing / Cross-Dock
Customer Service: 1-800-265-6460 sales@keystonewestern.com
Keystone Western Inc. P.O. Box 460 • Ile Des Chenes, MB, • R0A 0T0
www.bretonndtesting.ca
www.keystonewestern.com
T I W S T E E L P L AT E W O R K I N C .
CANADA
– making them successful and valued? They’re all experienced. “Working in the line of work that we do, experience and safety are paramount. This is necessary to be successful in what we do,” said Raposo. “We pride ourselves in being big enough to handle the largest steel platework projects in Canada, and yet in the slow times, we still retain all of our people,” said Strohak. “We’re big enough to handle the heat, if you will, and when the cool time comes we’re not laying off our people.”
really where it’s most important for construction. A lot of what we do is welding.” There is a plethora of equipment that has to be updated and maintained at TIW. From welding equipment to generators, each step in the construction process has its own unique set of equipment. “For all of our equipment, in addition to the maintenance of it, we probably spend on average $200,000 to $500,000 per year,” said Raposo. TIW is registered to the international quality management system standard ISO 9001-2008. Operating at Optimum TIW additionally has project Efficiency management software in place that When it comes to the fabrication aids in the execution and accuracy and construction of steel platework of our projects. structures, technology has to be “We work to the standards consistently updated to meet the developed by the company – all latest demands. our guys,” said Raposo. “We’re “Overall, we’re consistently trying computerized, so everyone has a to get better and most of what we computer on their desk and they all do is update our cutting equipment work from spreadsheets developed in the shop,” said Raposo. “This by the company.” expedites production and it helps TIW primarily operates from its get steel out to the shop. We also 150,000 sq. ft. processing plant always try to modernize our welding located in St. Catharines, Ontario. It equipment because in the field that’s is the company’s primary operations w w w. t i w s t e e l p l a t e w o r k . c a
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site, including its head office and fabrications facility. A project office is additionally located in Nisku, Alberta primarily housing those in project management. “We’re a niche company. We as a company service any industry that requires steel plate-type structures and that could be food, chemical, oil, mining, pulp and paper – anyone that has a need for structures that are cylindrical in shape and need to be designed, fabricated and constructed,” said Raposo. “That’s our niche 102
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Company Information INDUSTRY
Construction HEADQUARTERS
Ontaio, Canada FOUNDED
1907 EMPLOYEES
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market, that’s where we excel. For us to be competitive and excel in that product, we have to have all those elements – such as the engineering and fabrication and construction all as part of the package. We consider ourselves a specialized company because everything we do is custom.”
REVENUE
$50 M
Looking Ahead “TIW has a good, healthy backlog,” said Raposo. “We are very busy for sure until the spring of 2015. Having been in this business as long as I have, with talking about this particular division, in regards to the future for TIW, the oil patch is very promising and should keep us employed for I can see four years from now. For the next four years we should be in a very good position.”
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CEDA Group:
A Full Range of Services, Without Compromise CEDA Group full range of industrial services manages to be both wide in scope and high in quality. Written by: Kevin Smead
Produced by: Rich Gentile
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Maintenance, Fort McMurray
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hen it comes to industrial maintenance, CEDA Group truly is a one-stopshop. From pressure and vacuum to mechanical services, CEDA does it all. In total, the company offers more than 130 different services. It has also recently added a pipeline division and has already seen business take off. Though primarily based Fort McMurray, Alberta, CEDAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work expands across Saskatchewan and Ontario as well. The company works with clients of varying sizes and is the only full-service industrial services provider in the region. With such a large scope of operations,
According to company director Neal Barnes, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one aspect of CEDA that remains the key to its continued success
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Industrial Scaffold Services L .P. FIRST IN SAFETY AND SERVICE
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Western Canada’s leading provider of scaffold and associated services Maintenance Shutdowns Turnarounds New Construction Environmental Containment
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Enterprise offers you a total transportation solution to meet your specific project needs. Enterprise. We’ll Pick You Up.® 1 888 rent-a-truck (1-888-736-8287) www.enterprisetrucks.ca Erica Drader | erica.g.drader@erac.com | 1-403-640-8838
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CEDA GROUP
CANADA
success can sometimes be getting the people here,” Barnes said. fleeting. CEDA, however, has Also important, is that once managed to stay at the top of its they’re there, they don’t tend to field and still provide all the services want to leave. it has come to be known for. “We’ve been really fortunate to retain a lot of our long-term A People-Focused Company employees,” Barnes said. “Our According to company director people are the key to our success, Neal Barnes, there’s one aspect of and like every large corporation, CEDA that remains the key to its we have a strategic plan, but it’s continued success. all driven based off the quality “Our biggest thing is our people,” he personnel that we carry to help said. “We have our core values, and our realize those plans.” people are one of them.” This is especially important to a Values at its Core company such as CEDA, in which While people are a major factor in the great employees aren’t exactly easy company’s success, they’re only one to come by. part of its larger set of core values. “Workforce is always a challenge in “Our core values are how we our area,” he explained. “The biggest govern our corporation,” Barnes challenge for the Canadian market is explained. “They guide us through the people and getting them here. We everything we do corporately. They have relocation programs in effect and go right back to our CEO Kevin Fleury we’re really trying to recruit more locally and we’re a big believer in them.” rather than having to fly everyone in Their values include a major focus from the coasts or abroad.” on safety, communication, and The company offers relocation accountability. programs for employees, “Every month we have a different encouraging them to move to core value we focus on CEDA wide,” Alberta so they can be closer to the Barnes said. “Some months it’s our heart of the business. customers, some months its trust “We’re having great success in or integrity. We just really make sure w w w. c e d a g ro u p . c o m
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Setting Higher Standards â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Always
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CEDA GROUP our people believe in those values as we believe in them as a corporation. Those really do deliver the best service to our customers.” As Barnes explained, these values play an ever-present role in the company’s operations. “When you work in the oil sands up here, it’s such a high-pace environment. Those core values are probably tested every day,” he said. “Stuff goes sideways really quick. If you’re not transparent with your customers and there’s not that integrity of doing a good job at a fair price, and there’s not honesty in your work, and if you don’t put customers first and your people ahead of everything, you’ll have a hard time succeeding in the marketplace. You have to place your core values first and let them drive your business.” These values have afforded CEDA partnerships with many major companies whose trust repeat business is the ultimate goal. CEDA is committed to maintaining partnerships with all companies it works it, no matter the size. “You’re only as strong as your weakest link,” Barnes said. “The relationship with your vendors
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is earned over time. For Suncor and Syncrude, we’ve been there 30 years and we have that trust, openness, and honesty for how we operate. For the third-party people we do into business with, we’re not in it for a one-shot deal—we want a sustainable relationship where they can grow and we can grow with them. In any relationship, there are good points and bad points. The thing is, the stronger you can make your teammates, the stronger you can operate as well.” In the Pipeline In addition to its new pipeline service, CEDA is always looking toward improving. Because CEDA is a truly full-services company, its main improvement focus is increasing efficiency. “We ask how we can crossleverage our services to drive better value to our customers,” Barnes said. “We have 15 to 20 service lines CEDA offers, but we’re focused on how we can bundle those up and get a bargain to our customer without actually sacrificing our bottom line.” Naturally, this is something CEDA’s w w w. c e d a g ro u p . c o m
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customers are looking for. They want more bang for their buck, and CEDA is always looking for ways to make that happen. This is leading to growth for CEDA, as instead of hiring multiple companies to complete a job, customers can simply hire CEDA to perform and manage all the work. “Now, we’re bundling up packages where we’ll use our pressure and vacuum and mechanical division to offer what we call a blind-to-blind service,” Barnes explained. “We’ll walk in, you can turn over and exchange your bank to us, and we’ll handle all the in-betweens instead of hiring four or five contractors to facilitate that work. We can facilitate all that work ourselves in-house, since we own all the service lines. That’s where we’re trying to drive value to manage our customers’ overheads and costs while still delivering that service.” While it’s always looking for improvement strategies, CEDA’s long-term plan is purposely not nailed down. “We’re looking to organically grow,” Barnes said. “We’ve acquired so many companies over the last five to seven years and now we’re in organic growth mode where we’re really looking at expanding the markets we’re in and getting the service line exposures at more sites.” In the short term, Barnes said the company is just looking to get through the rest of the year, since 2015 is shaping up to be a very busy year for CEDA Group.
Company Information INDUSTRY
Specialty Contractor HEADQUARTERS
Alberta, Canada FOUNDED
1973 EMPLOYEES
2200-2300 REVENUE
$750 Million
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Govan
Progress in Constru
Senior Partner Jon Taylor discusses sustai apart for employe Written by: Sasha Orman
Complementing the open natural aesthetic of Torontoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gluskin Sheff office are gorgeous paintings that warmphoto credited to Maris Mezulis Photography
Brown:
uction Management
inability, growth, and what sets Govan Brown ees and clients alike Produced by: Rich Gentile
G O VA N B R O W N
Greeting vistors at the Fasken Martineau office in Calgary is this high-end reception space
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wenty years ago, Ralph Govan and John Brown founded Govan Brown Construction Managers to serve Torontoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s construction industry. Today, the business stretches across most of Canada and is widely recognized as a progressive leader in the field 116
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of construction management. In 2003, Jon Taylor joined the firm as its third partner. A Place of Progress Govan Brown is a brand committed to progress on several fronts, making significant investments
CONSTRUCTION
to enhance its capabilities in technology and improving on its integrated management accounting systems. “We have been recognized for a number of years as leaders in our industry in CMIC which is an integrated suite of packages that allows us to fully integrate
the accounting and the project management functions,” says Jon Taylor.. “We invested heavily in developing and rolling that out across our entire organization, and it has provided us with a real robust way of tracking and managing costs on every construction project that w w w. g o v a n b ro w n . c o m
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…because performance matters
TM
35 Benson Steel is committed to working collaboratively with all of our clients. We continually strive to provide superior solutions in order to meet the unique demands of each project. Our clients are testaments to our never ending commitment to quality …because performance matters.
72 Commercial Road | Bolton, Ontario | L7E 1K4 | Canada 905-857-0684 | fax 905-857-4005 | www.bensonsteel.com
200 Konrad Crescent | Markham, Ontario, L3R 8T9 P 905.474.9951 | F 905.475.1943
G O VA N B R O W N we undertake, regardless of size or complexity. We’re really proud of that, and it’s a real differentiator.” The company is also dedicated to sustainability and green building, participating in around 50 LEEDcertified projects totaling upwards of 3 million square feet throughout Canada over the years. Even as the trend of LEED certification has ebbed, Govan Brown continues to offer its clients a focus on green building tenets such as minimized waste, maximum recycling and sorting of materials, and sourcing environmentally responsible construction materials. “We have a lot of younger people in our organization, and I think the environment and the responsibility that we play as an organization is important to them – we’re very committed to it, and it’s a big part of our culture and our business,” says Taylor, noting that the company offers encouragement and education compensation to employees interested in seeking out LEED accreditation. “It’s part of our corporate culture across the country.” People and Places: The Govan
CANADA
Brown Difference Govan Brown’s corporate culture is a vital part of what sets the brand apart – it’s a culture dedicated to promoting safety, excellence, and empowerment among Govan Brown’s employee base. It is also a culture that has also garnered significant recognition, as the company has been named among Canada’s Best Managed Companies list for six years in a row and have requalified for a 7th win. “We’re really proud of that,” says Taylor. “It’s something you have to requalify for every year, and we continue to improve – but I always look at it as a real testament to our staff and our team members across the country, and their commitment to Govan Brown and to our clients.” After all, it’s the people who make the business continue to grow and thrive year after year. “Govan Brown is a name and it’s a brand – but really, Govan Brand is all about the people we have,” says Taylor. “We have an incredible group of people across the country who are totally committed to our business and to our clients. In the end, a construction business is all about people and w w w. g o v a n b ro w n . c o m
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G O VA N B R O W N
Holt Renfrew’s Calgary location is the jewel of the Core Shopping Centre
making sure we’re all aligned and growing in the same direction. That’s what differentiates us.” Another part of what separates Govan Brown from the competition is the fact that its corporate culture extends across the country, where the business has offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa in addition to its headquarters in Toronto. “Our other real key differentiator 120
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is having that footprint across the country to serve our clients on a national basis, adds Taylor. “Most CM companies are very regional or city-based in nature, but what we have done is build a national network of offices owned by Govan Brown so that we’re able to execute projects across the country for our key clients. When someone has fifteen projects across Canada, they can turn to us and we can serve
CANADA
them nationally through our local network of offices. That’s been a real growth driver for us.” What the Future Holds for Govan Brown Growth is the name of the game for Govan Brown, both in the present and in the future ahead. The business moved its national headquarters into a state-of-the-art new office a year ago and it’s only up from there. “We have a lot of exciting projects and mandates with companies like Nordstrom and La Maison Simons, and so we’re going to continue to grow our businesses regionally,” says Taylor, noting that Govan Brown may even expand its offices further into Atlantic Canada within the next few months. In addition to diversifying its geography, the business is also actively working to diversify what it can offer its clients. “Through good fortune and some hard work by key people, we’ve able to diversify away from just the corporate office interiors,” says Taylor. “Now we’re doing corporate office interiors, hospitality – restaurants and entertainment facilities – and retail. So we’re going to continue to grow those parts of our business, and I’m really excited about the next few years at Govan Brown. We have a unique space in our market with our national presence, a really good team of up-and-coming young people and seasoned veterans, and I think our business will continue to grow. We’re very excited about what the future holds.”
