 In the past couple of years, because of recognition in the industry as a company that gets the job done efficiently and on time, we have been able to advance into more interesting and highly profitable ventures.
One of these is the request by a developer to supply them with architectural precast panels. Manufacturing architectural precast panels is not a new endeavour for us, panelization is definitely where the construction business is going. With emphasis on energy and environment having become the “buzz” words of today’s society, techniques of building are changing to satisfy these demands. Precast at the present make up less than three percent of the wall building business. All Canadian companies manufacturing precast are booked solid for months and months ahead, some accepting orders into 2009 and 2010.
The environmental and energy saving attributes of precast have become more recognized and this substantially adds points to the “Leed Program”, an environmental Credit Program System of Building, the demand for Precast is increasing rapidly. If we assumed the demand for Precast increased by even one percent of the total wall cladding business, thirty percent more capacity to produce it would become a reality!
Energy efficiency, speed of completing a building, fewer trades to deal with, and architectural pleasing appearances are but a few of the Precast advantages. Strength and durability are also becoming more and more important when developers continue to own their own newly constructed buildings. Extra time required in traditional building, results in loss of income and routine maintenance can be very costly. Time required for financing can contribute to savings during the building process.
The precast plant of the Fritz Group is capable of producing over five hundred thousand square feet of precast per annum with its present square footage and equipment. As like any business that is to remain successful, it needs to grow with the times and if more space is required for manufacturing, expansion can take place.
Presently we are waiting for the final approval on a large precast job in the U.S.A. consisting of over two hundred thousand square feet. For this project we will be provided with steel stud frames to incorporate into our precast concrete making up a steel stud, precast panel. Trucking and installation of the panels will be by others. But again, by its diversification, the Fritz Group also in its design build process can be involved in a project from its original design inception to the total package turned over to the owner.
Other developers are interested in working with the Fritz Group using the precast concept for their buildings. Projects of repetitive nature, such as condos, schools, hospitals, senior homes, etc., are becoming of more interest to architectural and engineering companies, recognizing Precast as a “high end” product. One of the developers we are now working for is already trying to secure a number of properties for condo building along the shoreline of the Bruce Peninsula. Seniors requiring minimal care are hard pressed to find living accommodations right now and precast buildings can be erected quickly!
 Another real opportunity in the energy sector is the building of wind farms. The Canadian Government is on board in this environmental way of producing power. The Fritz Group has been recognized in having the ability to do large concrete pours, and have been awarded several contracts to do bases for these large turbines. Another project consisting of eighty-six turbines, over two megawatts each, is planned to start immediately on Wolfe Island out from Kingston in the St. Lawrence River. Our company will do many, if not all of these, and we’ve been told more are being planned. To give an example of the size of this project, over fifty thousand metres of concrete will be placed for these bases.
Again, related to the energy industry, we have almost completed our first project of supplying of service of placing rebar and concrete and performing the stainless steel welding for nuclear storage containers. Over one hundred and seventy of these were required to hold nuclear contaminants that had to be removed and stored from two refurbished reactors one and two at Bruce Power Development A. Six more of these reactors are scheduled for retubing in the next few years. Plus there will be others from other nuclear sites across Ontario, Canada and the U.S.A. We have already been approached to help with the design of a future project! We are one of a few companies in all of Canada to have the necessary quality assurance programmes in place to do this type of work. Our geographical location makes our plant very appealing for future projects.
 The Fritz Group is now enjoying very busy and profitable times, the future looks brighter and even more exciting.
Our volume of business for this year, 2008, will be well above twenty million dollars. If we supply the product and services, we are now noted for, our business will definitely expand. Over the next five years or so as our services become more in demand steady growth is anticipated. With the expansion of our precast facility, and a couple of strategic hires, our business could double or triple in the near future.
Tom Fritz
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