Strongco grows in Canada

The multiline crane and mobile equipment dealer says it has signed a contract to buy six acres of land in Fort McMurray, to strengthen its position in the province of Alberta.

It plans to begin constructing a 23,000sq ft facility, valued at $16.5m, in August 2012, and to complete it in February 2013.

Bob Dryburgh, president and CEO of Strongco said the purchase follows on the heels of a decision to upgrade a location elsewhere in Alberta last year.

“This is the second step of our strategy to strengthen Strongco’s presence in Alberta and to position the company to build market share in the oil and gas sector. The first step was construction of a new branch in Edmonton, announced in 2011. Strongco will relocate its regional Volvo operations into that new facility this month and begin the upgrade of the existing Edmonton crane facility.

The facility will house Manitowoc, National and Grove crane products, as well as products from Volvo Construction.

Dryburgh said the new facility anticipates expansion in Alberta’s energy sector.

“The continuing strength of this market, combined with major capital commitments for further expansion of the energy sector, give us the confidence to put in place the infrastructure to support our planned growth in this region.”

From 25 branch locations within Canada and five in the United States, Strongco sells, rents and services equipment for construction, infrastructure, mining, oil and gas, utilities, municipalities, waste management and forestry industries.

It represents crane manufacturers apart from Manitowoc, including Fassi, Sennebogen, Jekko, and Link-Belt. It also carries come of Terex's non-crane lines.

The company operates branches in the North Eastern United States through subsidiary Chadwick-BaRoss.