Company Information INDUSTRY
Construction management HEADQUARTERS
Ontario, Canada FOUNDED
1994 EMPLOYEES
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How ISM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; In Uses Modern Values to
ISM has grown to be an industr commercial, institutional, tra
ISM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Industrial Steel Manufacturing Inc.
ndustrial Steel Manufacturing n Technology and Old World Rise Above the Competition
ry leader by offering Steel Construction Solutions servicing the ansportation and natural resource sectors in Western Canada. Written by: Lindsey Ryan
Produced by: Rich Gentile
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I N D U S T R I A L S T E E L M A N U FA C T U R I N G I N C .
High Street night shot of the top floor commercial space
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SM- Industrial Steel Manufacturing has developed a strong reputation as a leading steel construction firm since 2002. E. Mario Scarpinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passion for the Steel Industry began when he was 10 years old, when he built his first steel wood burning oven in his parentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s garage. The company was started by E. Mario Scarpino after he developed a strong reputation as an experienced Steel Fabricator and Erector in his first company he owned, EMS Steel. His knowledge and success within the steel industry allowed Mario to be a proud nominee of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2008. 124
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Mario is proud of his aboriginal heritage, stressing the importance of supporting the Aboriginal community by offering apprenticeships and educational opportunities through ACCESS (Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society). In fact, approximately 10% of the manufacturing team consists of graduates from this program. ISM was a sponsor at the ACCESS 2nd Urban Aboriginal Charity Golf Tournament this last June. Why Choose ISM? The company offers a wide variety
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An aerial shot of the first steel fabrications installed on site at the Tssawwassen Mills project in the summer of 2014
of in-house services through steel fabrication, steel detailing, connection design engineering, logistics, and steel erection that allows the customer to have all their steel construction needs completed and managed at one location, saving time and money. Using modern 3D detailing software (TEKLA Structures), ISM efficiently creates and modifies grids, models parts and bolts, imports and exports graphic 2D and 3D data, and much more in terms of steel detailing and design. This world-class BIM (building information modeling) software
allows ISM to share the 3D model with the entire construction team, effectively enhancing the projectsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; overall constructability efficiencies. Though ISM originally started in a 6000 square foot manufacturing space, the company has upgraded its facility several times throughout the years as the company has continually grown. In 2012, Mario purchased Harris Rebarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s large manufacturing facility in Delta, British Columbia. The company currently operates on a 2.6 acre parcel, including a 35,000 square foot steel fabrication shop and a 10,000 square foot CNC steel w w w. i s m b c . c a
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Quality Workmanship Covering all of your industrial coatings and linings needs.
60 Years strong
A b r A s i v e b l A s t i n g | tA n k & P i P e C o At i n g s , l i n i n g s
M e tA l l i z i n g | P l u r A l C o M P o n e n t A P P l i C At i o n s
Dynacor Coatings specializes in all forms of field maintenance coatings and shop applications. 7753 Berg Road, R.R. #7 Delta, BC Canada V4G 1B9 604-946-0136 | fax 604-946-1640 www.dynacorcoatings.com
Varsteel Ltd. offers over 60 years of supply and service to our customers. Our company’s continued commitment to quality and reliability with every product ensures our customer’s satisfaction. Colin H. Becenko C.becenko@Varsteel.ca General Manager
Tim Fehr Tim.fehr@varsteel.ca Processing Manager
Varsteel ltd. 6, 8500 River Road | Vancouver (Delta) | British Columbia V4G 1B5 604-946-2717 | 866-544-1953
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3D Structural Modeling, Detailing, BIM Services & Technology Solutions for Construction “Some Say It Can’t Be Done – We Think Different”
VANCOUVER | MONTREAL | TORONTO | OREGON | UK | MANILA Canadian ReselleR foR :
www.dowco.com
info@dowco.com
Jurek Jurek@Varsteel.ca Outside Sales Rep
I N D U S T R I A L S T E E L M A N U FA C T U R I N G I N C . processing shop. This ideal steel fabrication facility boasts a 50,000 square foot secured yard, 445 feet of crane way, and 4 large overhead cranes, providing the epitome of an “in and out production facility.” As the steel fabrication shop houses a massive 80 foot clear span, “side to side,” ISM has the unique ability to fabricate and transport the largest steel fabrications. As an added bonus, ISM is a few blocks away from barge loading (direct access to the Fraser River leading into the Pacific Ocean) and a stone’s throw away from the largest steel warehouses in Western Canada and heavy-duty industrial coating specialists. In January of 2014, ISM installed a new 42 inch CNC Structural Steel Saw to compliment the CNC Drill Line already in service. Only one month later, the company also installed a new CNC Plate Processing machine, reaching 100% vertical integration. Rob Thomas (Operations Manager) noted, “with recently upgraded CNC equipment and a new larger modern facility, along withthe administrative, manufacturing, and erection teams
scaled up, ISM has the experience and production capacity to tackle the largest steel construction and fabrication projects. We are consistently delivering safe, efficient, and high volume steel fabrications, catering to various industries in Western Canada.” Strict Quality Assurance programs foster overall Construction Excellence in all operations. Mario Scarpino is still doing it the old fashioned way, leading by example with multiple HSE (Health, Safety, Environmental) platforms such as BCCA/COR, ISNetworld, and Complyworks. We asked Mario Scarpino (President), “why does ISM maintain multiple HSE platforms?” Mario simply answered, “because our goal is to be the best, safest steel construction firm on the planet. ISM engaged third party firms, such as ISNetworld and Complyworks, to enable ISM’s partners to review our HSE, QA and insurance credentials 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The amount of time we have saved our customers by offering this ‘online’ pre-qualification service has been incredible.” w w w. i s m b c . c a
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I N D U S T R I A L S T E E L M A N U FA C T U R I N G I N C . Recent Projects ISM was selected by Graham Construction in 2012 to fabricate, detail, and install all structural, miscellaneous and secondary steel for the High Street Lifestyle Development Project, located in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Completed in 2013, this LEED certified building was one of the first of its kind for its size in Canada to achieve this certification. The project, encompassing 3175 tonnes of fabricated steel, spanning 13 structures, has been one of the largest projects ISM has collaborating on since its incorporation in 2002. ISM is currently collaborating on the Tsawwassen Mills Project (Ledcor/ Ivanhoe Cambridge), a 1,200,000 square foot commercial development on Aboriginal First Nations Land, encompassing over 6000 tons of structural and miscellaneous steel. As featured on Global British Columbia TV in September 2014, the mall began construction earlier this year and is expected to be completed in the spring/summer of 2016. Once complete, it will be one of the 128
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largest single-story, single-structure commercial developments in Canada. It is one of the first major developments on Tsawwassen First Nation Land and considering ISM’s Aboriginal heritage, there is no doubt they are perfect for the job. Looking Forward Anthony Arduini CME CSE, ISM’s Business Development Manager concluded “we anticipate strong growth over the next 5-10 years as ISM increases its presence in the Oil, Gas and Mining sectors, while building on our long-standing relationships within the Commercial, Institutional, and Transportation sectors. We are expecting FID (final investment decision) announcements from the LNG (liquefied natural gas) proponents in early 2015, in anticipation of multibillion dollar construction projects. ISM has already been invited to provide steel constructions budgets to provide steel construction solutions on multiple proposed LNG facilities along the West Coast of British Columbia.” Mario Scarpino also states, “with continued demand, ISM will
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Company Information INDUSTRY
Construction HEADQUARTERS
Delta BC, Canada
Artistic rendering of a bird’s eye view of the Tsawwassen Mills project
FOUNDED
continue to invest in upgrading existing CNC steel fabrication technology. We are looking to upgrade the existing CNC drill-line with an even more efficient 3-axis CNC drill line.” This investment in high-tech CNC fabrication technology adds to ISM’s ongoing commitment of continuous improvement. It should also be noted that ISM supports the industry they serve and are currently members of multiple organizations including the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC), the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum (CIMMP), the Mining Suppliers Association of British Columbia (MSABC), the Canadian Heavy Oil Association (CHO) and the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA). With its modern technology, experienced team, industry involvement, and consistent growth over the last 12 years, it is clear that ISM has a bright and busy future in the steel construction industry. ISM. Your Primary Steel Connection.
2002 EMPLOYEES
90 – 120 REVENUE
25 - 30 million
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Santco
Formworks
Santo Formworks: Making a Mark on Montrealâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Skyline
Santco Formworks aims high with a commitment to safety, innovation, and quality service Written by: Sasha Orman
Produced by: Rich Gentile
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Santco Formwork has made a name for itself in Quebec and beyond as a leading contractor in the field of concrete structure and superstructure formwork for residential, commercial and industrial, and civil engineering projects. But the business is also more than that. It’s a tight knit family business, founded by Antonio Santoriello in 1982 and headed today by his six sons who manage the business and personally oversee each project that the business takes on. As a fully family-owned business to this day, Santco Formwork remains committed to operating 132
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on the values of product quality, productivity, security, and above all customer satisfaction. A Strong Team Even after more than thirty years in business, Santco Formwork remains dedicated to running the business as a family first. “Each of our projects is sponsored by a member of the family Santoriello, which make up the project managers,” says the company. “It is their experience and expertise that ensure good quality production and work.” But Santco Framework holds not just family, but all of its employees
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to high standards of quality work and customer service. Santco is certified and adheres to quality management to the 2008 version of ISO 9001 standards with full participation from its staff, ensuring a standardized level of quality management that clients can trust. Building Upward and Outward with Superior Technology Santco Formwork’s commitment to high quality engineering and building has been instrumental in helping the business secure some of the most high profile projects in Montreal – both figuratively and literally. One such achievement is Santco’s work on Altitude Montreal, a 33-story mixed-use skyscraper towering 124 meters above University and Cathcart Streets in Downtown Montreal.
“Every day we work to make the work environment safe for our employees. We work to eliminate hazards, assess risks that cannot be avoided, combat those risks at the source, and adapt the work to the worker”
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SANTCO FORMWORKS Designed by Jean-Pierre Lagacé Architects, Altitude Montreal looks out to views of Mount Royal and the St-Lawrence River and combines luxury condominiums and penthouse suites with commercial amenities including a concierge service, fitness centre and full spa, a banquet and reception hall, and even a restaurant and lounge. “Located in the heart of downtown, this prestigious building is our greatest achievement,” claims the business, citing the flexibility
SuStainED CommitmEnt to quality anD SErviCE ties | Panels | Corners | Cages | accessories 4 SeaSonS TieS (2009) Inc. is a leading manufacturer of formwork products. From 1976, we have continued to innovate to meet our clients’ evolving needs and foster close, lasting relationships. Our company manufactures 96% of the products we market, while providing excellent delivery service. For more information about our products and services, call 1-800-567-2518, or visit www.t4s2009.com.
819-758-1155 | 1-800-567-2518 | www.t4s2009.com
of equipment such as its Liebherr tower crane as a key part of the project. The crane used for Altitude Montreal boasted a total hook height of 500 feet, and is the highest tower crane ever erected for a residential project in Quebec. Likewise, at the time of its completion in 2013, Altitude Montreal was recognized as the tallest residential building in eastern Canada – the building of which required the strong engineering and formwork skills that Santco is able to provide.
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Santco’s commercial and residential work has only continued to grow. Shortly after completing work on Altitude Montreal, Santco Formwork commenced work on another Downtown Montreal project – the ambitious mixed-use luxury condominium tower Icône on the Northern side of René-Lévesque. The “smart condo” project also features scenic views and high tech amenities like centralized lighting controls and electric terminals for ecofriendly drivers – plus purely luxurious amenities like a sauna, tennis court, and salt water lap pool. Designed by architecture firm Béïque Legault Thuot, Icône demands the same technical capabilities that Santco Formworks brought to its work on Altitude Montreal – at an impressive 38 stories, successful completion will require Santco’s tower cranes telescoping to even greater heights. But it’s a challenge that Santco is more than ready to meet, and Icône is currently on track for completion in 2016. Beyond commercial and residential buildings, Santco Formworks has also made strides in the field of civil engineering, creating everything from bridges and interchange ramps to aquaducts in Montreal and surrounding areas.
“Each of our projects is sponsored by a member of the family Santoriello, which make up the project managers” – Says the Company
A Commitment to Safety and Innovation Many of Santco Formwork’s building achievements can be attributed directly to its commitment to innovation in technology and machinery. Techniques like readily assembled w w w. s a n t c o - o r g . c o m
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modular table systems and its unparalleled tower cranes have helped the business with difficult skyscraper work, while other innovations like Santco’s steel sling anchorage system help keep its employees safe while working at those challenging skyscraper heights. Because of the nature of the typical Santco Formwork project, employee safety is absolutely paramount. “Santco Formwork recognizes the importance of health and safety of our workers, and wants to avoid any accident or incident during construction,” states the company. “Every day we work to make the work environment safe for our employees. We work to eliminate hazards, assess risks that cannot be avoided, combat those risks at the source, and adapt the work to the worker.” In addition to innovations like its improved anchor technology, Santco also implements extensive workplace safety accident prevention training to all employees as well as worksite foremen and superintendents, placing a critical emphasis on prevention over damage control. “Everyone is aware of the risks involved, receives training, and is associated with our approach to prevention,” the company explains. Through this approach, Santco is best able to keep employees out of harm’s way so that they can feel safe and perform their best.
