Tree Island Steel, a Richmond-based steel wire manufacturing giant, celebrated 60 years in business this week.
Celebrations were held in their Boundary Road location and was attended by numerous retirees, most of whom worked at the company for more than 30 years, and three of whom worked there for 45 years.
Tree Island Steel was established in 1964 and is one of North America’s largest producers of steel wire and other derived products.
Their local 400,000-square-foot facility runs 24/7 and employs more than 300 workers, pushing close to 400 tonnes of steel wiring per day.
Additionally, the company operates manufacturing facilities in Calgary and San Bernardino, Calif., employing a total of 439 workers.
Director of quality assurance Dal Gill, who’s been working at the company for 37 years, said this anniversary is living proof of the company’s operational success.
“For me, it shows that we’ve been doing a lot of things right,” he said. “I wear my Tree Island baseball cap proudly, and I’ve enjoyed working here the whole time.”
Gill underscored the involvement of Tree Island Steel in the local community and economy, providing jobs, supporting local farmers and quite literally helping to build the community.
The organization’s customers run the gamut across Western Canada and the U.S., including manufacturing companies, agriculture, light industrial and heavy industrial, according to technical sales representative John Kearsey.
Products are also shipped around the world, and their nails are used in most construction projects across western North America, he added.
Like with all manufacturing companies, long-term operations beg the question of sustainability, and how practices have changed throughout the years to reduce environmental impacts.
According to the company, they are committed to low emissions and their products are suitable for use in LEED structures– waste product recycling is also common practice, ensuring materials such as steel and zinc can be reused and repurposed.
Steel is the most recycled product on Earth on a weight basis, with every car made being recycled three to five times in the span of 100 years, said Kearsey.
“Every washing machine, every refrigerator and even most mattresses get separated between the fabric and the steel, and North American recycling is extremely efficient.”
However, the steel industry is not without challenges, as cheaper imports have been posing a significant hurdle for manufacturers and their ability to compete.
“I think we’re pretty resilient, but if you can import a box of nails much cheaper than we can produce it, we're not going to be able to compete,” said Dal Gill. “But we found ways to be more efficient and be competitive in some of those areas.”
Some construction workers might rather buy a cheaper but lower quality nail, and that is the current reality in the industry.
Nevertheless, Tree Island Steel sets themselves apart by forging resilient customer relationships, some of which have lasted more than 50 years thanks to customer service, new products and better efficiencies, said John Kearsey.
Tree Island Steel is eyeing future expansion by investing in their plants and machinery, as well as continuing to provide quality products to the North American market and beyond, according to the company.
Richmond city Coun. Alexa Loo, who attended the event on behalf of the city, said council is "proud that you're a member, a resident and a part of the Richmond economy."
Along with highlighting the organization's safety, efficiency and adaptability, Loo emphasized the organization’s culture and their community work – participating in fundraisers for the Richmond Food Bank, the fire department, and their involvement with United Way and the Fraser River Discovery Centre.
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