< Previous| 30 FEBRUARY 2024WRITTEN BY ERIC O’CALLAGHAN T urning forty is a pivotal point in life for majority of peo- ple. It allows us time to reflect on where we came from and focus on where we’re going. In business, this is no different. In 1984, IECS Group was known as West Lorna Precast, the company established by two individuals, one of whom was Louis Arvai. Over this time, the company has expe- rienced massive growth and has managed to remain at the pinnacle of a profoundly volatile industry. As it approaches the big four-zero, it’s nice to take a moment to stop and smell the proverbial roses. The company has experienced a number of significant suc- cesses during its time in business and at its peak, has had close to 140 employees. Ever the innovator, IECS invented the precast headwall in 1997, a first for the industry. Specializing in articulated concrete block or articulated concrete mat, the company has used these skills and desire to push the industry forward to expand across both local and international markets. 2008 saw the company develop its operations significantly. IECS acquired a new property, built a new precast facility in Rodney, and also built a new office space. While in 2012, IECS acquired another property adjacent to its existing structure, essentially doubling its space. However, the expansion didn’t stop there and IECS continued to grow in both 2019 and 2021. Cable Concrete is an engineered solution and IECS manu- facture the moulds to cast the product in Canada. The engi- neering aspect of this was developed by IECS, which allowed the business to enter global markets and manufacture the product locally, utilizing local labor and materials by shipping its molds there. In addition to this, it also offers products such as precast box colour, bridge elements, girders, deck slabs, footings, wing walls, and more. This type of specialised custom precast solution has allowed the company to grow its business in Ontario. To add to its list of industry firsts, the company poured Cable Concrete in Mexico as far back as 2006 and manufactured it in Nigeria in 2010. “Ever the innovator, IECS invented the precast headwall in 1997, a first for the industry.”fisherprofessionalcorporationFishercorp.cainfo@fishercorp.ca519 679 2080 Bookkeeping Financial Planning & Advice Financial Reporting & Assurance Tax preparation Dedicated professionals with a mission to help your business meet and exceed your financial goals Vice President of IECS, Greg Arvai, has worked at IECS for more than 20 years, and views the company as leaders in custom design build precast. “We've made a name for our company over the years. A lot of our products head all over Ontario, and to the GTA, which is one of the best construction markets in the world. We've worked with big contractors to smaller ones, and basically everything at our facility is built on a per project basis. We have a full turnkey oper- ation from estimating to engineering and design work, to the quality engineering of the work and also delivery of the material to the customer. But the specialty precast has been an area that contracting compa- nies relevant to our market reach out to us for solutions. We definitely don't like to say no. We like to take on unique challenging projects that require engineered solutions and that is where we excel.” Reflecting on their almost 40 years in business, Arvai dis- cussed some standout moments for IECS, which included its first international project based in Malaysia in 1999. Today, IECS has offices in Nigeria, Chile, Uganda, Zambia, and the United States. To manage this successfully, IECS Group has territory man- agers in each location that work directly for the company and report to head office. However, a certain amount of trust has been placed on each manger to manage their region as their own business. With this in mind, the IECS business philoso- phy is not to micromanage its people. Instead, the company chose to surround itself with creative people; people it can rely on. With IECS being a family business, this family run approach is extended to all offices worldwide, covering every- one from personnel to senior management. | 32 FEBRUARY 2024This style of business has allowed IECS to work on multiple projects and complete them not only successfully, but to an enviably high standard. One of these projects was a Metrolinx project, Davenport Diamond Grade Separation in Toronto. The Cougar Creek flood mitigation projects in Canmore, Alberta, was another big project for IECS, and also opened the door for it to expand into Western Canada. While there have been many projects IECS has worked on, one it is currently excited about is the work it has completed as part of the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project. This is a major infrastructure project and is especially excit- ing for Arvai, who is happy to be associated with Canadian ice hockey player Gordie Howe. Hockey is a major part of the Arvai family and being part of a project such as this engrains the family in the fabric of Canadian culture. | 33 APEIRON