A Future That's Solid as Steel.

When the owners of Northern Steel began manufacturing liquid storage tanks in Tisdale, they thought the market opportunities were as solid as steel. Now history has proven them right as Northern Steel Industries is one of the community's largest employers and makes products that are sold throughout North America.

The company began in 1994 after Paul Roy, Darcy Simoneau and a group of employees purchased the assets of a defunct steel manufacturer and made plans to produce above and below ground liquid storage tanks. The company also makes a variety of pumping systems, dispensing systems and accessories. And it recently developed and patented a liquid fertilizer blending unit, which allows for the distribution and sale of liquid fertilizer products from unmanned remote sites.

Northern Steel started with a handful of employees in a 35,000 square foot facility, which was eventually expanded to 90,000 square feet. Today the company has sales staff in Tisdale, Calgary and Toronto.

"When we started we saw that the environment regulations were changing and we felt there was a niche to produce specialty products for that area," says Simoneau, company vice president and general manager.

Northern Steel's storage tanks were quickly in demand since many service stations and oil companies were anxious to replace old and leaky underground systems. The tanks produced by Northern Steel seemed tailor-made for the market.

"These tanks are double-walled so they provide themselves with their own safe containment," explains Simoneau. "But to add to their integrity, they are made with a vacuum between the outer and inner tanks. Created and tested to very strict standards, these tanks provide fuel companies with storage that is environmentally secure and yet inexpensive to maintain."

During its initial year, the company reached sales of $3.7 million. Over the years it has invested heavily in research and development. It developed a specialized oil field tank that is fully insulated and features a heating system that keeps the product warm. It also has an internal plumbing system that moves warm products in and out of the tank.

"In many of Saskatchewan's oil fields, significant amounts of water come up with the crude and a well can be easily shut down during the winter because the water freezes. This tank is a solution for these marginal wells which, in other times, would not be used or brought into production," says Simoneau.

Northern Steel has developed a special aviation fuel system including tank and fuel handling equipment. It is popular at airports throughout North America because it is simple to operate and requires minimal support to get operational. It simply requires a power supply and a place to be parked, so it can be ready for use in a few hours.

As the company introduced new products into the marketplace and sales began to grow, the number of employees increased to 120. Although it is sometimes difficult to recruit qualified people, Simoneau says being based in a small town is appealing to those looking for a more relaxed lifestyle. Those who are hired often become long-serving employees.

"The company has grown over the past seven years because of our exceptionally good customer base and dedicated employee group that works really hard to satisfy our customer base," says Simoneau.

Employee innovation is evident in the company's liquid fertilizer blending unit, which is operated through a card-lock system, usually at a service station. It was developed about three years ago by a group of employees with a farming background, who had a strong understanding of what the agricultural community needed.

A farmer's fertilizer blend requirements according to land location and number of acres is entered by the dealer at any time of the year. The customer is supplied with his personalized card complete with magnetic strip. At the time of pickup, the customer swipes his card in the card reader and enters his predetermined number. The system will them ask him the volume to be loaded. Once the entries have been made, the customer will load up his fertilizer tank and the transfer is made. Upon completion, a receipt is printed listing field number, volume of product, final analysis for the blend and total volume discharged.

"As the liquid fertilizer market increased, there was a growing need for dispensing facilities," says Simoneau. "We think that this product has great potential."

As for the future, Simoneau says the company hopes to remain at the same growth rate it has enjoyed since its inception. It will continue to focus on servicing customer needs, maintaining its strong employee base, and further developing new products that can be introduced into the marketplace.