(Originally published in the February 2012 issue of the Nova Scotia Business Journal - Aecon Atlantic Industrial Inc. feature)
Aecon Atlantic Industrial Inc. is sitting on top of the world. The company was recently presented with the award for “large business of the year” by the Pictou Chamber of Commerce at its annual Business Achievement Awards gala.
The award win was the latest in a long string of successes for AAII — one of the largest industrial construction companies in Nova Scotia. Business development manager Troy Garnett says the recognition is due in part to the relationship the company has with its employees and neighbours. Last winter the Pictou Shipyard, their marine facility, helped with the repair of the Tall Ship Hector, an important tourist attraction.
“We would like to think we support the communities we operate in,” says Garnett. “We had a number of our employees volunteer their time on Ship Hector and we also are a major sponsor of the Pictou Carnival.
“We try to support local businesses when we can from suppliers to restaurants and hotels.”
Part of the national Aecon Group, AAII has facilities in Woodside, Pictou and Eastern Passage which specialize in custom steel fabrication, pipe fabrication and modular industrial construction. The company ships its products around the world.
At the Pictou Shipyard, Aecon’s marine division does both shipbuilding and ship repair. The company invested $5 million last year, without any government assistance, to refurbish the marine railway with a 4,000 tonne capacity to haul vessels out of the water for repair. Its side-transfer capability allows it to do multiple projects simultaneously by moving one ship onto land and bringing up another.
“We’re excited about having the Pictou Shipyard running full steam ahead,” says Garnett. “It’s only a year and a half, and we’ve already had 12 boats up on the railway for repair.”
Both the fabrication and marine divisions have a strong outlook for this year and the years to come. AAII hopes to participate in the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy with Irving. Garnett says being part of a nationwide company with a strong P and L gives potential clients confidence that they can handle large-scale projects from start to finish.
“Large corporations usually like to deal with large corporations,” he says. “We’re able to go into a project and provide a turn-key package, from design and fabrication to installation.”
Aecon Atlantic Industrial Inc. offers it all and with experience like no other.
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At a glance: Notable ventures
• Deep Panuke flare tower: Aecon’s Pictou facility built the flare tower for the Deep Panuke natural gas project. The tower was 93 metres long and 160 tonnes.
• Deep Panuke piping: The Pictou and Woodside facilities built the subsea piping for the Deep Panuke project and its Subsea Isolation Value Structure, a metal frame to protect the rig’s underwater valve from damage.
• Reclaim barge: The marine division is building a reclaim barge for the oil sands in Fort McMurray. The growing emphasis on environmental controls for the oil industry has increased the demand for barges such as these. It will be completed in 2012.