Company Information INDUSTRY
Concrete Formworks HEADQUARTERS
Quebec, Canada FOUNDED
1982 EMPLOYEES
50-200
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Atlas Structu
Quality Structure
After twenty-five years of business and an acquisition by J
Written by: Sasha Orman
ural Systems
es in the Maritimes
J.D. Irving Limited, Atlas Structural Systems is still on the rise
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AtlasWide-BrownHouse
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rom houses to commercial complexes, a building can’t be built without an underlying structural system. With solutions that span from roofs to floors, New Brunswick’s Atlas Structural Systems believes in providing clients with the time and cost savings of high-quality, durable, pre-engineered structural systems. Since 1988, Atlas has been working hard to help contractors meet their completion goals while creating beautiful and versatile structures. A Business Changing and Growing 140
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Atlas Structural Systems has undergone a true transformation throughout its twenty-five years in business, growing from a small and highly specialized operation focused on predominately roof trusses into a multi-location operation offering a diversified array of structural solutions. “When it started, it was only a two-man operation – then it grew year over year,” says Bobby Johnson, Plant Manager at Atlas Structural Systems. As the years went on, the business expanded its capabilities to lead the market by adding engineered floor systems to
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outside view 4 storey Cameron
its repertoire in 1996, followed by wall and floor panels in 2010. Today, Atlas Structural Systems is regarded as not just a supplier of roof, wall, and floor systems, but as one of the Maritime region’s most trusted experts in these sectors. A New Life Under J.D. Irving Limited Last year Atlas Structural Systems entered a new phase in its journey after being acquired by New Brunswick-based conglomerate J.D. Irving Limited (JDI), itself a part of the Irving Group of Companies. With a hand in many industries from forestry and agriculture to transportation and shipbuilding, JDI’s access to a vast array of resources offers considerable benefits to Atlas in terms of expanding its scope and pushing it to be a stronger competitor.
“When it started, it was only a twoman operation – then it grew year over year” – says Bobby Johnson, Plant Manager at Atlas Structural Systems
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AT L A S S T R U C T U R A L S Y S T E M S “One of the bigger benefits is being able to benchmark with four other plants – where Atlas was one operation previously, by being acquired by JD Irving, more specifically Shamrock Truss, it is now able to compare and learn best practices from four other Truss plants,” says Corey O’Dell, Operations Manager of Shamrock Truss and now Atlas Structural Systems. “Another big one is relying on the sales and distribution network of Kent Building Supplies, which is within the division of JD Irving Limited that Atlas and Shamrock Truss also fall under. Being able to rely on the sales network of forty-two Kent Building Supply stores definitely helps in moving more product.”
OUR VALUE PROPOSITION 2014
THE 4 REASONS YOU’LL NEVER NEED ANOTHER EWP SUPPLIER:
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© 2014 Boise Cascade Wood Products, L.L.C. BOISE CASCADE and the TREE-IN-A-CIRCLE symbol are trademarks of Boise Cascade Company or its affiliates.
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Meanwhile, J.D. Irving Limited saw positive traits in Atlas Structural Systems that would make the company a valuable addition to the JDI family. “They had a very, very strong brand and brand recognition,” says O’Dell. “They also were on the leading edge of the structural building products industry, in terms of the products that they offer to their customers.” By combining the best assets and abilities of both businesses, Atlas Structural Systems as a JDI subsidiary is able to provide an even larger pool of clients with better service than ever before. Strong Supplier Relationships Atlas Structural Systems prides itself upon high quality and high standards for its products, and that involves working with a tight knit group of suppliers to ensure that quality is a factor from the raw materials upward. “We have a very small supplier base – that is one thing that makes our supply chain interesting and different from a lot of other businesses,” says O’Dell. “The only thing that we buy on the open market really is our lumber and some commodities, much of our supply chain in sourced through longer term contracts” A similar principle applies to the company’s engineered wood products. “Those relationships are typically longstanding, and we work hand in hand with them in a very detailed and close capacity on a daily to weekly basis,” notes O’Dell.
“We have a very small supplier base – that is one thing that makes our supply chain interesting and different from a lot of other businesses” – Corey O’Dell, Operations Manager of Shamrock Truss and now Atlas Structural Systems
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By working closely with its contractors, Atlas is able to ensure that its contractors share the same ethics and will create a structure that everyone along the value chain can uphold with confidence.
Company Information INDUSTRY
Construction
Moving Forward The future looks bright for Atlas, both in its own right and now as a subsidiary of J.D. Irving Limited. “I would say Atlas has grown a lot in the last 25 years, and over the last two to three years,” says O’Dell. “We expect to continue to see the growth in the same pattern due to emerging trends in the building market. Atlas has positioned itself to be the leading supplier for wood frame structural solutions in the Maritimes and is well known across the Maritimes. As there continues to be a demand for structural products, Atlas will continue to be at top of list for potential customers due to their track record, the speed with which we can turn our products around, the ability to supply products from five different facilities, and also the specific talented people we have who really give us the ability to give the customer what they want.”
HEADQUARTERS
New Brunswick FOUNDED
1988 EMPLOYEES
51-200
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A Innova Company
Jason Coroy, D Nordstar, discu innovation to mainta position as t
Nordstar
A company that Incorporates ation and Investment into the Culture to Achieve Success
irector of Sales, Marketing and Business Development for usses the importance of investing and creating a culture of ain company growth and continue forward in a leadership the construction and cabinet industry continues to evolve. Written by: Lindsey Ryan
Produced by: Rich Gentile
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A mix of Textured HPL and High gloss Paint, the combinations are endless (41 West, By Headwater Projects)
N
ordstar is a company that has used continuous innovation and strategic investment to sustain its success and growth in the manufacturing and construction industries. Kreykenbohm Corporation, Nordstarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parent company, originally began in the 1950â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when Bill Kreykenbohm, the owner, was one of the first in North America to utilize a melamine press, a new technology at the time, to manufacture and supply panel products to a wide network of distributors. In the 1970s, the company started creating more cabinet parts to local cabinet 148
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builders, ultimately developing Nordstar into a full service cabinet manufacturer specializing in supply of products to multi-unit high rises or condominiums. Four years ago, Jason Coroy joined the Nordstar team as Director of Sales, Marketing and Business Development and saw an opportunity to bring Nordstar to the forefront for Kreykenbohm. Observing increasing demand in North America for German and Italian products, which were unique in finish and materials, Coroy moved to shift Nordstar in this direction to fill demand.
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Material texturing without the maintenance of wood(41 West, by Headwater Projects)
Coroy says, “A lot of the technologies that drive the kitchen industry come from Germany so we decided to really focus on that and start developing products that are German inspired and engineered but producing them in a local manufacturing facility. We are the first ones to actually do this.” Many customers are shopping and buying cabinets half way around the world from Germany and now Nordstar is the first company in North American to supply the same engineered product locally, which has proven to be one of the company’s strengths and has contributed to its success
and steady growth. Making Innovation Part of the Company Culture Coroy understands the importance of innovation and strives to maintain a culture in the workplace that embraces innovation and incorporates it daily. To Coroy, it doesn’t matter what the competition is doing because his goal is to come up with something new, that competitors are not doing. Drawing on Richard Branson’s philosophies at Virgin, explains Coroy, “I try to move my team and I away from conventional thinking w w w. N o r d s t a r. c a
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N O R D S TA R when it comes to business and our approach. I believe in today’s marketplace you must continually innovate. How do you innovate? Yes you use your creativity, but it’s really about attracting a culture of talented people that disrupt convention, collaborate effectively and nurture their ability to lead and create.” Nordstar emphasizes innovation and investment in new technologies and instills this in its employees to push through the barriers and strive to create something that will
CABINET DOOR COLLECTION
Proud Supplier to No r d s t a r K i t c h e n s phone
unit
604.50 7. 0 5 61 | fax 60 4 .507. 05 62
104- 12975 84th Av e | Su rre y , BC | V 3W 1B 3 email info@jscd.ca
|
web www.j s c d.c a
make Nordstar stand apart from the competition. One of Nordstar’s main goals is to sustain its growth and recently the company purchased and implemented a new laser edge banding system. The system is new technology to Canada and creates a seamless finish to modern slab door profiles. This European style is the hottest trend on the market right now and Nordstar is the first kitchen manufacturer in Western Canada to invest in this technology. Coroy expresses the importance
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of investing and stresses that, “We need to be continually looking and communicating with our client through all mediums. We need to ensure we are on top of trends and that we are internally developing towards being able to cater to those and be the first to bring these things in. It is a risky position for any company to continually invest in product trends that are not proven, but in today’s business that’s not only your survival but it’s your way to prosper.” Nordstar has brought a youth into the organization that is continually looking to innovate and is continually looking to disrupt the traditional way of doing things so that the company may cater to the emerging market and bring not just a product, but a culture that customers are looking for in a supplier. Forging Strong Partnerships Nordstar has maintained excellent relationships with its clients over the years and part of this is because they are constantly communicating and listening to the clients to identify the needs for their businesses. Nordstar understands that every developer, general contractor, architect and designer all have different needs, therefore listening to the client is critical. Coroy explains that Nordstar’s initial approach to a project is different than competitors because of the preplanning and scheduling processes, effectively resulting in on time, complete quality products.
Jason Coroy, Director of Sales
“We’re developing products on the fly to fit the specific needs of customers and instead of just giving a stock product we’re actually innovating as we go. Because of our flexibilities – Jason Coroy, Director of Sales
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Trapp and Holbrook, Ventana Construction
One of Nordstar’s recent projects they are working on, in collaboration with Bosa Developments and Axiom is the Lido/Stir project. The project is a two tower project consisting of one residential and one rental tower and Nordstar is excited to be working with them on this iconic project in downtown Vancouver. Coroy explains that Nordstar is selective of who they work with and states, “At Nordstar we try to find 152
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leading partners like Bosa in our client group. We don’t try to work for everybody, we want to work with the best and Bosa certainly is one of the leaders.” Another project Nordstar is supplying cabinets for is called “First”. This project is a tower being developed by Fram/Slokker in East Village, Calgary, and is being constructed by ITC Construction. Both Fram/Slokker and ITC
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Construction are prominent companies in the industry and additional groups that Nordstar is proud to have as leading partners.
Company Information
Keeping Up with Fashion Trends Not only do clients appreciate the overall experience working with Nordstar, the company also offers an extremely wide range of products that clients can select from for any given project. Coroy reveals that the cabinet industry has evolved into a fashion industry and, just as any product does, is following fashion trends. The industry has changed dramatically over time. Fifteen years ago a cabinet manufacturer could offer a selection of thirty product types that they build and clients chose from that selection. Today, every developer wants something unique for their projects so manufacturers have to change the entire manufacturing structure to meet these new demands. “We’re developing products on the fly to fit the specific needs of customers and instead of just giving a stock product we’re actually innovating as we go. Because of our flexibilities,” says Coroy, “our customer enjoys the ability to collaborate and create new products with us. Nordstar now has the ability to create almost anything a client may be looking for in cabinet products and design. With its innovation and flexibility to adapt to any specification clients are looking for, Nordstar is clearly a leader in cabinet manufacturing and will continue be successful and grow in the industry.
INDUSTRY
Construction HEADQUARTERS
1959 FOUNDED
1959 EMPLOYEES
80 REVENUE
$20 Million
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W Ltd
With it
Western Refractory Services Ltd.
Western Refractory Services d. Leads the Way in Canada
ts all-encompassing approach to projects both large and small, Western Refractories stands apart in the industry Written by: Ian Hanner
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W E S T E R N R E F R A C T O R Y S E R V I C E S LT D .
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ounded in 1984, Western Refractory Services Ltd. is celebrating its 30-year legacy of on-time, skilled and innovative work. Based in Edmonton, Alberta, Western Refractory Services was founded to provide reliable refractory service offerings that range from installation of ceramic fiber products to chemical-proof tiles and membranes to industrial chimney and flare stack inspections. But it’s not the service offerings alone that make Western Refractory Services unique– it’s the way they go about it. “Western Refractories provides 156
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turnkey services from planning, through engineering and right to dryout,” the company states. “Communication and responsibility lines are simple and effective.” This above-and-beyond attitude the company approaches each job with is a major point of pride within Western Refractory Services, according to General Manager Scott Dragon. “Our turnkey services are specific to shut downs where we can offer projects management, design, and engineering, as well as procurement and execution of all refractory scope and applicable sub-trades through
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subcontractors,” Dragon said. “So, we can look after the whole entire shutdown if that’s what the customer chooses.” According to Dragon, this all-encompassing, thorough approach is something competitors lack. “We’re not exclusive to any of our vendors,” Dragon explained. “So we start from the design phase and design aligning and utilize the best materials from numerous vendors.” Value in Employees With only 13 office staff and approximately 150 field workers,
the company is one that puts emphasis on their employees that get the job done. Dragon started as a warehouse employee while he was attending school. Eventually he became a sales account manager before working in the field as a construction manager– the job that he held before his current role. This story of an employee moving consistently up through the ranks of the company is not unique to Dragon. According to him, Western Refractory Services regularly seeks to “mix the young with the old.” “As our client base evolves, we like to keep up with the trends by hiring
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W E S T E R N R E F R A C T O R Y S E R V I C E S LT D .
