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Clay & Lorisa
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Greetings!
Welcome to our Fall 2011 edition of our newsletter. Summer seemed to sail by, and even though we are still seeing some decent weather, we all know what comes after fall (I refuse to use the "W" word in this issue).
Things at METALEX did not slow down over the summer. The price of oil held strong for a while and has dropped somewhat since (see Drilling Activity section below for current O&G prices), but construction activity in and around Alberta has maintained constant. We've hired more skilled staff, done some awesome and interesting projects and have strong expectations that winter demand will continue unabated.
Most of us managed to squeeze some holidays in, and we believe that holidays are critical to maintain one's sanity. There is little in life as depressing as noticing the leaves turning autumn colors and realizing you haven't really had a holiday yet! Been there, done that!
Being surrounded by agricultural land and people means that we, at Metalex, are a part of the Heartland. And being cognizant of the seasons is important. We raise cattle and every season brings change on the farm. If we're not breeding, we're calving, branding or weaning. Or busy with rodeos, fixing corrals or horse-back riding. Moving cattle, selling stock, buying stock, haying, baling, fixing farm equipment. There is never enough time, but in the end it all gets done.
Running METALEX is similar in many ways. The seasons dictate a lot of things. You take advantage of milder weather to ensure equipment is operating at it's peak. In between rushes, you push training and implement changes. As with any business, the "herd" is always changing and you want them as healthy as possible heading into winter. You take care of your staff and we all make it through the winter OK. We try and treat every staff member as family and I hope we achieve that. We try and extend that to our customers too, and we welcome any feedback on any aspect of doing business with Metalex.
And many, many thanks to you, our loyal customers for the repeat business, the exciting challenges, and for keeping us on our toes! We believe that being challenged regularly, keeps our herd healthy!
This issue is focused on METALEX, the Metal Building industry in Western Canada, and beyond. I want to share with you some information you may, or may not be aware of.
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In case you missed the connection between metal buildings and cattle ...
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So, if you've got some projects in mind and are going to need building services, whether it is Foam Panel, Self Framer, Combination Units or a Pre-Engineered Structure, please let us know and we can help ensure it comes off on time and on budget! Maybe even for your next metal cow!
Feel free to give us feedback anytime! And not just on our newsletter, but our products and service too! Send your comments in total confidence right to the top - Lorisa@mmbi.ca or Clay@mmbi.ca.
Please visit our updated website and meet some of our staff, view some of our products and let us know what you think.
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WESTERN CANADA CONSTRUCTION
I'm not a media darling. I'm not on the cover of all these magazines. I just quietly do my thing.
- Sarah McLachlan
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Sarah McLachlan - kinda reminds us of us - maybe with less lipstick
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EVER notice how some companies always seem to be in the spotlight? AND how some companies seem to slide under the radar, and the next thing you know - WHAM! there they are - larger than life?
It's got to cost a lot to maintain "front and center" of the media world. I think we'll save our money. Just like Sarah ...
We've all heard the statistics - Pepsi and Coke spend 80 cents of every operating dollar to advertise. That leaves 20 cents to make their product, package it and ship it to you. I'm not certain if this is true, but all those ads cannot be cheap.
However, like Sarah McLachlan (over 40 millions albums sold), we tend to be shy around the media, and if it is going to cost money and not provide increased value to the end-user, then you have to wonder if it is worth it? Sure we advertise occasionally, but we keep it down low. We like to think that we continue to grow by word of mouth, and by consistently providing excellence in quality and service.
However, having said all that, we found ourselves invited to participate in the latest edition of Western Canada Construction e-zine. The article, available here in the current issue (pp 20 - 26 - September/October) . . .
. . . discusses the metal building industry in general, with some focus on METALEX and our upcoming 10th anniversary.
So, how does advertising actually improve value?
While it could be argued that advertising is simply overhead, with the only benefit being increased exposure, and perhaps increased sales, there are other, less apparent benefits to advertising. And it certainly depends on your product/market.
Advertising can increase "branding" of your product. Every company wants to become the next "Kleenex" (Kleenex is actually a brand and not a product, but everyone uses the terms interchangeably). We'd love it if everyone ordered a "METALEX" instead of a "metal building".
Advertising can also increase community awareness. We are actively involved in many community efforts in the Stettler region, and yet many people do not know that, or who we really are. So, having ads in local publications or at sporting events that we sponsor helps to raise that awareness.
Advertising can open doors in less transparent ways too. Suppliers may notice your ad and might have a product or service that can enhance your existing product or service. This can lead to increased value for your end-users, or can reduce your manufacturing costs internally, or improve safety.
But advertising can be costly, and it can be difficult to measure the ROI of advertising. So, here at METALEX, we follow Sarah's lead - we're not media darlings and just quietly do our own thing...
Does advertising play a big role in your operation? What advertising tips do you have? We'd love to hear all about it! Drop us a line - info@mmbi.ca
METALEX Metal Buildings is anxious to hear from you. Call us to see Safety combined with Quality and awesome Customer Service! Or let us know what we could be doing better. Consider us for your next bid request for any Metal or Steel structure requirements, and put our dedication to "safety-first" to the test!