CONSTRUCTION1-800-263-7110rebarsales@salitsteel.com salitsteel.com YOUR TRUSTED REBAR PARTNER FOR OVER 100 YEARS! With SEVEN FABRICATION FACILITIES across ONTARIO, we’ll get you what you need, when you need it! Estimating • Detailing • Installation Fabrication • Stock Length Sales SERVICES Rebar • Wire Mesh • Couplers Accessories • Fiberglass Rebar PRODUCTS Another exciting opportunity for IECS is its partnership with Reinforced Earth Company (RECo), a civil engineering com- pany in Canada providing national leadership in designing and supplying components for innovative civil engineering projects. As Arvai explains, this relationship is built on a shared vision. “They specialize in providing engineered precast solutions similar to ourselves. We also sell cable concrete as a solution to design engineers in a similar way Reinforced Earth would visit design engineers and owners to sell their solutions upstream and help with design assistance. So, when we first started the conversation about potential partnership, we got very excited that our approach was very similar. They were excited to add cable concrete to their prod- uct offerings in the western provinces. So, entering into 2024, RECo Canada will be representing Cable Concrete in Western Canada. IECS is also very excited even though we've been in the West since 2013. We're excited to be associated with a company with as much knowledge and experience as RECo and add additional boots on the ground in the West.” “They were excited to add cable concrete to their product offerings in the western provinces.”With many celebrations to be had in 2024, IECS is remaining focused on its future. It is a company that is always looking for the next challenge. While growing and expanding its business will definitely be a priority, the relationship with RECo in the West opens the door to many upcoming projects. Other excit- ing opportunities for IECS include expanding cable concrete overseas. IECS is confident it can bring a great engineering solution to many countries outside of Canada. However, no matter how much IECS continues to grow, the one part of the business that will never change is the family culture. “Within our business, the one thing we're very proud of is that, as we've grown, we've stayed true to our values. We hope to continue to do that and work with companies and customers that hold the same vision and morals and values as us. We feel blessed at the opportunity that that we have had as a family business over the last 40 years, and we really want to work with people we consider friends and family. As we take on the next chal- lenge, this is something that definitely matters to us. We feel like we're a great partner and we're just looking to continue providing the industry with unique solutions.” | 35 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWRITTEN BY RAQUEL FARRINGTON H eidelberg Materials is building a better world for its people, customers, communi- ties, and shareholders from the [under]ground up. With its headquarters in Texas and a regional office on the West Coast of Canada, Heidelberg Materials North America is a leading supplier of cement, aggregates, ready mixed concrete and asphalt with more than 450 locations and approximately 9,000 employees in the U.S. and Can- ada. Globally, Heidelberg Materials is represented in more than 50 countries with around 51,000 employees at almost 3,000 locations. Most companies expand for two reasons: to extend its reach so it can serve more customers, and to extend its product line so it can create new options. Over the years Heidelberg Materials North America has done both, expanding and acquiring different companies, which has allowed the organization to take on a wide range of projects, delivering a volume and variety of products and solutions that most competitors simply cannot match. Over the years, the company has grown through a series of acquisitions and partnerships, acquiring strategic assets across North America that have helped it expand its geographic reach. Today, Heidelberg Materials provides a broad spectrum of products and possibilities to the markets it serves. In addition to aggregates, cement, ready mixed concrete and asphalt, Heidelberg Materials offers a variety of other products and services in select markets throughout North America. These products include concrete pipe and precast concrete drainage products such as box culverts, catch basins and manholes. Heidelberg Materials also offers construction services in parts of the northern United States. | 36 FEBRUARY 2024| 37 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONIn Canada, the pipe divisions of Heidelberg Materials were formerly known as Inland Pipe in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and Ocean Pipe in British Columbia. There are production facilities in Winnipeg, Calgary, and Vancouver, as well as a Sales Depot in Edmonton. In January 2023, the company rebranded to Heidelberg Materials, to better repre- sent its global reach and focus on sustainability, digitalization and leadership in the building materials industry. Dedicated to a bold goal