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Victoria Gold mining building, northwest of Mayo, YT. S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2 | 17 Metal Roofing/Cladding P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E S Y B EH L EN I N DUS T R I E S Metal roofing and cladding experiences high demand from a variety of sectors by ROBIN BRUNET F or the most part, strong demand seems to be mitigating supply shortages and rising inflation in the metal roofing and cladding sector in 2022, with companies supplying and installing a wide range of products for a variety of commercial, institutional, and industrial uses. Case in point: Behlen Industries, the Manitoba-based steel buildings manufacturer that is not only internationally sought for its commercial and industrial products, but also for its ability to apply steel to structures not usually associated with steel building providers (for example, Behlen's Bridge-in-a-Box is an engineered, pre-fabricated modular steel bridge delivered to site in single- or double-lane configurations and spans from six metres to 24.5 metres). Sean Lepper, Behlen's VP and general manager, says, "For the past 18 months we've been very lucky with work, with high demand exhibited in all sectors and in mining in particular. Demand has allowed us to expand into eastern Canada and broaden our reach in southern Ontario." Better still, the demand seems to have legs. "We're already quoting well into next year," Lepper says. "Certainly we're worried about a recession, but we tend to think optimistically and are trying to self-improve as always, in anticipation of serving customers even more efficiently." The RIGHT DIRECTION Heading In That takes the form of spending considerable money and effort into modern- izing equipment at Behlen's 300,000-square-foot plant. "We're streamlining our processes through paperless shipping," Lepper explains. "This is being done by analysing every component of our building systems and applying barcodes to them. It's been a huge undertaking, and hopefully this improves our output and results in scheduling that is even more accurate than it is now." As for projects, Behlen recently supplied buildings on behalf of copper and gold mining companies in the north, "and we're also providing a very large boat storage facility in downtown Kelowna," Lepper says. "This is a five-storey structure with integrated racking and a crane to move the boats, with lots of architectural components and glazing for visual appeal. It should be finished by next year." Quebec-based Groupe Honco is equally busy in 2022. Typically the company works on about 60 projects annually, and this year it is constructing three sports complexes in New Brunswick, a province that represents a growing market for the venerable builder. Geneviève Filteau, manager, development at Honco (and who is responsible for fostering growth in New Brunswick), says, "There's lots of pent-up demand in eastern Canada that we're able to satisfy. It's hardly news that steel supplies have been affected by supply chain challenges, but we have plenty of inventory." But transportation costs are another issue, and ironically Honco finds doing business in other parts of the world somewhat easier than in some parts of Canada. "For example, shipping our materials by road or train is extremely expensive and impacts the degree to which we can have a presence out west; however, transportation by ship is a lot more affordable, hence we are active with projects in South America and other countries," Filteau explains.

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