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OCTOBER 2017 | 47 Reinforcing Steel PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY LMS GROUP T The reinforcing steel sector is busy working on major projects, despite all odds by ROBIN BRUNET The reinforcing steel sector has always been some- what volatile; vulnerable as it is to fluctuating steel prices, the availability of raw material and of course the health of regional economies. So it's not surprising that while many established rebar specialists find themselves busy this year, it's with a sense of unease: in B.C.'s case because of the recent change in provincial government, and in Alberta due to mixed messages about the potential comeback of the oil and gas sector, which in turn is causing a lot of developers to refrain from going ahead with long- awaited major projects. As always, promoting the industry remains a top consideration, and on that score the Reinforcing Steel Institute of Canada (RSIC) continues to draw atten- tion to the sector. One strategy is a working commit- tee formed in B.C. that participates in conventions and other events. This committee is also, according to RSIC president Roger Hubbard, closely monitoring "several items of industry concern," such as high-rise engi- neered wood structures, ultra high-strength steels and the new LEED V4 standards. One positive development has arisen from the RSIC last year beginning to track its website usage: Hubbard was pleasantly surprised to learn that "more people are visiting our website and for longer peri- ods of time than we anticipated." Although the major- ity of visitors are from eastern Canada, "many people are visiting nationally and internationally as well." Of particular interest to surfers are the Institute's Manual of Standard Practise, followed by Fabricators, RSIC Detailers Certification Program, and the Placing Manual. In other words, reinforcing steel may be luring more newcomers to the trade than initially thought, which bodes well for the long term. In the meantime, companies such as Harris Rebar are busy on a variety of projects, first and foremost being the John Hart Generating Station replacement for BC Hydro – a job that includes the construction of an innovative, underground powerhouse that will enhance public safety and improve the site's environ- mental footprint. Harris regional manager Jim Bromley says that 3,000 tonnes of rebar will be installed on the site in total (mainly for the dam intake and subterranean powerhouse) by a 15 member crew; earlier this year the replacement required 500 people to be working on the site. A new water bypass facility as well as a 2.1-kilometre tunnel to replace three 1.8-kilometre pipelines are also being constructed. Elsewhere on Vancouver Island, Harris is sup- plying rebar and installation services for the A/B Jetty Recapitalization project for the Department of National Defence in Esquimalt. At over 70 years old, the original jetties have long surpassed their service life. The project consists of site remediation and sea- bed dredging and blasting; construction of retaining walls, piles, beams, service access tunnels; jetty deck- ings; and an electrical substation, ancillary buildings, and two rail-mounted cranes. Bromley adds, "We're also looking forward to the start of the long-awaited new sewage treatment plant in the Victoria area. Meantime, we're busy with lots of new condominium construction, and the commercial and residential markets overall are fairly lively in the Metro Vancouver area – although not so much in the Interior." Bromley is cautious in contemplating work opportu- nities later this year and next. "We have a new provin- cial government, one that favours reviews of projects that have been in the works for some time, so it's impos- sible to say with any authority if the big infrastructure and energy projects a lot of people are hoping for will move forward anytime soon. One of the many things in our favour is that we have 72 branches across North America and 22 in Canada, which gives us efficiencies of scale and a great ability to compete for jobs." Over in Alberta, Duane Kotun, spokesman for Sherwood Steel Ltd., is relieved that job prospects in 2017 have proven to be more robust than the year prior. "We're busy, and there are some indications an economic recovery is happening – but the pace is not yet full bore." Sherwood Steel fabricates and installs rebar and welded wire mesh for all types of construction proj- ects in Western Canada and the Northern Territories. From two locations in Edmonton and Calgary, it sup- plies materials for condo projects, schools, housing developments and other types of construction, with the Vibe and ALOFT Skyview condos in Edmonton being two notable examples in the residential realm. "Residential is somewhat of a specialty for us, but with the volume of industrial projects not yet recov- ered, a lot of industrial suppliers are now 'playing in our backyard,' so to speak, and the competition has definitely increased," says Kotun. Sher wood is currently supply ing rebar for Edmonton's Symphony Tower, currently midway in the construction process. It is also building cages for every power pole that will comprise a new power line from Edmonton to Fort McMurray — a distance of 434 kilometres. As Kotun looks ahead to 2018, he remarks, "I hope Calgary goes forward with its plans to build a new sports arena. The construction of Edmonton's Rogers Place arena – for which we provided steel for the arena slab – helped that city enormously not only because it was a big project, but because it triggered residential and com- mercial development in the immediate vicinity." Although it is one of the more prominent indepen- dent fabricators and installers of reinforcing steel in Western Canada, B.C.-based LMS Reinforcing Steel Group is ensuring its continued success by focusing its attention across North America. Norm Streu, president and COO of LMS, explains, "A lot of our focus in 2017 is expanding our U.S. presence, building upon our acquisition last year of Johasee Rebar." Streu is referring to LMS's acquisition of the Bakersfield, California rebar company. At the time of the acquisition, LMS CEO and co-founder Ron McNeil said, "Johasee was an attractive acquisition target for a number of strategic reasons. The management team has done an exceptional job of building a company with loyal customers and capable ironworkers; the result is a profitable company with a strong reputation. We are focused on building on this success." LMS takes a hands-on approach to its activities, treating Johasee employees as part of the LMS team. "That's a defining feature of LMS," says McNeil. "We work hard to treat people extremely well, considering that rebar is an inherently tough sector. The Johasee employees realize they have a career path and mentor- ship opportunities, and their buy-in strengthens our potential for future success." LMS's portfolio right here in Canada continues to grow with many iconic jobs including the Park Casino Hotel and Resort, the Stantec Tower in the Ice District, the Alberta Boot project, the Trump International Hotel and Tower and the Vancouver House . . . to name a few. A Call In The Reinforcements Raising rebar at the Vancouver House project.

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