Structures designed with the mining industry in mind

Norseman Structures’ modular maintenance buildings provide massive, open workspace for mining equipment maintenance and storage. The design provides a clear-span structure with no columns to get in the way of moving equipment around. — Photo courtesy Norseman Structures

A strategic decision made in 2010 has already started paying dividends for Norseman Structures, winner of the North Saskatoon Business Association (NSBA) Business Builder Export Award. That’s when the company acquired its largest competitor and began to expand operations into markets outside Saskatchewan.

The ensuing success can be partially attributed to the acquisition of Cover-All Building Systems, with its manufacturing facilities and strong employee base, and partially to the opportunities the Saskatoon marketplace offers, said a Norseman representative.

“There’s many needs in the mining and oil and gas sector here,” said Robin Taylor, director of marketing, “including the expansion of the potash industry. The mining and exploration industry understands and values the need for engineered products, quality manufacturing, on-time and on-schedule projects and a strong safety philosophy and safety record. No other company has filled the void left by the former industry leader, so we at Norseman Structures are seeing some great opportunities for growth.”

With building enclosure systems that include fabric buildings and drilling rig enclosures, Norseman’s structures are specifically designed with industrial use in mind. They provide massive, open workspace for mining equipment and maintenance, storage of equipment and warehousing. They also provide safer, more pleasant working conditions for employees, with little to no artificial lighting; this also enables companies to save money on costly energy bills.

“Our buildings accommodate industry’s need for large entranceways, straight sidewalls, height requirements, size and clear-span design and customized building access,” said Taylor, “with no columns to get in the way of moving equipment around.”

Norseman also offers a number of subsidiary services to its clients, including project management and construction services to help with construction and building installations, safety training to ensure that building sites meet and exceed standards, and engineering and design services to allow for fully customized products.

“Although our standard products fit many needs,” said Taylor, “we have the ability to build structures for those that have more customized requirements.”

Norseman has been in business since 1921 as a manufacturer of outfitter and exploration tents. Now with the acquisition of Cover-All Building Systems—and the increased production capacity and ability to produce larger structures that this gives them—the company has over 200,000 square feet of manufacturing space, plus the manpower and the inventory to meet the needs of its growing clientele base.

“We’re proud to be a part of Saskatoon and the community,” said Taylor. “And our recent win of the NSBA Business Builder Export Award will not only help us to build the Norseman brand, it will also show our leadership as a major player in the province and beyond.”

Company at a glance

• Norseman Structures
• Years in business: Norseman has been in existence since 1921 and launched Norseman Structures in Saskatoon in 2010.
• Area of expertise: Providing structures and construction management services for industrial applications.
• Biggest challenge in the year ahead: Convincing customers that not all engineered products are created equal.
• Biggest opportunity in the year ahead: Once we convince customers of the above, we know that very few competitors can compete with the total package.

• Norseman Structures
• Years in business: Norseman has been in existence since 1921 and launched Norseman Structures in Saskatoon in 2010.
• Area of expertise: Providing structures and construction management services for industrial applications.
• Biggest challenge in the year ahead: Convincing customers that not all engineered products are created equal.
• Biggest opportunity in the year ahead: Once we convince customers of the above, we know that very few competitors can compete with the total package.