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MADRAY Steel Buildings
Hurricane Proof Steel Homes
What's the difference between the above two homes?
Obviously, quite a few things. However, the key elements are the ability to withstand 230 mph hurricanes, 10.7 R earthquakes, be fire-resistant, quick to assemble, using only moderately skilled labor, at a competitive cost, and be recyclable. That would be the house on the top.
And there is no realistic design limitation using steel. For about 3 decades Madray Steel Inc (Florida) has been designing and erecting all sorts of structures - office complexes, multi-family dwelling, industrial facilities, schools, you name it.
So, what's the big deal? Steel structures are being built everywhere.
Again, the key elements are as listed above. Most steel structures are not built to withstand 230 mile per hour winds! And that's not all. Check out these other impressive features:
- Impervious to termites and other wood destroying organisms.
- Hurricane proven up to 230 mph
- Earthquake tested up to 10.7 Richter
- Does not absorb moisture.
- Will not rot, mold or mildew.
- Does not split or warp like wood.
- Non-combustible.
- 50% Lighter than wood.
- Stronger than wood.
- 20 gauge steel.
- Easily assembled.
- Studs are cut to exact lengths needed.
- Galvanized steel can be left outside indefinitely.
- Works with all standard building materials.
- 100% of the studs are straight.
- Recyclable steel saves our natural resources.
You might argue that Madray is certainly not the first company to build a structure with those features. True enough. But, at a cost competitive with stick-frame structures? And erected by people with minimal introductory training? And assembled in a fraction of the time a traditional structure would take?
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Madray Steel Building - believe it!
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Since the first sky-scrapers dotted the horizon early last century, man has been engineering steel structures to meet pre-defined structural criteria. These structures were extremely expensive and had to be erected by highly-skilled personnel.
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Sample Madray residence framed
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Sample Madray residence finished
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Most of the components at left are fabricated beforehand and shipped to site where erection means little more than standing them up and bolting them together.
The videos on the Madray website show how easy it is to erect the walls and roof in one easy step. Furthermore, it's all square, straight and level, unlike stick-framing often is. The Madray system (several patents held) is user-friendly, quick to assemble and includes several ingenious techniques to ensure it is assembled correctly. The structures last much longer than buildings made from traditional materials. Being somewhat of an environment-friendly person, I am impressed that the building is recyclable. These are claims that wood-frame structures cannot make. Madray has some impressive videos on their website:
http://www.madraysteel.com/index.html
With the extreme weather our planet has been witnessing these past few years, you have to believe Madray is ahead of the curve! It's always heartening to see companies passionate about their industry. Steel buildings such as referred to above may not be the next revolution in the Canadian building industry . . . but maybe it is time to look at our forests as worth more than framework for a home?
Let us know your thoughts on what steel structures can do for you .
Bring us your challenges, and see what Safety, Quality and Enthusiasm can do to solve your metal building needs!
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Western Canada Drilling Stats
If you draw any relation between your business, the economy, and the amount of drilling activity in Canada, these drilling statistics might interest you. Below, you will find the latest week this year compared to last year.
 Comparing a single week, year to year (2010 to 2011), Alberta is up about 33%. BC is up about 12%, Manitoba has dropped 30%, and our friends in Saskatchewan have climbed more than 20%. The number of rigs down indicates pre-winter rig maintenance, as well as shortage of manpower to tool up properly.
If staffing issues can be resolved, more drilling is inevitable. Or maybe industry is holding off to see what happens with the Keystone Pipeline hearings? A lot of Alberta's manpower has headed to the Oil Sands country - maybe we are more a province of miners than drillers?
Oil's price today ($84.44) has made a slight rebound, but is down nearly $15.00 this past quarter, and Natural Gas ($3.54) is also down about the same percentage in the same period. Some would say these are acceptable prices, and the economy in Alberta supports that. The fact that Gold has dropped a similar percentage in the same period may say something about global economy versus provincial economy.
(Drilling rig activity statistics courtesy of CAODC and Divestco)
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Absolutely Trivialicious
In 1984, a Canadian farmer began renting advertising space on his cows.
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CUSTOMER TESTIMONIAL -
I have been working with Metalex for several years now and I can honestly say I am very happy with the service they have provided. The quality of their product is outstanding and the pricing is very competitive. Any issues we may have had with Metalex were resolved very quickly with our delivery dates in mind. The quotations dept has never been more than 2 days getting a quote to me which has helped me immensely. All of the people at Metalex are very courteous and have the best interest of NWP Industries in mind. We would like to continue working with Metalex for the long foreseeable future.
Gavin Hull
Project Coordinator
NWP Industries |
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Come see us!
(and don't forget to bring donuts!) METALEX Metal Buildings Inc.
Box 1058 4204 - 46th Avenue Stettler, AB T0C 2L0 Phone: 403.742.1300 Toll Free: 866.913.1300 Fax: 403.742.1308 info@mmbi.ca |
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