Alberta’s energy sector has always relied on the ability to set up quickly, pivot with the times and strike while the iron is hot – or should one say, when the oil is flowing. While much is made of the innovations behind getting the province’s energy products to market, even more can be said about the hundreds of men and women who go to sites to make it all happen.
All of those hard workers need comfortable accommodations.
Alta-Fab is more than a modular provider; it is a solutions provider focused on high quality units for every site. From permanent structures to movable job sites, from projects for just a few people to camps for over 2,000 workers, Alta-Fab has the products and expertise for every need.
The journey of this company’s success started in 1973 when Ray and Helen Taillefer saw a growing demand for modular buildings that could withstand Western Canada’s harsh remote environments.
“As industries such as oil and gas expanded into isolated regions, there was a clear need for efficient, transportable structures to support workforce housing and operations,” says president and son of the founders Mark Taillefer. “Alta-Fab began by focusing on modular solutions for resource-based industries and, over the following decades, expanded its capabilities while building a strong reputation for customization and quality. Today, with over 50 years of experience, Alta-Fab is recognized as a trusted provider of modular construction solutions, continuing to innovate in offsite building and remote infrastructure.”
Although the company launched in Alberta and remains headquartered in Nisku, it didn’t take long for other provinces to notice – and want – the products Alta-Fab was building. The reach spread across Western Canada, then up into the North before finding even more clients across the U.S., particularly Alaska. Alta-Fab also diversified out of energy to include service, construction, commercial, hospitality, spa, institution and industrial clients.
While a large variety of units are on offer to accommodate and support staff, Alta-Fab’s most popular products show the depth of 50 years’ experience and the firm focus on innovation:
- The executive sleepers are a home away from home that provide privacy for each occupant and include a spacious workspace.
- The drilling command centre is a self-contained unit that boasts an office space, a full kitchen and a geologist lab.
- The double engineer’s suite is an executive level accommodation modular with high end finishes and appliances.
- They offer fully refurbished used equipment.
- Alta-Fab maintains a robust inventory of new and used stock, ensuring every client gets what they need, when they need it.
The key piece to the company’s success is its culture and its people. It’s no secret that Alta-Fab thrives under a team that knows their ideas are heard and their efforts are valued. With low turnover, Alta-Fab maintains consistent experience and knowledge, which contributes to great workmanship, efficiency and a strong company culture.
Like much of the construction and manufacturing industry, Alta-Fab faces ongoing challenges related to labour availability and retaining skilled workers, as well as fluctuations in material costs and supply chains. Balancing these factors while continuing to deliver customized, high-quality modular solutions remains a key challenge for the company.
How does Alta-Fab turn these challenges into opportunities? By relying on its core mission and guiding values – creating a great corporate culture and providing innovative products that solve industry problems. With this in mind, Alta-Fab continues to attract top talent and maintain clients who rely on the consistency and quality for which Alta-Fab is known.
The proof is shown in one of the company’s case studies: the evolution of the remote modular three-suite sleeper.
By 2015, Alta-Fab was dominating the market in 50/50 engineer modulars. Also known as double engineers, these units were comfortable, functional and provided a high standard for a booming energy industry. As 2015 got underway, however, the boom went bust and oil slowed down. Energy companies started to downsize and cut costs. Suddenly the 50/50s were considered a little too luxurious for the times (budgets), but there was still a need for high-quality accommodations with full functionality in remote sites.
Alta-Fab went back to the drawing board and started to redesign one of its options: the three-suite sleeper.
“We realized that we needed to adapt to the changing needs of the market. We modified our units to accommodate more people, while adopting modern designs to keep the same comfort levels everyone was used to. This strategic move made our products more appealing to a wider range of wellsite customers,” an Alta-Fab representative says.
That change carried it through 2021, when it evolved again.
“The industry was leaning towards accommodating more people in a single trailer, but for the same transport costs. To meet this need, we redesigned the three-suite sleeper to include fully equipped kitchens that function beautifully, even in the most remote environments.”
With full kitchens, a private bathroom and a living room space, the three-suite sleeper exploded in popularity and remains one of the Alta-Fab’s most sought products to this day. Workers feel at home, sleep and eat well, and wake up ready to take on the day, even when they are very far from the familiarity of family and friends. The ability for clients to request customizations to the colours, floor plans and finishes make this home away from home even more appealing.
Not every company that is so heavily invested in the energy sector can weather the ups and downs. It takes strategic thinking, innovation, long-range planning and the ability to be incredibly agile. Alta-Fab took what could have been a loss during and downturn and turned it into a win – a win that keeps on producing success no matter the state of the market.
Another example shows Alta-Fab’s commitment to sustainability.
The jack-and-jill dorm unit was very popular on remote sites. This layout, which typically has a common washroom in the centre accessible by flanking private suites, started to build up a surplus on the market. Alta-Fab was no exception. Their own jack-and-jill was a popular seller. During downturns, inventory piled up.
Rather than park the units and let them depreciate, Alta-Fab saw a great opportunity. They removed four rooms and put in a larger, common kitchen and living space. They also changed the shared accommodations in the jack-and-jill to private bedrooms – something greatly appreciated for privacy and safety. By retrofitting existing units, Alta-Fab created a mini camp that is perfect for smaller crews.
It’s not just a more efficient layout. It’s also more efficient to deploy. Jack-and-jill modulars can be operational within one day.
Once again, the focus was on meeting a challenge and turning it into an opportunity. The result? Solutions for crews, solutions for Alta-Fab and solutions focused on sustainability.
This focus on solving problems while providing comfort and care extends far beyond remote campsites and deep into the communities in which Alta-Fab operates. You’ll find the Alta-Fab team supporting variety of local charitable and non-profit organizations, focusing on supporting solutions for homelessness and poverty.
Today, Alta-Fab is the go-to modular solution provider across Western and Northern Canada. Thousands of men, women, students and executives have enjoyed safe, functional, efficient spaces that empower them to work, sleep and be productive while feeling right at home.
What does the future hold for Alta-Fab?
They will do what they have been doing for more than half a century: identifying a need, solving the issues and remaining agile to changing times while making life more comfortable for hardworking people, one modular at a time.
Learn more at altafab.com.