The Weldco group of companies is comprised of Weldco-Beales Mfg., Weldco Heavy Industries, and Weldco Tech. The company also includes a new partnership with Maher & Co. Metals Inc.

Weldco-Beales Mfg. creates and manufactures customized heavy equipment attachments for the equipment that services the construction, resource, forestry, mining, scrap recycling and road maintenance industries. It is the only Canadian manufacturer of truck-mounted cranes, competing with some of the largest crane manufacturers in the world while earning market share leadership in Western Canada.

Weldco Heavy Industries in Fort MacKay, Alberta is a large steel refurbishment and assembly facility ideally stationed near the oil sands.

Rounding out the Weldco portfolio is Weldco Tech, a division that specializes in Bluetooth Smart Tag technology, giving customers insight into product use and real-time location. Through Weldco Tech, a patented solution will be coming to market soon.

The newest addition to the group is Maher & Co. Metals, a premium provider of mild steel and specialty metals supporting a comprehensive range of industrial customers. The business is strategically located just outside Hamilton, Ontario.

Origins
In 1945, Gordon Reelie founded Weldco in post-war Vancouver, on a prime downtown spot on 2nd Avenue. From a humble welding shop whose name said it all (welding + company = Weldco) came the impressive corporation we know today that designs and manufactures specialized heavy equipment attachments for OEMs and their dealers.

Weldco expanded to Edmonton in the early 1970s, and in the 1980s, officially named Edmonton as its head office. The next expansion was in Barrie, Ontario in 2006 followed by the establishment of Weldco Heavy Industries in 2009.

Although their roots were set in the growing forestry sector of British Columbia, Weldco began to offer heavy equipment dealers specialized attachments in the construction, resource, mining, scrap recycling and road maintenance industries, spanning across North American, Europe, Asia and South America.
Industry Leadership
Weldco is at the top of their game when it comes to new product innovation. Underground ejector bodies, tire handlers, log grapples, forklift mast conversions and engineered lifting devices are just a taste of what the company has brought to market in recent years.

A high level of engineering and design goes into each product mix. Tolerances have become significantly tighter as the equipment Weldco’s attachments work with has evolved over the years. This has played well for Weldco, which has built its reputation on providing engineered solutions. The commitment to retaining dedicated engineering teams at all manufacturing facilities ensures Weldco continues to meet and exceed regional design expectations.

Weldco is in the business of making their customers more successful. They appreciate and respect the trust of their customers who depend on their products, services and technology to add value to their business. The significant investments made in smart technology, manufacturing processes, raw material sourcing, engineering and new product development have allowed the company to stay competitive in a very demanding industry.

Weldco has also been extremely fortunate to work with such amazing suppliers, service providers and dealers; they play an integral role in the daily operations of all the branches. Not only has Weldco seen the long-term benefits of investing in partnerships with key stockholders, they owe much of their continued success to maintaining these important relationships.

Community Focused
Weldco makes a difference in the communities it serves and supports many organizations including but not limited to the United Way, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), YMCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada, Cystic Fibrosis Canada, CURE Foundation, Prostate Cancer Canada, Children’s Aid Society, Edmonton’s Food Bank, and The Terry Fox Foundation.

“With each campaign, we are blown away by the generosity of our employees. We also encourage and are proud of the many humanitarian endeavours that Weldco employees take on in their personal lives. It truly is humbling to work with so many philanthropists,” says Darren Lunt, president.

Weldco-Beales Mfg. is also a proud member of the Inuvialuit Development Corporation (IDC). This organization represents the Inuvialuit of the North West Arctic and is a 100 per cent Inuvialuit-owned for-profit holding company. IDC has cultivated a diversified, growth-oriented portfolio as the business arm of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC). Weldco is committed to giving the Inuvialuit beneficiaries access to employment opportunities.

Employee and Customer Safety
In addition to being ISO 9001:2015 certified in the Edmonton branch, which speaks to the commitment Weldco has to quality and safety across its brands, the management team is committed to best practices to protect its staff and its customers.

Weldco was an early adopter of the best COVID-19 practices and quickly put in systems to do their part in flattening the curve. Employees that displayed any sign of illness were encouraged to remain home. Social distancing protocols were put into place in the office, shop, and common areas. Cleaning and sanitizing routines were increased. Visitors were screened and outside account managers moved their client interactions to digital communication platforms. Any office and administration team members with the ability to work remotely were asked to work from home.

Recognition
In 2018, Lunt was recognized with a Business in Edmonton Leaders award.

“Being part of a team that collectively creates an atmosphere built on trust and mutual respect is inspiring,” he said at the time of his win. “I am continually humbled by the skills that my colleagues bring forth to the design, plan and manufacture of our attachments and the refurbish of large heavy steel components. [I feel] intense pride when I see our products being used on heavy equipment and working on job sites across North America, knowing that we played a role to enhance our customers’ equipment to work effectively, efficiently, and safely.”

Future Focused
Weldco works together to build a culture that empowers the team and focuses on results. This strong culture is rooted in safety and is the backbone to their success. Their famous quote: “We will conduct our business on the principle that our work is never so urgent or important that we cannot take time to do it safety,” speaks volumes in their continuous commitment to their employees. Each team member trusts in one another and everyone challenges each other to be better, knowing that everyone plays a critical role in the future success of Weldco regardless of position or title. Understanding the needs of customers and the values of the team has been the key to Weldco’s 75 years of success.

Learn more at weldco-beales.com online, WeldcoBealesMfg on Facebook, Weldco-Beales Manufacturing on LinkedIn, @Weldco_Beales on Twitter, and Weldco-Beales Mfg.on YouTube.