Steel Repair
young engineers that are graduating from school to work with our experienced first generation refractory group,” Dragon said. “I’m sure that we have a future moving forward having employees that can stick around for another 20 or 30 years.” With a position of interest and respect for every employee that joins the company, Dragon said Western Refractory boasts a very low turnover rate. That’s important when a company invests in its workers as much as Western. “An outstanding safety record has been achieved through the dedication of our staff, supervisors, and employees,” the company states. “We are committed to being safety leaders
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in our industry, through training, communication, and pro-activity.” Through that safety training, Western Refractory Services earned the Alberta Best Safety Performer award in 2007– an award that is presented to less than .5 percent of all Alberta employers. A Growing Legacy With drawers full of various recognitions that the company has received over the years, it would be easy for Western Refractory Services to rest on its laurels. However, the company is constantly improving. The company recently doubled the size of its rigging fleet and added two more units to its shotcreting fleet. “We’re still looking at [modernizing] some of our equipment and increasing the size of our fleet,” Dragon said. “We’re turning over old equipment and making sure that we have the state-of-the-art equipment.” With the most modern technology and one of the most comprehensive lists of service offerings in Western Canada, it’s not difficult to see how Western Refractory Services made it to the 30year mark. “[It’s taken] long hours, hard work and loyalty from our customers,” Dragon said. “The effort from all our staff has been a big part of that.”
Company Information INDUSTRY
Refractory Services HEADQUARTERS
Edmonton, Alberta FOUNDED
1984 EMPLOYEES
160+ REVENUE
$8 million+3
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K-Line
Two Trucks and a Vision Though it came from humble beginnings, K-Line has quickly become one of the most sought-after industrial maintenance contractors in Canada. Written by: Kevin Smead
Produced by: Michael Magno
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CANADA
B
rothers Alan and Mark Kellett have been leading K-Line Group, a utility services provider, for more than 25 years. Though, as they put it, they’re just “looking after it.” K-Line was founded by their father, Glenn, in 1967. Armed with years of experience at Ontario’s Hydro One and a strategic eye for business,
he sold one of his properties in order to purchase two trucks— both of which are still owned by the company today—and began running operations out of the basement at his Scarborough home. Glenn saw an opportunity to provide service at a time when utilities began outsourcing work to third-parties. What began as K-Line w w w. k - l i n e . c a
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Since inception in 2002 PMA has provided Engineering & Design/ drafting services. Our major Clients include: • RCM Technologies • Black & Macdonald • BECMA • Kinectrics/Brampton Hydro
In 2007 we added the fabrication and supply of Steel for High Mast Lighting Towers and Transmission and station structures to our services. Our Client list includes: • K-line • Black & Mcdonald • Burlington Hydro • Primary Power • Eaton Electric
Toronto Office 10 Sonata Crescent Toronto, Ontario M3B2C4
416.471.7748 | fax: 416.449.8752 | www.pmaeng.com
vision as wide as the land.
Whether you are looking to purchase, lease, build or manage properties in Southern Alberta, PanTerra Properties has the experience and expertise to accommodate your unique real estate needs.
403.984.0557 | email: don.lee@panterraproperties.ca www.panterraproperties.ca industrial & commercial development | property management
Killarney Constructors Inc. is proud of the solid relationships we’ve built with our clients, consultants and owners. From bid to completion, we work as a team with uncompromising integrity, honesty, safety and quality to deliver successful projects. 494 Massey Road, Unit C | Guelph, ON, N1K 1B4 | 905-586-2429 www.killarneyconstructors.com
K-LINE Maintenance and Construction is now part of a larger group, which includes operations in several countries across the globe. Still, it was Glenn’s initial efforts put the company on the path to where it is today. “K-line didn’t just fall out of the sky,” Mark said, “but started with a person with a vision who came from Mendon, Ontario.” There are several key aspects that have afforded K-Line its current and continued success. Perhaps the most important is its retention of its family culture across the years. Though the company has grown, it still operates like a small, personal family business. K-Line’s emphasis on safety has also been a may factor in its success. The company goes to great lengths to train its employees on safety protocols on a routine basis, ensuring everyone gets home in as good as shape as they showed up. Finally, the K-Line is committed to always providing high-quality work, on-time and on budget. The company believes in honest operations and building relationships with its partners. Next month, we’ll dive deeper into K-Line’s successes. Stay tuned!
CANADA
Company Information INDUSTRY
Energy & Utilities HEADQUARTERS
Ontariao, Canada FOUNDED
1967 EMPLOYEES
500+ REVENUE
$80-100 million
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Archer Western Constru I-395 Project
Archer Western Construction New I-395 HOV Ramp and A Lane to the City of Alexandria
The VDOT I-395 project is expected to bring improved traffi cars that travel through the area each day. The project team Construction works with the surrounding public to ensure i beneficial to the traffic flow while also meeting neighborho Written by: Lindsey Ryan Produced by: Tom Venturo
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n Brings Auxiliary a
fic flow for the 462,000 m from Archer Western it is a project that is ood standards.
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I-395 Northbound Widening Work
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he Virginia Department of Transportation, VDOT, has recently begun construction work on northbound I-395 between Duke Street and Seminary Road in the City of Alexandria, Virginia. This $56 million project includes two capacity improvements: an additional $9 million northbound auxiliary lane connecting the northbound on ramp at Duke Street to the northbound off-ramp at 168
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Seminary Road, and a $47 million reversible High Occupancy Vehicle ramp that will provide improved I-395 traffic flow. After reviewing Statements of Qualifications from seven construction teams, VDOT shortlisted the three best teams and then subsequently awarded the project to Archer Western Construction (a subsidiary of the Walsh Group). The Archer Western Design Build bid was not only the low
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price but also the proposal receiving the highest technical score.
VDOT extremely impressed. “What we eventually decided to do as part of our proposal was to Going Beyond Expectations provide all new structural steel for When Archer Western Area Manager the Seminary Road overpass, which for Maryland DC Virginia, Brian not only benefits the structure but Quinlan (assigned as Design Build also solved the problems addressed Project Manager on the VDOT [in regards to the lead and rust]. Plus, project), was pricing the project, he it allowed us to go to a continuous saw that what VDOT was asking span bridge design so we didn’t for was labor intensive and time have as many joints in the bridge consuming. The scope of work that deck, which is good for long term VDOT bid out included replacing maintenance,” explains Quinlan. He the concrete deck and rehabilitating continues, “That’s why we ended up the structural steel beams for the with the highest technical score. We existing Seminary Road overpass, offered more than required by the which would have included removal VDOT Request For Proposals.” of existing lead paint, repairs to As part of the reconstruction of the excessive age related rust damage, Seminary Road overpass, the project replacement of bearings and joints, will also include a dedicated 14 foot and strengthening to accommodate wide pedestrian bridge, which will the new HOV ramp connection. double as a bike path, to replace the Though Quinlan could have bid 4 foot sidewalk that currently exists. according to the original scope, This pedestrian bridge will include he saw the opportunity for Archer decorative fencing and lighting, as Western and its design engineer, well as being ADA compliant. It Parsons Transportation Group, to will be much safer than the existing demonstrate their skills and decided sidewalk that is adjacent to traffic, to propose an extended scope and overall will be much more user including all new steel and a more friendly and aesthetically pleasing. efficient bridge design, which left In addition to providing a unique 169
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I-395 Northbound Wideing Grading Work
and beneficial design for the job, now that the project has commenced, the original completion deadline for the auxiliary lane has been pushed forward by VDOT to accommodate the anticipated traffic capacity increase in the area due to unrelated traffic work further up the road. Andy Palahnuk, Archer Western’s Project Manager (assigned as Construction Manager on the VDOT project) explains, “We have two milestones that we have to meet that 170
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are worth noting. We have roadwork that’s northbound I-395 where we have to widen the outside lanes. We have an interim date of December 31, 2014, to put traffic on that widening. We’re also constructing the HOV Ramp and reconstructing the Seminary Road Overpass that needs to be opened by September 24th, 2015.” Palahnuk, and a majority of the construction team, are just coming off of a successful $70 million project
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that also required accelerated bridge construction techniques, and in fact they completed the project early, so this team has experience working under pressure and has proven that they have what it takes to lead an entire project team through the successful completion of an accelerated project. Because of the schedule demands, Archer Western is working simultaneously from one end of the project to the other in order to beat the milestones
that have been established. In addition to a larger workforce and extended work hours, this has created additional opportunities for DBE subcontractors that are being engaged to supplement the Archer Western workforce. Though the project requires fast paced construction to meet the deadlines VDOT is demanding, safety still comes first. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Safety is very important; we take it as the first responsibility. We have a very w w w. c o m p a n y u r l . c o m
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I-395 Looking South. Working on new HOV Bridge Foundations
“Safety is very important; we take it as the first responsibility. We have a very vigorous safety program that we follow every day. It was tailored for the job site and includes our subcontractors and anyone who works out on the job.” – Andy Palahnuk, Construction Manager
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vigorous safety program that we follow every day. It was tailored for the job site and includes our subcontractors and anyone who works out on the job,” says Palahnuk. Technology The Walsh Group, being one of the largest construction companies in the country, uses modern technology on all of their projects. As an example, one of the interesting devices that VDOT has asked Archer Western to use on the I-395 project is Utility Locator Balls. These are cutting edge technology devices that are dropped into a pipe trench above an underground utility. Once the utility trench is backfilled and surface restoration is complete, the balls have the ability to communicate to a
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I-395 Northbound Widening Retaining Wall Work
computer above ground and send info regarding the underlying utility. This includes how many feet down it is, what utility it is, and what type of pipe it is. All guesswork is removed, thus making future identification of utilities below ground convenient, safe, and reliable.
smooth transition period while the construction work is underway. “Our construction has not had a big impact on traffic because we were able to shift the three existing lanes to establish our work zone, while maintaining traffic on all three. When we do have to take lanes on a short term basis we’re taking them Community Impact and at night in off-peak hours. Because Influence of these efforts, we’re really not Though the construction for the interfering with the peak traffic flows I-395 project will take some time at all,” says Quinlan. and require cooperation and Long term, with the new fourth patience from the surrounding lane of traffic there is naturally community, Archer Western is doing going to be increased traffic everything they can to make it a noise, therefore noise barrier walls w w w. w a l s h g ro u p . c o m
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ARCHER WESTERN CONSTRUCTION I-395 PROJECT
Working on HOV Bridge Foundations in foreground and Existing Seminary Road Bridge in Backround
Aggregate Relocation Specialists, LLC is a certified DBE woman-owned and locally operated trucking company. We pride ourselves on being an industry leader committed to performing reliable hauling services and providing aggregate wholesale to our valued customers. Ginger Goff - President/Owner 364 Singleton Circle | Warrenton, VA. 20186 571.220.0276 | ggoff@arstrucking.net | www.arstrucking.net
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were included in the scope of the project. As part of the design effort, Parsons analyzed the projected noise levels and presented possible noise barrier wall configurations in compliance with FHWA specifications. Thereafter, a vote from the community resulted in the approval of noise barrier walls along three fourths of the widening. In the area without noise wall, the adjacent residents selected to go with trees and landscaping as the sound barrier, rather than a wall. VDOT and Archer Western were determined to be good neighbors and to keep the community happy with the project, which will clearly be a part of their lives for years to come. As an example, Quinlan explains, “Andy and his team recently met with residents from the adjacent neighborhood and presented them with the designs for the noise barriers and the landscaping and let them comment on and decide what they liked and didn’t like about the designs. The neighborhoods definitely had a say in the final presentation of the project.” Overall the I-395 project is scheduled to be completed May of 2016 and is expected to provide improved traffic flow and upgraded pedestrian access in the area and Archer Western Construction anticipates that the project will be another successful one for its portfolio.
Company Information INDUSTRY
Construction/ Transportation HEADQUARTERS
Illinois EMPLOYEES
18 Salary and 80 Trades Personnel
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Lake Oswego-Tigard Water Partnership
Sharing Water and Connecting Communities Conserving water is the first and most important supply option for the Lake Oswego and Tigard Partnership. Effective conservation measures alone, however, wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be enough to meet the two citiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; needs Written by: Stephanie C. Ocano
Produced by: Tom Venturo
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LO Tigard City Councilors tour WTP
Drinking water is a critical service for public health, fire safety and economic development. In the state of Oregon, two cities are revamping their existing drinking water infrastructure to meet increasing demands and provide high quality drinking water year-round. The Lake Oswego and Tigard Project is a partnership agreement between the cities of Lake Oswego and Tigard. While the Partnership was established in 2008, the idea was first conceived in 2005 when the partner cities commissioned a study of the costs and benefits of a partnership for joint water supply. 178
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“In 2007 the completed study concluded each city would realize significant financial benefit by jointly constructing and operating an expanded water supply system. The financial upside of a partnership was attractive enough to elected officials of the two cities to proceed with a year-long effort to negotiate the terms and conditions of an intergovernmental agreement forming the partnership. “That agreement was signed in August 2008 and then we were on our way”, said Joel Komarek, Project Director. The project will upgrade, upsize and expand six existing facilities
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The Project includes over 10 miles of pipeline in four cities
including more than 10 miles of large diameter pipeline in four communities and the installation of a new water treatment plant, the largest facility, valued at $67 million. The $254 million project will provide improved drinking water for 100,000 residents in two communities for the foreseeable future at the lowest cost, and create over 2200 jobs. A Six-Year Evolution According to Komarek, two of the most notable points of project evolution were the design of the water treatment plant and the
routing of a portion of the large diameter finished water pipeline under the community’s namesake, Oswego Lake. “Our objective was to get the pipeline from the south to the north side of the lake and originally our plan was to drill across and underneath the lake and pull a pipe through that,” recalled Komarek. But challenges and high costs associated with that original plan led designers to reconsider alternatives that were evaluated during the early project definition phase. “We’re now going around the east end of the lake to get to the north w w w . c i . o s w e g o . o r. u s
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L A K E O S W E G O - T I G A R D WAT E R PA R T N E R S H I P side and we anticipate getting that segment of pipeline construction underway early next year,” said Komarek. “We still have a 3800 foot long horizontal directional drill under the Willamette River, however, to connect the river intake to the water treatment plant. There were no alternatives to making that connection.” In regards to the water treatment plant, the original concept design utilized almost every square foot of land that was owned by the project
for the current treatment plant site, affecting surrounding neighbors. “After numerous conversations with neighbors surrounding the site, we ended up with a design that doesn’t look anything like the original concept but is significantly more compact in terms of its footprint,” said Komarek. “When we started this project, we knew that the pipeline and facilities would be constructed in four cities, two of which don’t directly benefit from the project—
Dedicated to the Success of the
Lake Oswego Water Treatment Plant Project Thank you to our field crew and staff who are involved on this exciting project. Special thanks to the Lake Oswego-Tigard Water Partnership, City of West Linn, and City of Gladstone.