of leading the industry on the path to carbon neutrality, Heidelberg Materials offers customers sustainable building materials and solutions for the future. Though its pipe products are never actually seen by anyone, Heidelberg Materials plays a critical role as partner with the contractor and the owner of every project it works on, which can range from large-scale projects like micro tunneling to projects on a slightly smaller scale such as storm drains. The team works in tandem with contractors to make sure that everything is designed properly, specifications are in the clear and any challenges or issues are addressed up front to avoid delays along the way. “Our goal with all divisions, is to supply a good quality product and ensure the project goes through successfully,” says Tannis Karklin, Area Sales Manager. For pipe-related jobs specifically, the fruits of Heidelberg Materials’ labor aren’t easily seen. “Everything we do is underground, so you don't see it. Essentially, the product gets buried,” says Karklin. “It’s not like with concrete where you can see people pouring driveways and bridges. Pipe is buried deep under the surface, and it’s used in wastewater and storm drainage applications.” Despite this, the pipe work is critical, playing an important role in a variety of local projects. Heidelberg Materials’ Canadian operations produce a full range of precast drainage mate- rials for the municipal, commercial, and industrial markets. Concrete pipe ranging from 300mm to 3000mm in diameter and a full line of manhole, catch basin, box section and vault structures accommodate the largest drainage projects. For the convenience of clients, Heidelberg Materials maintains a large inventory of concrete pipe, manhole and catch basin products at each location. One major project that demonstrates Heidelberg Materials’ ability to adapt to the specifications needed, regardless of the challenges it may present, is the Rangeview Project. This supportive infrastructure project will support the new devel- opment of the Southeast section of Calgary, Alberta, which has seen a lot of growth in recent years. The new Rangeview Sanitary Trunk Project includes a new, 3.5-kilometre-long trunk to convey wastewater from the new development to the Pine Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project included 900-metres of open cut construction, 2.6 kilometres of micro tunneling. While impressive, the project was not without its challenges. The team needed to reduce risks at the highway underpass where the tunnel would run. They did this by: 1. Controlled tunnelling advance rates 2. Reduced tunnelling target pressure by 40% 3. Established an on-site and 24-hour standby cleaning crew 4. Implemented a strong real-time communication system. Heidelberg Materials has also played a crucial role in the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project, serving as subcontractor alongside Bothar as the lead. Chronicled in countless headlines and think pieces, the environmental impact of this project has routinely been called into question. Reducing environmental impact and remaining culturally sensitive during installation is a small – but important – step. Heidelberg Materials engaged closely with the Stk’emlu- psemc Te Secwepemc Nation (SSN) in recognition of the cultural significance of the land. It worked closely with the partner organization, Bothar, to ensure that the production of the micro-tunnelling pipe met the tunnelling and timeline “Heidelberg Materials’ Canadian operations produce a full range of precast drainage materials for the municipal, commercial, and industrial markets.” | 38 FEBRUARY 2024demands. This collaboration and tact allowed for a safe, inno- vative, and respectful process to unfold. Heidelberg Materials also established a temporary precast facility in Kamloops as a way to better collaborate and overcome logistical, opera- tional, and environmental challenges. As for the future, Heidelberg Materials has big plans to continue making big strides in sustainability, committed to continuing its work with city specifications, designers, and local governments to ensure it can provide the best playbook, specifications, and tools. “We’re aiming to be the first net zero concrete company in the world,” says Karklin, of Heidelberg Materials’ bold sustainability goals for the next three years and beyond. She adds that the industry is changing so much, and she wants to ensure that Heidelberg remains on the forefront by evolving, growing its team, establishing new and fostering existing partnerships it enjoys with its customers. “The world is changing, and the industry is changing so much. Over the next three years our goal is to continue to evolve with that industry, continue to grow our team and continue to create strong partnerships with our customers. “Put simply, we just want to keep improving, so we are always better than yesterday.” For more information on how Heidelberg Materials can support your upcoming project, visit their website or submit a sales inquiry. | 39 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONNext >