Outside B.C., the team tackled an Eastern and Western
Alberta transmission line project. This project consists of
300 pcs of 1.8-metre diameter piles drilled to a depth of eight
metres at remote sites in central Alberta. Caissons were
installed by both open hole and temporary liner method,
then filled with 30-mpa concrete, rebar columns and tower
bolt clusters. To complete the project on schedule, HFDI
used Soilmec SR80, SR65 and SR30 drills equipped with
custom twister bar systems as well as Kobelco cranes with
vibro equipment to expedite the overall schedule.
Industry challenges
While HFDI has been successful, its journey over the past
decades has not been without its challenges.
Don says the largest challenge the company has had to
deal with is its explosive growth from a small company – with
a single piece of equipment – to one of the major deep foundations
suppliers in Western Canada.
“This has required that the company develop – in a very
short space of time – all the infrastructure required by a
large company. The demands created by the growth include
keeping up with the market, planning ahead, cash flow and
financial management, problem solving, implementing right
systems, skills and attitudes and welcoming change.”
There has also been a market change that has been the
result of a change in the economic fortunes experienced by
Canada as a whole.
“This has had the effect of driving companies to compete
in areas and markets that they previously did not operate in,”
said Don. “We have seen this in the number of new competitors
in the local market and have risen to this challenge by
upgrading systems and training. The company has expanded
its presence into other geographical areas and has brought
new competencies into the fold.”
COMPANY PROFILE
The Ambleside Phase 1
project in West Vancouver
46 Q4 2016 www.pilingcanada.ca
/www.pilingcanada.ca
/www.pilingcanada.ca
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