People | Projects | Relationships
Industry Leader for
underground utILItIes and
sIte-work
of any scope or sIze 503.588.7576 | www.emeryandsons.com
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Gladstone and West Linn,” said Jane Heisler, Communications Director. “We worked very hard in those communities to make sure we would be a good neighbor before, during and after construction.” Success Behind-the-Scenes With roughly 150 people, including project staff, contractors and subcontractors working together on the project, professionalism and communications are critical to a successful project outcome. “I go back to the premise that nobody can do it all, and so we have our team of seasoned professionals. Communications is key to making sure that we all understand what everybody else is doing,” said Komarek. Along with assembling a team of highly experienced and qualified professionals, the Lake Oswego and Tigard Project leverages some of the latest technological innovations. “We have some advanced water treatment technology and we’re also using the most current software systems for managing the project that we can find and which is robust enough for a large,
complex municipal construction project,” said Komarek. “We’re using a web-based software platform that allows everybody on the team, from contractors and engineers and other staff alike, to document, share and archive information related to the project. That’s proved to be very useful in terms of our process efficiencies.” Entering the New Year “By the end of 2015 we’re planning to have all of our pipeline constructed,” said Komarek. “We will have a new reservoir in operation, the new pump station, a new river intake and we will have started up some parts of our brand new water plant while still operating portions of the old plant. Achieving those milestones will be the marks of success for 2015.” In addition to having the project completed on time and under budget, one goal Heisler has is to responsiveness to facility neighbors and residents. “After this project is done, [my goal is] that the council and the public would say, ‘You know, they did this project with a minimal amount of impact to the community w w w . c i . o s w e g o . o r. u s
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Making sure that all environmental permits are followed, some areas near pipelines or facilities needed archaeological oversight
and were responsive to the needs of facility neighbors,” said Heisler. “We’d like our elected officials and the community to recognize the scope and magnitude of this 182
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undertaking and hopefully realize that while at times it was very difficult and frustrating, we worked together and got through it,” added Komarek. “That now we’ve got a
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Company Information INDUSTRY
Municipal Construction HEADQUARTERS
Lake Oswego, Oregon FOUNDED
2008
state-of-the-art water system that will serve both our communities for many decades to come and it’ll be the gemstone of the region in terms of its design and reliability.”
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Kaplan Construction
Building Working Relationshi through Quality Service
Founded in 1976, Kaplan Construction ties professionalism provide exceptional results to satisfied and loyal clients Written by: Stephanie C. Ocano
Produced by: Tom Venturo
ips
m with personality to
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aplan Construction is a familyowned, WBE certified general contractor and construction management firm that has provided construction services for commercial, healthcare, multi-family, worship and institutional clients since 1976. Founded by Ken and Cathy Kaplan, the company recently underwent a three-year management transition and Nathan Peck was appointed President and Jane Kaplan Peck was 186 November 2014
appointed Chief Operating Officer. The transition is a sign of the company’s continuous evolvement towards bigger and brighter things, and its new leaders are excited to continue the company’s expansion within the industry. “We’re using state-of-the-art construction management, document management programs and we’re able to do BIM (building information modeling), systems in-house,” said
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Washington Mill Lofts
Nathan Peck, President of Kaplan Construction. “One of our goals is to provide the level of expertise and technology that a lot of the larger companies are able to provide but on a much more personal level.” Building Client Relationships Kaplan Construction has become recognized throughout the industry for its exceptional customer satisfaction reviews. From the
relationships built with clients to the efficient execution of projects, Kaplan is regarded highly for its professionalism and delivery. “What it really comes down to is executing great projects at a great price,” said Peck. “The foundation of our success is looking ahead, solving problems before they become problems and executing a smoothly-run project.”
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Brookline Teen Center
KAPLAN CONSTRUCTION “We’re a little more lean and nimble being a small company,” continued Peck. “Our structure is being lean, efficient and providing a very experienced staff that sees the job through from day one until the end.” Safety As A Priority This mentality is brought into safety and well-being practices at Kaplan Construction and the company has been awarded numerous awards, reflecting their dedication to creating “a culture that is safety conscious” and ensuring their employees are well taken care of. “As a general contractor, you see it as a responsibility to provide a safe, efficient job site,” said Peck. “Our employees have families and loved ones outside of the workplace so it’s our utmost priority that they’re as safe as possible while they’re here with us. And we’re not just trying to avoid the big injuries, it’s the simple things – from the abrasions to the sore back – it’s making sure that when people come to our job sites, they return home in the same condition they arrived in.” “There are also the open lines of
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communication,” said Jane Kaplan Peck, COO of Kaplan Construction. “We want the people who work here to feel very comfortable and let us know what’s going on in their lives – how we can help them, how we can help their families and just keep a supportive environment.” A Technology Driven Portfolio Kaplan Construction is consistently on the cusp of the latest technological innovations, and most recently, it has incorporated Building Information Modeling (BIM) in-house. BIM can be used in many ways on a project, whether it’s to coordinate MEP and Fire Protection systems with the building structure and architectural design or to utilize the model in post-construction for building maintenance. By identifying and solving potential problems prior to construction, rather than in the field, clients are able to save a significant amount of money. In business for more than 38 years, Kaplan Construction’s highly experienced staff has worked together for many years, building a strong resume of renovation and new construction projects along the way. w w w. k a p l a n c o n s t r u c t s . c o m
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KAPLAN CONSTRUCTION Kaplan Construction’s current portfolio includes renovations for Boston College, Genzyme Corporation, and Equity Residential Management, as well as a number of healthcare and community development corporation (CDC) projects. Kaplan is also in the midst of preconstruction for seven jobs totaling $75 million. Looking Ahead Kaplan Construction has big plans for the coming years, with one of its
DESIGN & CONTRACTING
Exceptional service is our standard. We’ve been providing electrical contracting & design services to general contractors & commercial industrial institutions in the New England area for nearly 30 years. 139 Southbridge Street | Auburn, MA 01501 508.792.9200 | 800.244.6055 | mercierelectric.com
primary goals being increasing its annual revenue from $20-25 million to $30-35 million while additionally expanding its client base. “Kaplan has been around for 38 years, and we have worked with a very small group of people within the industry over that time period,” said Peck. “We’ve had a wonderful relationship with that small group and that’s kind of been the backbone of the company for that time period. My main goal for the next few years is to take the
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Company Information Industry
Construction headquarters
Brookline, MA founded
1976 employees
11-50 revenue
$20M - $25M
relationships and experiences that Kaplan has established and get our name out there.” “I want people to recognize Kaplan’s name, learn about the type of projects we work on, and hear our clients’ enthusiasm about our level of dedication and expertise we bring to our projects,” said Peck. “We’ve had a tremendous amount of success over the last year bringing in some great new clients and we just hope to keep that momentum moving forward.” w w w. k a p l a n c o n s t r u c t s . c o m
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Tennessee Dept. of Tran
Tennessee Department of Tr Managing Assets to Deliver a Transportation Network
With a demographic shift from rural to urban land, TDOT is providing top quality transportation services to its clients Written by: Stephanie C. Ocano
Produced by: Tom Venturo
nsportation
ransportation a Strong
s once again leading the change in
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T E N N E S S E E D E P T. O F T R A N S P O R TAT I O N
In 1908, Henry Ford changed the world with the introduction of the first accessible automobile for the average middle class American. The Model T changed history forever and with it came a flood of other changes, including the development of transportation agencies. In 1915, the formation of the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) provided the foundation for a statewide system, and since then the department has grown from a network of state highways to a high quality road and bridge network.
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Celebrating 100 Years July 1, 2015 will mark the 100 year anniversary of TDOT. The department has seen multiple changes throughout the years with the most significant shift coming from within. “Back in the day, it was ‘pave it black and don’t look back,’” said Paul Degges, Chief Engineer and Deputy Commissioner, who has been with TDOT for 27 years. “We were all about building new roads and moving on to the next big project. Today, and the evolution of the department, has really been an asset management and
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Surveyors at their construction camp in the 1920s
operations evolution.” Beginning with the first funding mechanism in 1923 to support the new highway agency, the department has gone through some major bridge building initiatives, the installment of new bridges, and 1,200 miles of interstate construction. “After the ’86 road program we started looking at how we could manage our assets and have a strong pavement management program and a strong bridge program,” said Degges. “These have been the two keystone visions that we’ve had and we think it’s paid off
by having a very high quality road and bridge network in Tennessee.” Luanne Grandinetti, Communications Manager, is coordinating the 100 year celebration next year and is excited for what’s in store. “While we’re not at liberty to discuss what we have planned, we definitely will have a big party on that day,” said Grandinetti. “It’s top secret,” joked Degges. A Debt-Neutral Model Tennessee is one of only five states in America that carries no w w w. t d o t . s t a t e . t n . u s
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TRC Engineers has been a proud teaming partner with the Tennessee Department of Transportation since 1992.
Energy | Environmental | Infrastructure
A pioneer in groundbreaking scientific and engineering developments since the 1960s, TRC is a national engineering, consulting and construction management firm that provides integrated services to the energy, environmental and infrastructure markets. TRC serves a broad range of clients in government and industry, implementing complex projects from initial concept to delivery and operation. TRC delivers results that enable clients to achieve success in a complex and changing world. TRC includes over 3,000 technical professionals and support personnel in more than 100 offices throughout the U.S. Our clients depend on TRCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s multidisciplinary teams to design solutions to their toughest business challenges.
Creative, dedicated, experts delivering results you can rely on.
TRC Engineers Inc. | www.trcsolutions.com
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TRC ENGINEERS, INC.
A pioneer in groundbreaking scientific and engineering developments since the 1960s, TRC is a national engineering, consulting and construction management firm that provides integrated services to the energy, environmental and infrastructure markets. With over 3,000 technical professionals and support personnel in more than 100 offices throughout the U.S., we serve a broad range of clients in government and industry. Our multidisciplinary teams implement complex projects – from initial concept; through permitting, engineering, and construction; to delivering successful and cost-effective projects. Also our nationwide network of offices is a crucial asset for understanding the local sensitivities and regional needs that can be integral to project success. TRC has been a proud teaming partner with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) since 1992. TRC led the seismic retrofit design of the I-40 Mississippi River Bridge and its approaches, crossing from Arkansas into Memphis, Tennessee, over three miles in length. The bridge, which is located on the southeast edge of the New Madrid Seismic zone, is considered to be the highest earthquake risk zone in the U.S. apart from the West Coast. From the beginning, TRC worked to develop the seismic design criteria and retrofit strategies to make the bridge safer for the traveling public. TRC has continued to partner with TDOT on the construction management of all nine phases of this $270 million construction project. With the help of TRC’s creative and dedicated engineering experts, the project has set new standards in seismic design in the U.S. At TRC, we not only understand your goals, we embrace them as our own – and take responsibility for reaching them. We deliver results that enable clients to achieve success in a complex and changing world. Management: • Mark A. Imbriani, PE, Practice Leader • Robert A. Schamber, PE, Project Manager • David N. DeLeeuw, PE, Resident Engineer Website: www.trcsolutions.com
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transportation debt. Regarded as a “pay as you go” state, the department pays no interest and has no loans to build transportation facilities. “We have a very robust program as far as having workload in the pipeline,” said Degges. “By not having any debt, it allows us the flexibility of being nimble in our decision-making on which projects we need to work on.” “About 91 percent of our money goes to project delivery, design, acquisition and construction,” continued Degges. “So 91 percent of our money goes out the door and onto the street with just a small amount for administrative functions.” “While other states are paying millions in interest each year, we pay zero and use it on projects,” added Grandinetti. Placing Employees at the Helm of the Wheel When it comes to its employees, TDOT is focused on two things: education and teamwork. With the recent hires of 160 engineers within the past 18 months, an emphasis has been placed on diversity and
growing one’s education. And it wouldn’t be complete without a proper celebration once certain successes are achieved. “We have a strong program to push education in our maintenance forces and we most recently had a celebration at the Tennessee Titans’ football stadium,” said Degges. “We had the governor come in and the commissioner of the department of education along with the commissioner of transportation. It was a celebration of about 100 employees that have gone the extra mile on their own time to earn additional education credentials that will allow them the opportunity to move up in the organization.” When it comes to the success of managing a large workforce such as TDOT’s – with four facilities statewide – Degges believes it comes down to placing individuals in leadership roles. “To be perfectly honest, you’re not born a leader. Your life experiences make you a leader, and if I can encourage our employees to have leadership opportunities where they can, I want them to step up to the plate,” said Degges. w w w. t d o t . s t a t e . t n . u s
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ENGINEERING & CONSULTING WWW.SSR-INC.COM
Providing solutions that last.
