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M A R C H 2 0 2 2 | 33 Structural Steel One project of note in 2022 for Benson Steel is a new condominium development in Toronto for Daniels Group in which D-Beams will be used. "While used extensively in the U.S., the D-Beams are new to Canada, and they are a great alterna- tive to standard mid-high-rise residential condo and multilevel storage facility construction," Benson says. The D-Beam girder fabrication process begins with a standard wide flange section that, when uniquely cut through the web, produces two equal T sections. Benson Steel then welds a flat bar to cre- ate the top flange, resulting in two D-Beam girders from one parent beam without waste. These girders in turn contribute to the exact same high floor-to- ceiling heights as do cast-in-place solutions; they also speed construction, reduce building structure weight, and allow for floorplan design flexibility. Benson adds, "As with components for other proj- ects, the D-Beams are made in our 55,000-square-foot shop which, thanks to CNC and robotics, is able to achieve three times the output that we used to enjoy. Efficiency is vital to all of our work, and if we get a gain of five or seven percent with regards to D-Beam use for Daniels Group, we will be pleased." Rob Third, creative director at George Third & Son, is another steel craftsman that credits technol- ogy for helping to make the most of 2022. He says, "The Canadian steel industry is strong, and this is no surprise considering steel is the most recycled structural product in the world, in demand over other materials. "There are lots of steel projects to chase, and stay- ing ahead of the curve is possible with the use of ever evolving innovative CNC and robotic steel fabricating equipment." George Third & Son has been involved in a wide range of new and recent projects, includ- ing the SkyTrain Operations and Maintenance building in Burnaby (a two-storey structural steel project on concrete foundations that included the use of composite floors and an exterior finish of metal cladding); Eric Hamber Secondary School in Vancouver (a school replacement project); the NVIDIA Campus in Santa Clara, California (featur- ing two buildings with a unique triangular-themed structure comprised of structural steel tubing, formed into triangular support frames); and the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle (a new 370,000-square-foot structural steel and pre- cast clad building that required the erection of 21,000 tons of steel). Some companies in the structural steel realm are well poised to make the most of 2022 thanks to the amalgamation of resources, and that includes Supermétal. That's because a change of owner- ship was executed last spring that saw CANAM Group purchasing the majority of ownership of the Quebec-based firm. Now, Supermétal's com- plex steel project expertise is complemented by new product offerings including metal "Q" decks, joists, and sandwich panel envelope systems. In addition to the new products, CANAM has one of Canada's largest structural steel fabrica- tion plants, and the two companies combined can now provide customers with an annual capac- ity of more than 60,000 metric tons. This makes Supermétal-CANAM the largest fabricator in Canada and among the top five in North America. Recent projects for Supermétal include 141 Bay Street Tower at CIBC Square in Toronto (a hybrid of concrete core and structural steel, with steel also playing a vital role in providing column-free floor plates as well as supporting a one-acre park above 16 rail tracks connecting the 141 Bay tower with the adjacent 81 Bay Street tower); and Riverbend Business Park Building 5 in Burnaby, Canada's first multi-level warehouse totalling 730,000 square feet and requiring 11,000 metric tons of steel. Finally, in the specialty area of structural steel pertaining to warehouse racking, North American Steel Erectors shares a common trait with commer- cial and industrial steel providers in that business is booming: it recently expanded its warehouse space in Mississauga Distribution Centre and is in hiring mode. The company is a leading manufacturer of steel pallet racking and industrial storage systems, which in turn help clients increase capacity, build higher, and grow larger. North American Steel Erectors also provides structural racking, constructed of hot rolled struc- tural channels, I-beams and HSS tubes, ideal for high-rise systems, heavy traffic, and high abuse areas. One of the many advantages of this system – and a reason for its growing use in distribution facilities – is that the racking sections are thick enough to be repaired using ordinary cutting and welding equipment, meaning the cost of replacing standard damaged rack components and the down- time required for repairs can be avoided. A Diamond Polished Concrete. A Strong & Beautiful Concrete Flooring Solution Diamond Polished Concrete is a unique, advanced flooring system that brings out the natural beauty of concrete, helps reduce maintenance costs and enhances the natural durability of concrete surfaces. The Tri-Con Diamond Polish System employs an innovative 7-step grinding and polishing process that utilizes progressively finer diamond grinding heads. This system also uses the most advanced penetrating sealer technology. Tri-Con Concrete Finishing is an industry leader with more than 30 years experience in the concrete industry. We are a one-stop supplier capable of pouring new floors to exact specifications as well as restoring existing concrete surfaces with endless versatility. We guarantee that we deliver on time, on budget and on spec every time. ASK ABOUT OUR I.C.I. JOINT FREE CONCRETE FLOORS TRI-CON Concrete Finishing Co. Ltd. 835 Supertest Rd., Suite 100 North York, Toronto, ON M3J 2M9 Tel. 416.736.7700 Fax. 416.736.6686 www.triconconcrete.com 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2017 GOLDEN TROWEL AWARD WINNER FM37428.indd 1 7/23/20 8:23 AM

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