Brandon (MB) – October 9, 2014
As Westman calendars were flipped to September, the new month brought changing leaves, unusually warm weather, and a very special anniversary for Behlen Industries LP.
For 45 years, Behlen Industries has been operating as one of the largest employers in southwestern Manitoba, currently employing around 300 salaried and hourly workers, including 65 welders, and is constantly hiring more to keep up with orders. With such projects as the largest convex style building in the world and the roof of the Pyeongchang curling rink to be used in the next Winter Olympics, Behlen has grown to be the largest manufacturer of steel building systems in Canada.
BEHLEN Industries LP was established in Brandon back in 1969, and joined the WGI Westman Group Inc. family in 1988. After that, Behlen became the first steel building manufacturer in North America to be registered to ISO 9001, an international quality management standard. In 2003, Behlen was added to the list of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Private Companies with Platinum status.
Behlen’s original “claim-to-fame” was the high-quality grain bins, popular with farmers across the prairies. Though in recent years, Behlen’s sister company, Meridian Manufacturing, have taken over bin manufacturing so Behlen can instead focus on steel building systems and custom steel fabrication projects. This means the droves of engineers and metalworkers at Behlen work together to design steel buildings that can withstand anything, from aircraft hangars in Africa to gondola lifts in the Rockies. “Behlen continues to build on the successes of our past and looks forward to an exciting future filled with innovation and growth as a leader in steel manufacturing worldwide,” says Behlen Vice President and General Manager Sean Lepper.
Being a steel building system manufacturer means that Behlen works with a team of engineers to custom design buildings, and then sends the plans to the plant where the individual parts and sections are cut, punched and welded, ready to be shipped to locations across the globe where they are erected quickly and easily, made to stand for many years. Crafting buildings of many shapes and sizes in the industrial, commercial, recreational, and institutional sectors, Behlen buildings are popping up in more and more projects around the world, including at home in Brandon.
The Len Evans Centre for Trades and Technology, the new addition to the Assiniboine Community College North Hill campus, is just one good example of Behlen buildings in the Wheat City. While most people hear ‘steel building’ and picture a boring, grey box with four walls and a roof, the Len Evans Centre shows how untrue that image can be, as Behlen is able to offer limitless creative flexibility with all buildings.
Behlen is proud to be celebrating 45 years in the community, and wants to thank everyone in the Westman area for their continued support.
Contact:
Rosa Villamizar
Marketing Manager
BEHLEN Industries LP
p. (204) 578-3739
e. rvillamizar@behlen.ca