T E N N E S S E E D E P T. O F T R A N S P O R TAT I O N
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Company Information INDUSTRY
Construction HEADQUARTERS
Nashville FOUNDED
1915
Steering Towards the Future There are multiple projects that TDOT is excited to begin working on in the near future, including the widening of US 64 into a four-lane stretch of road, a $70 million project, and several bridge installations and capacity expansions across Tennessee running in the $30-40 million range. “I think you will continue to see us look at how we manage our assets at the highest level condition at the lowest possible cost,” said Degges. “I think we will see a whole lot more of accelerated bridge construction technology, not just in Tennessee but across the country, and we will be focusing on how we can manage traffic on our existing network of roads and how we can keep the quality of life as high as possible by having a good, strong transportation network.”
EMPLOYEES
1001-5000 REVENUE
+1 B
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Buildcorp Interiors:
A Builder with Pride
Never a need to sacrifice quality to meet pro Written by: Ian Hanner Produced by: Bryan Giles
ogramme 203
BUILDCORP INTERIORS
The façade of the bar at Fat Noodle takes the form of an ancient paper scroll and is set against a basket-weave parquetry floor.
With an array of awards and stunning completed projects to point to, Buildcorp Interiors is setting the bar high for the fitout and refurbishment industry in eastern Australia. Buildcorp was founded in 1990 by Tony Sukkar with the goal to bring quality, passion-driven craftsmanship to the Australian construction market. Since that time, the company has evolved to be made up of four key divisions: 204
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Buildcorp Contracting, Buildcorp Interiors, Buildcorp Asset Solutions and Euroline. With each division focusing on a specific sector within construction, fit-out and refurbishment projects both large and small fall to Buildcorp Interiors. “Buildcorp Interiors came out of the construction business originally because there came a need in Australia to have specialized fitout and refurbishment companies,” said Ian Morrison, Queensland state
AUSTRALIA
manager for Buildcorp Interiors. “That was in 1996 and it’s grown every year since, [up to] today where we’re turning over an excess of $150 million a year in just interiors alone.” With over 24 years of experience in the industry, Morrison would be at home in nearly any construction company. Speaking to him gives you the impression that he, and moreover the whole company, takes an immense amount of pride in the projects Buildcorp completes. “Construction’s a tough industry, but the way that Tony [Sukkar] has run his company and the values that he has align perfectly with how I like to operate, so it’s a perfect match,” Morrison said. Since construction is such a competitive industry, Buildcorp Interiors sets itself apart with its
wide range of service offerings. The company is able to handle nearly every step along the process of delivering quality craftsmanship including design and construction solutions, procurement management, integration management, time management, site management and even a sustainable construction process that helps projects hit a sustainable, environmental goal. With the expertise that Buildcorp brings to the job site, every project is seen through to an on-time, if not early, completion with a final product that brings pride to the whole team. In fact, whether or not the company’s employees find pride in their work is a major concern for Buildcorp, which regularly circulates employee satisfaction
“Buildcorp Interiors came out of the construction business originally because there came a need in Australia to have specialized fitout and refurbishment companies…it’s grown every year since.” – Ian Morrison; State Manager, Queensland
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Proud winners of the 2014 Accredited Master Electricians of the Year Award Established in 2004, Platinum Electrical has a strong track record of delivering marquee projects throughout Queensland. We have extensive experience in the following disciplines; • Commercial Installation Projects • Commercial Fitouts • Design and Construct Projects • Modular Construction • Commercial Compliance Services for more information email us at admin@platinumelectrical.net
CONTRACTORS LICENCE NUMBERS: QLD 65576 NSW 25558 NT C3147 ABN NUMBER: 32 109 626 940
questionnaires that probe for areas where management could improve, according to Sue Turpie, business development manager for Buildcorp Interiors in Queensland and New South Wales. “It’s recognized that we’re an employer that people stay with. It’s very rare to find a company that has [employees] for 20 years, but we’re reaching a time where nearly every year we have people receiving 20year awards,” Turpie said. “We’re very focused on our staff,”
1300 606 380
www.platinumelectrical.net
Morrison added. “I think if you spoke to the owner of our company, he would be very proud of the fact that he sees this as a family company. And that helps; it comes from the top.” Buildcorp Interiors doesn’t restrict that community-oriented mindset to just employees. It regularly raises money for various charitable causes through the Buildcorp Charitable Fund. According to Turpie, this year the company will be donating money raised to combating suicide among
BUILDCORP INTERIORS
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young men in the construction industry. The company also regularly supports rugby teams from the Universities of Queensland and Sydney. Buildcorp’s support of the rugby team at the University of Queensland isn’t the only business the company has with the school. Buildcorp Interiors was recently awarded a Master Builders Award for the work it did on the school’s Goddard building. “It was a very difficult job,” Morrison said. “Not the least because it’s a heritage building and a fully operational building and we had to put in a rooftop extension.” Buildcorp Interiors inherited the job after a previous company dropped out, having already initiated numerous project elements with poor foresight. These often conflicting building elements complicated the remainder of the work for Buildcorp. Despite these complications, the company was able to complete the rooftop extension on-schedule in February with a total contract sum of about $10.5 million. “It was a challenging project in every way,” Morrison said. “And as always on challenging projects, when you can pull off a success and exceed people’s expectations, it’s just so rewarding. So it’s another one of those projects that we’re just proud of. Even when the company gets together for regular catch-ups over a few drinks, those kinds of projects are always on everyone’s lips.”
Company Information INDUSTRY
Construction HEADQUARTERS
South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia FOUNDED
1990 EMPLOYEES
250 REVENUE
$150 Million PRODUCTS/ SERVICES
Since 1990, the Buildcorp Group has expanded to include four business units, each with its own specialization, bringing diversity, knowledge and stability to their business model. Each division has the capacity to independently deliver projects within its area of specialization, while drawing on centralized group support systems and services, including quality, support and management frameworks.
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Cooke & Dowset
Cooke & Dowsett: The Future Strength in Plumbing
From fathers to sons, Cooke & Dowsett has evolved plumbing industry through an experienced crew and Written by: Stephanie C. Ocano Produced by: Bryan Giles
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e and
into a recognized force in the d impressive project portfolio
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Bendigo Hospital Progress (image courtesy of Bendigo Health webcam)
Chadd Cooke and Scott Dowsett shared similar interests, similar upbringings, and up into their early business days, similar apprenticeships. Their fathers began a company named Cooke & Dowsett in 1970 Scott left the family business in 1992 to start his own business and Chadd stayed within the family business up until July 2007 when he left and went across to Scott to form again the name Cooke & Dowsett in 2008 of which was the company name their fathers started in the early 70s,” said Chadd Cooke, Director of Cooke & Dowsett. “I guess you 210
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could call this evolution.” Evolution would be the ideal word to describe this transition because since the restructure Cooke & Dowsett has completed numerous prestigious and innovative projects both on the East and West Coast of Australia. With works being completed on projects in every state, Cooke & Dowsett is the only recognized national plumbing organization currently in the marketplace. Most recently, the company was awarded the recognition of “Commercial Plumber of the Year 2013/2014” at the Association of
AUSTRALIA
Darwin Airport Qantas Club Lounge
Hydraulics Services Consultants. “It’s recognition from our peers that we are doing something right out there amongst the industry,” commented Cooke. Trusted Ties When it comes to its workforce, Cooke & Dowsett takes a unique approach to ensuring its employees are well cared for. “The company is built on trust,” said Cooke. “There are a lot of employees that started with us back in 1992 that are still with us today. Our first ever apprentice is now one of our Senior Estimators within the
business. These are now the type of employees that we entrust to carry our culture into other states and help us manage our business nationally.” Cooke & Dowsett is also partnered with NUDJ Plumbing – an Indigenous Apprentices Program where aboriginal youth learn and gain plumbing trade qualifications. Dedicated to enriching the lives of aboriginal people through plumbing apprenticeship programs, apprentices can expect to find employment with NUDJ and the provision of labor hire through Cooke & Dowsett. “NUDJ plumbing is very close to
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Our expertise. Your needs.
At Rinnai, we design, test and manufacture innovative commercial hot water products that can be developed to suit your specific needs. Our state-of-the-art facility allows us to work quickly and efficiently, meeting your requirements with quality control thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unsurpassed. - Our team of highly qualified technical engineers, along with local sales managers, are specifically trained to quickly determine the most cost effective solution to meet your objectives. - Our products, such as stainless steel tanks, collectors, frames, dual pump kits and flueing are manufactured in our South Australian facility. - Condensing technology with a thermal efficiency of 94% and /or solar thermal technology are all designed to significantly reduce the energy costs of heating water. - Sophisticated controllers are available with LCD displays and BMS fault outputs to enable easy management of your water heating plant.
www.rinnai.com.au
COOKE & DOWSETT
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both [Scott and Chadd] hearts and they are both very passionate about it. It’s about giving something back to indigenous Australia,” said Cooke. “NUDJ is a non-for-profit company that takes indigenous kids, both male and female, from the outback and brings them to Melbourne and trains them over a four year period and then after this four year period they have the opportunity if they wish to return home and continue their employment with NUDJ as a fully qualified plumber.” “Cooke & Dowsett were recently award by BRW Momentum Best Mid Market Leader for training the first
SUPPLIER PROFILE
ever Indigenous Female Plumber in Australia who is still currently working for NUDJ,” added Cooke. A Diverse Portfolio Thinking laterally, Cooke & Dowsett aims to deliver cost effective plumbing solutions to meet clients’ needs. Currently, Cooke & Dowsett is working on three major projects: The Bendigo Hospital, New Monash Children’s Hospital, and the Post Entry Quarantine Facility. Bendigo Hospital is the largest project Cooke & Dowsett has ever undertaken and will result in the state of Victoria’s largest regional
RINNAI AUSTRALIA
Industry: Sustainable commercial space heating and centralised hot water systems Services: Manufacture of purpose built commercial hot water systems offering reductions in energy usage. Installation and preventative maintenance via 1st Care. Ongoing Projects: Newcastle University – NSW, City West Police Complex – VIC, Thursday Island Hostel – QLD, South District Hospital – SA, BGC concrete tilt – WA, Quest Apartments Melbourne airport - VIC Management: Greg Ellis, Managing Director Richard Ford, National Commercial Manager Website: www.rinnai.com.au w w w. c o o k e d o w s e t t . c o m . a u
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Cooke & Dowsett Directors - Chadd Cooke & Scott Dowsett
hospital – a world class, stateof-the-art facility providing high quality health care for the greater Bendigo community. “We would like to think after four years of hard work we delivered a successful project for not only our client but the community of Bendigo,” said Cooke. The New Monash Children’s Hospital project is one of the biggest capital infrastructure projects underway to date for Monash Health. The hospital is one of only two tertiary pediatric 214
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facilities for Victorian children and their families as well as being the only location in Victoria which provides fetal surgery, thalassemia and pediatric care electro-physiology. The completed hospital will include more beds and services including 96 in-patient acute beds, 10 pediatric intensive care beds, 3 operating theaters, outpatient consulting rooms and allied health therapy spaces. “The New Monash Children’s Hospital is great to be involved in.” said Cooke. “It’s another
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high profile project for Cooke & Dowsett and great to give something to the kids when it’s completed.” Cooke & Dowsett also additionally completed the New Box Hill Hospital Redevelopment project – a $447.5 million project – turning it into a contemporary and technologically advanced health care facility for those living in the eastern region of Melbourne. “Not limited to the projects above but all our projects we undertake we would like to think give us some recognition within the industry of being a quality company with great service and one that can deliver on time and on budget,” summarized Cooke. Looking Ahead Cooke & Dowsett is always looking for opportunities that enable growth. “If [opportunities] present themselves and we are at the forefront, then we will take them,” said Cooke. Looking towards the new year, Cooke & Dowsett feels confident about their position in the industry. “I think the company heading into 2015 is in a strong position considering the market is quiet and margins are at an all time low,” said Cooke. “We just need to stay focused on what we do best and push through the tough times and hopefully come out the other end unscathed.”
Company Information INDUSTRY
Construction HEADQUARTERS
Keilor Park, Australia FOUNDED
1992 EMPLOYEES
200-500 REVENUE
$200 Million PRODUCTS/ SERVICES
Cooke & Dowsett are a National Tier 1 Commercial Plumbing Company based in Melbourne, Victoria, with offices also located in South Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, and also operating in Tasmania and Northern Territory.
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Promptness & Innovation
in Steel Solutions: Global competitiveness in metalworking.
