Deep foundation construction in our great nation
By Lisa Kopochinski
Although the piling industry in Canada is relatively young, the history of piling as a technique can actually be traced back to the fourth century B.C., when Herodotus, the Greek writer and traveler, recorded how the Paeonians lived in dwellings erected on lofty piles driven into a lake bed.
Other references to ancient piling include lake dwellers in Switzerland, who approximately 6,000 years ago were thought to have built structures on piled foundations to elevate dwellings to protect the occupants against attack. Not to be outdone, Greek and Roman engineers used piles along the Mediterranean coast. Early records show that piles were formed by using timber branches that were trimmed down with a small diameter at the bottom. They were driven into the soil as deep as the ground would allow.
The industry has come a long way. And while piling today is largely steel and concrete, the one thing that remains constant is that piles continue to be used as deep foundations to support many types of structures and in many types of ground conditions.
Mary Pohlman has recently joined Jeffrey Machine, Inc. as the company's new international sales representative. She brings 13-plus years' experience in the foundation drilling and construction industry. Pohlman has been previously successful at building solid relationships with contractors and is expected to continue that success in her new position.
Her extensive marketplace knowledge has helped to accurately identify customers' needs. It also helps the manufacturing team to develop the right drilling tool solution for their job sites. Her broad understanding of the foundation tooling industry will help to extend Jeffrey Machine's excellent customer service into the international marketplace.
For more information about Jeffrey Machine, Inc., visit their website at www.jeffreymachine.com.
Industrial Parts Depot (IPD), LLC and BU Drive USA, Inc. Announce Joint Venture Turbocharger Supply Company
Industrial Parts Depot (IPD), LLC and BU Drive USA, Inc. are excited to announce the creation of a joint venture (JV) company named IPD Turbocharging SystemsTM. This new organization will focus on sales and service for the distribution of BorgWarner, Holset, IHI and Mitsubishi turbochargers, and will provide IPD Remanufactured Turbos.
“Turbochargers are a core component for the servicing requirements of IPD's global distribution network, and are an ideal complement to IPD's growing product portfolio,” said Russell Kneipp, president of IPD. “IPD has been involved for decades in the turbocharging industry, and this new JV with BU Drive USA provides IPD with the opportunity to offer our customers a range of turbochargers with the level of service and quality that they demand.”
Jack Lorimer, CEO of BU Drive USA, added, “The combination of BU's turbocharger and remanufacturing technical expertise worldwide, along with IPD's sales, distribution, manufacturing and quality processes, is a recipe for success in the critical and complicated business of turbocharging.”
For information on IPD, please visit www.ipdparts.com.
New P3 Bridge Will Reinforce Canada’s “Best-in-Class” Reputation
The announcement by The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, that the new bridge for the St. Lawrence will be built as a public-private partnership (P3) recognizes the critical importance of the Champlain Bridge as a $20-billion annual trade corridor and vital transportation artery for Quebec and Canada. The Government of Canada has released the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) business case confirming that a P3 will provide the most cost-effective method to deliver the project within an accelerated timeline.
“The Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships (CCPPP) strongly endorses the government's decision to move ahead with the project using the P3 model and expediting the process, given the pressing need for a safe, reliable, world-class crossing for residents and businesses in the Montreal area,” said Mark Romoff, president and CEO of CCPPP. “The project will also create thousands of jobs, stimulate the economy and provide long-term value to taxpayers.”
Over the last 20 years, jurisdictions across Canada have successfully used the P3 approach in 205 projects, with those in operation or under construction worth more than $60 billion: bridges, roads, urban transit, hospitals, airports, schools, social housing, courthouses, detention centres, water and wastewater. The vast majority of these projects have been delivered on time and on budget, generating significant cost savings for governments at all levels, while creating jobs and growing Canada's economic prosperity and global competitiveness. Governments around the world are looking to replicate the Canadian “gold standard” approach, creating opportunities for Canadian companies with P3 experience and expertise. The new bridge for the St. Lawrence promises to be yet another in Canada's long list of successes.
About CCPPPEstablished in 1993, CCPPP is a national not-for-profit non-partisan, member-based organization with broad representation from across the public and private sectors. Its mission is to promote innovative approaches to infrastructure development and service delivery through P3s with all levels of government. CCPPP is a proponent of evidence-based public policy in support of P3s, facilitates the adoption of international best practices and educates stakeholders and the community on the economic and social benefits of public-private partnerships.
Major energy, resource, infrastructure and commercial projects will counterbalance reduced residential activity to deliver stable workloads and escalation in 2014, according to BTY Group's annual Market Intelligence Report on construction costs across Canada.
Increased labour demand for skilled trades, due in part to a large number of retiring workers, will vary by region and sector.
“We expect fairly healthy levels of activity across Canada despite an anticipated general residential slowdown nation- wide, except [for] Alberta and British Columbia,” said Joe Rekab, managing partner at BTY Group. “Large - and often remote - energy and resource projects, with renewed infra- structure spending, will also spur increased labour demand in some regions.”
In Ontario, strong mining investment in the north, renewed horizontal and vertical infrastructure spending and sustained commercial construction in the GTA will keep workloads stable.
Still-strong oil sands investment, flood reconstruction, record high in-migration and a commercial building boom will help sustain Alberta's robust construction activity and drive Canada's strongest residential growth.
