Fort Macleod company investing $28.5M to build manufacturing plant
A Fort Macleod manufacturing company is spending $28.5 million to build a facility in the southern Alberta town.
Structural Truss Systems Ltd. has grown to the point that production has maxed out at the current location, company CEO Brent Feyter said Friday.
The firm designs and manufactures roof trusses, floor truss systems, prefabricated wall panels and laminated posts. In the same plant, sister company Forma Steel manufactures steel siding and roofing.
“A new facility is required to ensure both companies continue growing safely and effectively,” Feyter said during a news conference Friday at the current Structural Truss Systems facility.
The new 180,000-square-foot facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2024 and will also house a training facility.
“The new facility will provide us the option to double our production,” said Feyter.
The expansion will result in Structural Truss Systems and Forma Steel, which currently have a combined 220 employees, hiring at least 35 more employees, he said.
Feyter's parents began the roof truss business in 1980 and it grew from there, with the current plant opening in 2001. Sister company Forma Steel started roughly 35 years ago.
“Now we realize that the location is a struggle,” said Feyter.
Through its Investment and Growth Fund, the province announced a $1-million contribution toward the construction of the facility during Friday's news conference, attended by Jobs, Economy and Trade Minister Matt Jones, and Livingstone-macleod MLA Chelsae Petrovic.
“Alberta's government is proud to work with (Structural Truss Systems) in expanding their operations in Fort Macleod to the benefit of the local economy and Albertans alike,” said Jones.
The province is looking at providing additional incentives for the manufacturing and forestry industries to spur more investments in Alberta communities, he said.