Written by: Rebecca Castrejon Produced by: Jassen Pintado Interviewee: Henry Yandun, CEO of KUBIEC-CONDUIT
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K Airport expansion in Guayaquil
UBIEC-CONDUIT was founded after the union of two companies with long experience in the production and commercialization of steel and metals for the construction sector in Ecuador, the company KUBIEC with more than 18 years of operations, and CONDUIT with a history of three decades. Innovation at KUBIEC-CONDUIT go beyond metallurgical solutions, the company constantly updates its materials and gets involved in new industries, such as agriculture. Their commercial products are used in industrial applications, for example their FUJI tubes are currently being used in commercial constructions, VIGACERO beams in bridges and for welded structures and columns, KUBIZINC or roofs made of zinc in residential projects, KUTERMICO EPS termoacustic panels in buildings, among many other products in their portfolio. Their national and international suppliers have lived the fusion and development of the company. They have distinguished themselves by always being aware of global standards in metalworking, by their adaptation ability to commercial changes and for the quality of the provided raw material that KUBIEC-CONDUIT needs for its permanence, longevity and exports to Latin American economies, such as Chile, Peru and Colombia.
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Respect for the environment is also shown in their facilities, which have been certified for good environmental practices in Quito. KUBIECCONDUIT currently has four plants in the country certified with ISO 9001: 2008, ISO 9000 and CIDET. The company is committed to their human resource, to their 700 employees who overall handle the daily operation of the company. Their personnel are trained and specialized through optimal courses imparted by professionals in the field.
Key People
Henry Yandun CEO of KUBIECCONDUIT
As part of their social responsibilities, the company actively participates in community development programs, such as Fundacion TECHO, where they used the product ALUTECHO
Yandun is a mechanical engineer graduated from Escuela Politecnica Nacional of Ecuador in 1981. He continued his studies with a Master in Business Administration (MBA) at IDE Business School in Ecuador. His first position was as general manager in the company Armco Novacero, where he stayed for more than 13 years until joining Kubiec in 1995 as a founding partner and manager. Yandun has managed various supervising posts in their subsidiaries Forjahierro, Metalquality and Magic Properties. Today, KUBIEC-CONDUIT is one of the largest companies in Ecuador in the metallurgical industry.
High-end technology
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in the construction of low-income housing. Another activity they continuously promote is the “Steel Tour” which aims to promote entrepreneurial values to college students.
Steel of Kubiec - Conduit for Quicentro North Shopping in Quito
The opening of their new plant took place this 2014, with an investment that exceeds 40 million. They have also invested around $ 10 million in technology this past year. Among their goals for 2015 are to increase their annual sales and export more products overseas. Growth with Innovation “I’m proud of this company and how it’s growing more and more each day, now it has an impeccable size for Ecuador and it continues to develop rapidly and with more resources,” says Henry Yandun, CEO and founder of KUBIEC-CONDUIT. The company emerged 19 years ago, with a total investment of $ 40,000 (in which Yandun and an additional partner contributed with 20,000 each). Their first employees were two disable workers, therefore the company was complying with Ecuador’s Labor Law that requires for at least four percent of the human resource to be disabled. KUBIEC-CONDUIT currently produces more than $ 100 million a year and is listed as the
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Official photo of the company’s steel tours
number 135 among Ecuador’s most successful companies by sales volume. “Every step is a milestone, we have defined our company with an effective business model and with innovative products,” Yandun said. Highly Performed Logistics KUBIEC-CONDUIT follows a strategy whose main differentiator is their “promptness”, buying time for the customer, the manufacturer and the supplier.
“Now is a trend to talk about innovation in business, in our case the DNA of the company has always been our innovation” – Henry Yandun, CEO of KUBIEC-CONDUIT
As time is an important differentiating factor, the company has been noted for their expertise w w w. k u b i e c . c o m
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Plant Petrillos in Nobol
and fast delivery. Additionally, they have increase efficiency in the production process due to technological renovations, such as modern equipment to elevate productivity and machinery to handle high volumes.
Ecuador bridges with steel solutions
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our strategy is to impose solutions that will facilitate the construction process because we compete with Asian products. We have done well so far because we have promptness and expertise versus imported products from Asia. Here we are unbeatable,â&#x20AC;? Yandun said.
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Foundation Techo
is a metal one hundred percent recyclable, all operations have become sustainable due to KUBIEC-CONDUIT’s environmental commitment and support from one of the shareholders who owns the largest steel recycling plant in Ecuador. “All the damaged steel is sent directly to the mill, therefore we have no waste, it becomes rod elements for construction or for other industrial applications,” said Yandun.
Steel of Kubiec - Conduit for substation Chongón
An example of the company’s green innovations is the material used in roofs produced with cyclopentane, which is a modified polyurethane that doesn’t harm the atmosphere. Yandun recalls
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Staff committed to the construction of the New Quito International Airport
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that this advance was implemented before the Kyoto Treaty, an international agreement that restricted the use of polyurethane in Ecuador for its high pollution. Suppliers The company imports all the raw material, mostly steel, from international suppliers; therefore they are constantly straightened alliances and partnerships with major steel providers. These allies sent steel from some of the most important mills in the world
Planta Conduit del Ecuador
Henry Yandun mentioned: â&#x20AC;&#x153;You have to be very competitive if you have to import your main raw material, process it in Ecuador and export it to other countries. But the steel needs to be competitive too, in price and quality.â&#x20AC;? Industrial Expansion In the next five years, KUBIEC-CONDUIT plans to increase their productivity and exports in Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Colombia. Within Ecuador, the company expects to increase their works and solutions between other construction sectors and strong Latin American economies, such as Chile, where it subsidiary ECOACERO operates, and a second Kubiec location in Colombia. In the next years they are
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Personal comprometido en la construcci贸n del aeropuerto de Quito
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Company Information
looking to open a new business unit in Peru. “They are our arms and traders in these countries,” the CEO said.
NAME
After opening the Petrillo Industrial Plant in the province of Guayas in Ecuador last year; the company integrated a high-tech manufacturing plant and launched two new lines with advanced automation in this new factory.
KUBIEC-CONDUIT INDUSTRY
Steel production HEADQUARTERS
“Our strategy is to impose solutions that will facilitate the construction process”
Quito, Ecuador FOUNDED
Kubiec 1995, Conduit 1979 EMPLOYEES
450+ REVENUE
USD $120 million EMAIL
ventas@kubiec.com WEBSITE
www.kubiec.com
– Henry Yandun, CEO of KUBIEC-CONDUIT
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FMM ENGENHARIA
Making the dream of home ownership come true With over 10 thousand housing units delivered in Brazil, meeting the needs of customers is the main goal of the company Written by Flavia Brancato Produced by Serio Ambrosino
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F
ounded in 1987, FMM Engenharia is one of the largest homebuilders in numbers of housing units delivered in Brazil. The company has delivered more than 10,000 units and currently, more than 3,000 are under construction. FMM ensures efficiency that follows a commitment that goes beyond the business itself: to ensure that more and more Brazilians become homeowners over the years. Today, FMM operates in the states of ParanĂĄ, Santa Catarina, SĂŁo Paulo and Tocantins, working in development, construction, and sales of residential buildings. Building homes with the most advanced technology and the most rigorous quality standards. Everything is linked with comfort, space and quality of life, affordable prices to all Brazilians, by direct financing with Caixa EconĂ´mica Federal or through the Federal Government Program - Minha Casa Minha Vida.
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Vila Verde
QUALITY The Quality Management at FMM Engenharia was developed with the goal of assisting in control, standardization and monitoring of construction processes, seeking improvement and innovation. Believing in the global concept that technology and quality go together, FMM invests in management capabilities which brings a high technical, administrative and productive performance to the company. Combining skills and professional training, its employees are encouraged to specialize in their own activities, aiming to increase the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s production. Pursuing quality during the entire process, it was inserted leadership and teamwork into the daily routine, which were essential for achieving positive results and the business goals as a whole. Standing out from the competitors, FMM management system is used not only as a mandatory requirement, but also as a tool of domain, measurement and continuous improvement in all activities throughout the w w w. f m m . c o m . b r
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Premier
company, seeking to always build better and to keep growing. With a well arranged and solid structure, FMM Engenharia has prepared a strong and sustainable base to meet the industry needs. The company does not leave things to chance. The company was built by professionals who believe that trust should be earned with quality and dedication. CERTIFICATES All the certifications earned by FMM Engenharia ensure that operations and performances meet technical parameters and accordingly, all the properties are built with the utmost quality. Accredited and certified by the Brazilian Program of Quality and Productivity at Habitat - PBQP-H, as well as the International Quality Standards of ISO 9001, FMM is part of a select group of Brazilian companies whose quality control of materials used, as well as components 232
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and constructive management, are ensuring an excellent result. PARTNERS The company has total control over the production and construction technologies. FMM Engenharia is specialized in sanitation and industrial
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projects for residential homes, providing consumers the opportunity of an affordable quality home, well finished properties, and structured sites. Large partnerships are the key of success. Some of the main clients served by FMM include: Caixa Econômica Federal; Prefeitura Municipal de Curitiba; Klabin; Scholpp Montage (Audi/Volkswagen); Bloco Indústria Cerâmica, among others. VALUES Part of such a demanding market, FMM is recognized as one of the best construction companies who provides and delivers the finest finishes, on time, and better costs properties in the market. For over 25 years of 234
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BRAZIL
Company Information INDUSTRY
Construction HEADQUARTERS
São José dos Pinhais, Paraná - Brazil FOUNDED
1987 EMPLOYEES
500 PRODUCTS/ SERVICES
operations, the company maintains the same values of respect, appropriate ethics, and transparency to continue attending the industry and keep the commitment of quality during all the steps ranging from incorporation, to construction and finally the sale of its residential homes. Always aiming the best results, the company also is concerned with the facts linked to sustainability, employees’ commitment and, of course, meeting the deadlines for every home built under the FMM name.
Incorporation, construction and residential building sales MANAGEMENT
Gustavo Tetto, President
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NUMBER 1 IN SECURITY
World leader in the sales of backhoe loaders and telescopic handlers, JCB is a synonym for innovation and pioneering Written by Flavia Brancato Produced by Sergio Ambrosino
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T
he pioneer spirit has always been a part of Civil Construction Equipmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s philosophy. The first backhoe loader was developed in the small town, of Uttoxeter, England, the founder of JCB, Joseph Cyrill Bamford. Today, the backhoe loader is regarded as one of the three world leading manufacturing companies of civil construction equipment. 20 years later, the creation of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first telescopic handler was developed.In addition to achieving global leadership in the sales of backhoe loaders and telescopic handlers, JCB currently has some of the best engineering facilities in the world, manufacturing over 300 models of machines. Along its 67 years of success, JCB has always made massive investments in research and development, with quality and innovation ahead of the market. Today, the company has 23 factories, over 10,000 employees spread across four continents, and its products are proudly marketed at 2,000 points of sales in 150 countries.
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Painting complex , JCB factory
ARRIVAL IN BRAZIL IN 1995 The Chairman of JCB in Brazil, Carlos Hernández, says: “we stand out from the market because innovation is in our DNA and we follow our founder’s restlessness. We are never satisfied. We always want to improve processes so our customer receives the best products and services”. It happened naturally, due to hard work and market acceptance. The trading of products in Brazil started in 1995, and the first backhoe loader factory was opened some years later. A forerunner in the development of technology for handling materials in infrastructure works and farming, JCB invests to better serve the customer with excellence and sustainability. With this in mind, the Brazilian branch has recently merged the operations of two factories (backhoe loaders and bulldozers) in to one modern manufacturing unit, with investments w w w. j c b b r a s i l . c o m . b r
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The engine of the construction.
MWM is the largest manufacturer of diesel engines Mercosur because their solutions are always ahead in technology, reliability and sustainability. • Customized solutions for each client. • Vehicular, agricultural, power generation, construction and marine engines. • More than 4 million engines produced since 1953. • Creation and Development Center. • 480 dealers network. • Exports to over 30 countries. • 3 industrial units (São Paulo - SP, Canoas - RS, Jesus Maria - Argentina).
mwm.com.br
BRAZIL
of nearly 100 million dollars, in a 200 thousand square meter area, with a built area of 33 thousand square meters. “We seek to serve the civil construction, mining and agricultural markets with excellence, and we invest to offer the best specialized after-sale, close-to-customer services”, explains Hernández. The strong investment made by JCB in Brazil is not limited to the manufacturing plants. A good example is the modern technological infrastructure installed in the unit in Sorocaba, which has one of the most modern IT environments, with a cutting-edge system and state-of-the-art equipment fully designed and sized to meet all the operating needs. The chairman further points out that “unlike other companies that focus specifically on the
SUPPLIER PROFILE
Carlos Hernández, Chairman of JCB in Brazil
MWM INTERNATIONAL
MWM INTERNATIONAL, a leading independent manufacturer of diesel engines in Mercosur, has plants in Santo Amaro (SP), Canoas (RS) and Jesus Maria (Cordoba - Argentina). With 61 years of experience, the company, an affiliate of US-based Navistar, operates in several markets such as the United States, Turkey, China, Korea and Mexico. The company’s products meet the vehicle, agricultural, industrial, power generation and marine segments. The company is strategically installed in Mercosur aiming to serve the customers in the region and work as a base for exporting products worldwide. Today, the company exports to over 30 countries around the world.
