Recent History – 2004-2006
By Lee Kaiser, March 21, 2006
Greensmart Homes unveiled their first well-site trailer prototype Thursday as part of an open house at the new factory in the former Louisiana Pacific building east of Dawson Creek. The trailer is for use at remote oil and gas sites. But the 14-foot by 60-foot unit has nothing in common with a stereotypical bunkhouse. Called a ‘double engineer’ the high-end trailer boasts two full-size bedrooms for two senior staff, oak cabinetry, and full computer work stations. It was due to be shipped to Alberta yesterday. This particular modular is the most popular for well sites, said the Dawson Creek general manager Dale Lamoureux, and the company has 10 more on order.
With the first modular completed and sold, Greensmart management said the company is ready to hire its first wave of employees and should start interviewing within a few weeks. Up to 25 labourers and tradespeople are needed to start, and up to a total of 60 at peak manufacturing this summer, said Lamoureux.
“We do expect sizeable deposits of orders for the future and, coupled with our financing that’s coming forward, we’ll be moving very, very quickly in manufacturing this product at a high volume,” Lamoureux said.
Greensmart completed the deal to buy the building from LP in July 2005. There are still some rough areas on the inside of the 140,000 square foot building to be renovated, but Lamoureux said eventually there will be at least three assembly lines in operation. They will be turning out a variety of trailers to be used as offices, sleepers, medic units, and command centres. At peak, the company will be making 200 to 250 of a variety of units per year.
“The workers are just preparing to build a 12 by 24 (foot) command centre for a customer in Saskatchewan,” he said, describing an operating control centre for a well site with washrooms but no sleeping quarters. Another product expected to be a popular seller is the foam SIP (Structural Insulated Panel). SIPs are used in the trailers, but will also be sold for homes. SIPs are currently brought in from Calgary, but will be supplied locally through an agreement with LP.
“We’re going to manufacture them here because we purchase the jumbo panels from the Dawson Creek oriented strand board plant,” he said, adding it will become another division of the company.
There will be three distinct business divisions, he said, starting with the modular camp trailers and SIP press, and moving into modular homes.