Continuing investment in transportation and healthcare infrastructure and multibillion-dollar mining and energy projects will help Quebec regain momentum.
Sustained investment in resource and energy development and continued high levels of in-migration will see Saskatchewan keep its place as a growth leader - with strains on labour supply.
Strong shipbuilding and commercial construction, and healthy in-migration that sustains residential activity, will keep B.C. humming as massive LNG and hydro projects get underway and propel the province to solid long-term growth.
BTY Group has been publishing its annual industry review of construction cost forecasts across Canada since 2003. Over the years, the Market Intelligence Report has earned a reputation in the development, property and finance communities for crucial insight on factors behind the changing marketplace and reliable unit rate cost projections for the coming year.
A full copy of the report can be accessed on BTY Group's website at www.bty.com.
Don’t be too Swift to Rely on Limitation of Liability Clauses
A cautionary tale from Alberta's highest court
By Jason E. Roberts, Fillmore Riley LLP
Limitation of liability clauses are often found in con- struction contracts. These clauses generally serve to limit the amount payable as damages by a party in the event of faulty design or workmanship on its part.
However, the recent decision of the Alberta Court of Appeal in Swift v. Tomecek Roney Little & Associates Ltd. signals that parties to construction contracts should exercise caution when relying on limitation of liability clauses.
The facts of the case are reasonably straightforward and, although they involve the construction of a single-family home, there is no reason to suggest that the principles set out by the court would be inapplicable to other types of construction contracts. Mr. and Mrs. Swift owned land on Vancouver Island, on which they planned to build a home. Mr. Swift entered into an agreement with an architectural firm (the “Architects”) to design the home (the “Agreement”). The Agreement contained a limitation of liability clause, which protected the “Architects (referred to in the Agreement as the “Designer”)”:
An employee rewards and recognition program in your workplace has a positive impact on your bottom line
By Barbara Bowes, Legacy Bowes Group
For several years, baby boomer retirement issues were identified as the top priority in many human resource surveys. Today, the issue of employee engagement is taking over the primary lead. In fact, one survey reports that 94 per cent of participants identified employee engagement as their most important workforce challenge.
Yet, what is employee engagement and why should Piling Canada readers be concerned? Employee engagement refers to whether or not employees have a positive or negative approach to their work and whether or not employees are willing and/or not willing to perform at their best in ways that further benefit their employer. The reason for concern is that employee engagement has a direct impact on business success and profitability.
As a leader in Canada's foundation contracting industry, Deep Foundations installs all major types of piles, but its strength has always been its people
Creative Pultrusions, Inc. Hires Ted Harris as Market Development Engineer
Creative Pultrusions, Inc. (CPI) welcomed Ted Harris on March 17, 2014. Ted has over 25 years of product design, development and engineering experience in manufacturing. He also has extensive experience working in sales, marketing and business development. He has a degree in aerospace engineering and is a registered professional engineer in mechanical engineering in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Harris joins CPI as market development engineer, and will be responsible for marketing the TRANSONITE® Panel Product Line.
Barker Ross Expands to Supply Piling Specialists Globally
Due to the continued success of its piling and geotechnical operation in the UK, Barker Ross is expanding to supply piling specialists globally.
“We are recognized as the leading recruitment company for piling and geotechnical positions, with top to bottom coverage in the UK,” said Billy Berridge, head of the Barker Ross piling division. “Now we are confident we can use our expertise to develop a truly global network of piling specialists and fill roles in markets which are currently experiencing a boom, such as Canada, Europe and the Middle East.”
Antony Rowe, managing director of Barker Ross Recruitment, further explains. “This is an area we have had a great deal of success in as we have really focused on it. Getting to know both candidates and client companies really well means we can be the first in line to fill both temporary and permanent vacancies.”
The piling and geotechnical sector has seen significant skills shortages, particularly as activity in civil engineering increases, due to a lack of dedicated training in the industry overall.
“There are perhaps only two to three thousand skilled piling operatives in the UK and most are in the later stages of their career,” said Berridge. “As a result, demand continues to outstrip supply, and this will only get worse as experienced pilers retire. To help alleviate the shortage, we have - for some time now - been offering to meet the cost of certification for those with the right skills but lacking current documents to enable them to work in the industry. In addition, developing our network globally will also help us fill positions more easily in all markets, as we can draw from a larger base of candidates.”
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Independence Tube Achieves ISO 9001:2008 Certification
Independence Tube Corporation is proud to announce it has achieved ISO 9001:2008 certification at their manufacturing divisions in Chicago and Marseilles, Ill. and Decatur, Ala. through registrar SAI Global.
The road to ISO 9001:2008 certification for Independence Tube included divisional initial assessments and gap analyses, Quality Management Systems, Document Management Systems and Corrective and Preventative Action Systems development, internal audits, management system reviews and closure of all divisional quality system corrective actions, prior to registration audits at each division with SAI Global.
The ISO 9001:2008 certification recognizes that the policies, practices and procedures of our company ensure consistent quality in the product and services we provide. Clients can be confident Independence Tube is dedicated to maintaining the highest efficiency and responsiveness in achieving our ultimate goal - guaranteed client satisfaction.=
About Us
Piling Canada is the premier national voice for the Canadian deep foundation construction industry. Each issue is dedicated to providing readers with current and informative editorial, including project updates, company profiles, technological advancements, safety news, environmental information, HR advice, pertinent legal issues and more.