Website: www.mwm.com.br
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production, JCB places all of its bets on Brazil and understands that, to that end, it would be necessary to create optimal conditions to support the business, according to JCB vision and mission.” Demonstrations go from the advanced Data Center, with systems of physical and logical redundancy, fire systems and digital telephony, to an important integrated SAP system with high integration and control levels that provide accurate information for correct decision-making purposes. CIVIL CONSTRUCTION MARKET As the material handling market grows, both in civil construction and in agriculture, cattle raising, and urban maintenance, the sector demands more versatile machines with a high level of
SUPPLIER PROFILE
“JCB places all of its bets on Brazil and understands that, to that end, it would be necessary to create optimal conditions to support the business, according to JCB vision and mission” – Chairman of JCB in Brazil, Carlos Hernández
COMPANY NAME
Main text goes here and can be a block of copy - if there is no desire to indent the copy with headings. Main text goes here and can be a block of copy - if there is no desire to indent the copy with headings. If you need to create a new paragraph then just hit return and a separating rule appears for segregating the paragraphs. The text in this box aligns from the bottom up. Adjust the text box height of course, but leave the position of the box so that the bottom of the box has a y co-ordinate of 742pt. Website: address goes here as the last entry
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automation and technology, providing fuel saving and high productivity. Hernández is confident, stating “JCB is ready to serve this market, offering high performance machines that are references of quality worldwide, such as the telescopic handler.” Another strategy, according to the chairman, involves the methods the company uses to overcome challenges of the sector. “Every sector nowadays faces difficulties in the economic scenario, with public works and real estate market slowdown, however JCB keeps placing its bets on the Brazilian market.” One example to boost sales was the promotion of two models of front244
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end loaders – for the sectors of civil construction, mining and agriculture - which will be manufactured in the country with an investment of BRL 5 million. In the manufacturing sector, as a rule, the engineering department is responsible for projects for adjusting the assembly line and also the products to the Brazilian market reality to obtain the highest productivity for the manufacturing process and for the customers. QUALITY AND INVESTMENT One of JCB main priorities is the health and safety of collaborators and service providers. Among several programs earmarked for such factors,
“In the coming years, we want to keep working on the nationalization of more models and keep on growing” – Chairman of JCB in Brazil, Carlos Hernández
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one of the highlights is the so-called Near Misses. The program is linked to potential accidents. . Thus, every time a Near Miss is reported, the team meets to solve the problem, thus avoiding possible accidents in the future. HernĂĄndez further assures that â&#x20AC;&#x153;every collaborator plays an active role in this program, in such a way that the most active ones are recognized for their contribution. Our goal is Zero Accident,â&#x20AC;? he concludes. The search for sustainable development is another relevant issue in the company procedures. In addition to following the environmental guidelines governing the proper disposal of waste, reuse of rainwater, capture of sun energy and a space set exclusively for collection and separation of recyclable materials, other initiatives of social and environmental w w w. j c b b r a s i l . c o m . b r
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JCB
Carlos Hernández
responsibility are well underway. Examples include the reforestation of about 20 percent of the 200 thousand square meter land of the new factory. In partnership with the Centro de Orientação e Educação Social de Sorocaba (COESO), JCB takes part in projects that provide work for families that live in the surrounding areas. Hernández states that ongoing investments represent one of the main factors that keep JCB a global leader. “Last year we opened our painting plant, which received a BRL 20 million contribution.” The company is a 248
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Company Information INDUSTRY
Machinery HEADQUARTERS
Uttoxeter – England FOUNDED
1945 PRODUCTS / SERVICES
backhoe loaders, loaders, telescopic handlers, front-end loaders MANAGEMENT
pioneer in building up a powder painting plant – a method that assures more durability for the pieces and reduces the environmental impact of the process, in comparison to conventional methods. “In the coming years, we want to keep working on the nationalization of more models and keep on growing,” Hernandez concludes.
President: Carlos Hernández HR Director: Rafael Cardoso Operational Director: Marcus Marchesin Sales Director: Nei Hamilton
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Liftronic Pty Lt
Liftronicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Innovation Moves Upward in Vertical Transpor
A trustworthy and experienced supplier of elevators, based on 30 years of experience. Written by: Andrew Rossillo Produced by: Andrew Zhao
td:
s Company Ever rtation Industry
, escalators, service and advice
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L i f t r o n i c P t y Lt d
Lift Shaft
ESTABLISHED IN 1985, Liftronic is Australia’s largest independent lift company, trusted by Government Departments, property developers, Bodies Corporate, and private home owners to design, supply, install modernise and maintain thousands of lifts and escalators across all major Australian markets. The company has grown to rival the strength, services and products of its competitors, through a relentless dedication to new technology, drawn from an international network of the world’s leading lift and escalator manufacturers. Managing Director & Founder 252
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Milan Debelak founded Liftronic 30 years ago. He is likely the longest standing Managing Director within the vertical transportation industry in Australia. “We started with a very small group of people, working out of effectively a tin shed where we were doing all the operations,” says Debelak. “We were performing installations, administration and management, sales and tendering, maintenance, and service work. And we saw that the industry was becoming globalised, and that there was space for personalised service with an Australian view rather than an overseas view. We saw a great
AUSTRALIA
Vehicle lift
opportunity. I didn’t want to work for one of the larger, globalised companies. We decided to go out on our own and to give the industry a try. We found a lot of our existing relationships and customers from when we were working in the industry were very keen to work with us.” “We started as a two-man band and have grown to be the largest independent lift company. We have built up a strong reputation in the industry that now spans four generations both here and overseas.”
in the Australian market, Liftronic is in a unique position to draw on new technology from multiple channels from across the globe, which provides a much broader resource than is available to many other companies who are limited to their own technology. Liftronic people have access to a broad resource of technology, engineering solutions, knowledge and experience. We have participated in almost every technological advancement in the past quarter century. For example, Knowledge and Experience Liftronic was among the first As the largest independent company Australian companies to employ w w w. l i f t r o n i c . c o m . a u
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Kinetek Elevator Solutions PREFERRED SUPPLIER OF LIFTRONIC PTY LTD.
Powering American brands since the turn of the 20th century, Kinetek is a global company that provides custom-engineered control, motor and drive system solutions for world class customers in commercial and industrial markets. In the Elevator market segment, Kinetek has combined the leadership of U.S. based Motion Control Engineering (MCE) and Imperial Electric Company; and China-based, KDS (Kinetek De Sheng), and NKET(Nidec Kinetek Elevator Technology (Wuxi)) into one innovative and comprehensive team – Kinetek Elevator Solutions.
CONTROLLED MOTION
DBD EDGE
It’s at the core of elevator performance, safety and ride comfort. At Kinetek, we design intelligent elevator controls and the machines that together move elevator cars safety and accurately. The controller provides intelligence; the machine provides power. The genesis of our control technology is from non-proprietary pioneer, Motion Control Engineering (MCE).
Kinetek’s Destination Based Dispatching (DBD) is an innovative dispatching system that enhances building traffic flow by intelligently matching passengers to elevator car. The technology behind this system uses complex algorithms, but the passenger experience is quite simple. After selecting the desired floor on a touch screen, passengers are directed to the elevator that will take them to their designation. It’s just that simple. Passengers can relax because they know in advance which elevator is coming to meet them.
MACHINE TECHNOLOGY ACPM gearless machines provide clean, efficient, compact power for machine roomless and machine room elevators â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and are quickly replacing traditional geared installations. Kinetek is a global leader in ACPM machines and solid state controls. We have installations in the Americas, Asia Pacific, Middle East, India, Turkey, Russia and Europe. Kinetek is ideally poised to provide solutions for todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elevator market.
nidec-kinetek.com
supplier supplier profile profile
Company name
Kinetek
Kinetek is a US-based company with design and manufacturing facilities in North America, Asia and Europe. With the most advanced core technology in elevator controls, motors and machines, Kinetek is not only a leading manufacturer of key elevator components, but also a provider of complete elevator and escalator packages. For new construction or modernization ranging from small foot-print machine-room-less (MRL) to high-speed machine room packages, Kinetek provides solutions. As one of the largest independent elevator component and equipment suppliers, Kinetek offers elevator contractors and building owners unparalleled freedom in selecting the optimum solution for the unique requirements of each building project and the lowest total cost of service and maintenance. With over 240,000 installations worldwide, Kinetek is known for its superior technology and quality, as well as its engineering capability in meeting local requirements and demands. Kinetek/MCE has a long history as an active member of the Australian market since the early 1990â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. In 2012, Kinetek became part of the Nidec Corporation, a leading global manufacturer of electric motors and related electronics components. With market capital exceeding 17.5B, Nidec Corporation includes more than 100 manufacturing and sales locations in 25 countries and employs more than 107,000 people. Employees: Xxxxx Established: Xxxx Management: Industry: Xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxx xxxx xxx xxxxx xxxxx. Ashur Kanon, President, Kinetek Elevator Services: Xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxx xxxx xxx xxxxx xxxxx. Ji Fan, General Manager, International Elevator Ongoing Projects: Xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxx xxxx xxx xxxxx xxxxx Management: Xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxx xxxx xxx xxxxx xxxxx website: nidec-kinetek.com Website: address goes here as the last entry
L I F T R O N I C P T Y LT D
AUSTRALIA
internally and externally. We’re very hands-on,” says Debelak. All the Company’s Directors are available to all clients in relation to any matters that affect the business. “We welcome this contact because it gives us detailed information on what our business is doing and what our clients need.” Liftronic is large enough to leverage size and scale, but still small enough that clients can pick up the phone and dial directors Quality People Keep the directly. “That’s something Company Going Up extremely important to us. All our For 30 years Liftronic have installed directors need to know exactly and maintained elevators and escalators across a broad spectrum what’s going on in the business. of Australian operating environments. It’s critical that we have that intimate contact with our clients. This way, we They are justifiably proud of the actually experience the issues.” This quality of their products, services and the expertise of their people. Liftronic’s allows Liftronic to better understand, people are some of the industry’s most serve and anticipate. “The directors continue to maintain highly regarded. Its management team this hands-on approach, but as the is hands-on in Australia, available to business grows it becomes a little more respond immediately to the needs of difficult. Therefore, we established an its customers. Executive Management Team (EMT) “A number of years ago, as the directors were spread over a larger, that work with us to cover the growth in the business. Our EMT work with us growing business, we decided we and with our middle managers to run needed a plan. We need people and grow the business.” working with us that can have “We develop strategies personalised and direct contact machine-roomless lifts, energy systems, cutting-edge controller dispatching systems, remote fault diagnostic systems and observation and special application lifts. Liftronic’s customers can be confident that they are dealing with people with the highest levels of expertise, who have access to the broadest range of new technology and the latest engineering solutions.
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L i f t r o n i c P t y Lt d
Home Lift
AUSTRALIA
“We differentiate ourselves through products, service and innovation throughout the business offerings we provide. We have great flexibility across a range of products that satisfy all vertical transportation needs. As a company, we probably have the widest range of products one company can offer within the vertical transportation industry,” says Debelak. “Part of what makes us unique is that while we have longstanding and Capabilities substantial business partners and Liftronic is committed to their suppliers, we are not obligated to Quality Accreditation and provide a fixed product that would, for an uncompromising Safety example, suit a multinational’s parent. Management System. Their We have great flexibility that allows responsive and highly trained us to choose product that best suits staff are available 24/7 with access to local inventory of quality the client. Also, we have complete autonomy in that all our decisions spare parts and the support of a on products and services are customer centric “walk-the-talk” done locally by people that run the leadership culture. business on a day-to-day basis The Company’s unique position as the largest Australian company in with a strategic long-term view.” Liftronic is bound to an ethos the sector allows them to maximise the service, operational and financial that ensures their clients deliverables that are valued by their experience the highest levels clients and their customers, in retail of quality, safety and service. environments, Government facilities, This approach has consistently delivered superior passenger transport hubs, residential towers, office blocks and private residences. comfort, increased uptime, and horizontally and vertically with our Management Team and all our staff,” says Debelak. Thanks to this approach, Liftronic has also been able to establish and groom its employees in a manner that creates and maintains an existing network to make sure no responsibilities are ever lost track of, and we promptly and effectively attend to our clients’ needs.
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L i f t r o n i c P t y Lt d
Escalator
has extended the operational lifecycle of their products. Focused on Developing Technology and Growth Liftronic works hard to leverage 260
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their cutting-edge position while continuously looking for potential acquisitions, companies with good value within their organisations, whether they are directly lift companies or have similar synergies to their own.
AUSTRALIA
“Fortunately, we have a good amount of available funds and facilities which allow us to make relatively large acquisitions,” says Debelak. Liftronic is currently focused on developing technology and looking for acquisitions for growth. “We have some substantial suppliers and contributors. We consider our suppliers our partners in our business. We are working with them in great detail to develop new products in our industry,” says Debelak. Liftronic’s products, engineered components and architectural finishes are drawn from multiple supply chains that connect their customers to the latest and best solutions in the world. “This means cutting-edge products are not only driven by multinational competitors, we are also driving technology and efficiency improvements within existing and new products.”
Company Information Industry
Construction headquarters
North South Wales, Australia founded
1985 e m pl o y e e s
140 revenue
+$40 Million
Liftronic’s Future “The Australian market has huge amounts of opportunity for a company that is offering quality product and high levels of services. We see people that are hungry for that. In addition, the Australian economy has a very good base for growth. We see a lot of opportunity both within our existing and new markets.” Above all, Liftronic is instilled with a level of integrity that is the foundation of customer relationships that spans decades and will quite surely continue to add decades to its peerless track record.
products/ services
Established in 1985, Liftronic is Australia’s largest independent lift company, trusted by Government Departments, property developers, Bodies Corporate, and private home owners to design, supply, install, modernise and maintain thousands of lifts and escalators across all major Australian markets.
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