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2005 appears to be shaping up better than the last three difficult years.   Although jobs are more plentiful, our biggest concern involves working for fabricators who may be facing financial difficulties. We continue to do our due diligence, using Dun & Bradstreet and other institutions. We are also being more diligent in keeping receivables within 30 days collectable. Several fabricators have gone out of business this past year, as well as some detailing companies, but I believe (and hope) the worst is over.

We continue to research and build our office in Calcutta. We plan to have the first 25 steel detailers in production by June. Some senior staff have already committed to work there for two month periods. We also have trainers ready to bring the staff in India up to speed using Tekla Structures. Initially we will do only the preparation of shop detail drawings in India. All modelling and connecting will be done in Canada under our strict ISO Standards. The projects will also all be managed in Canada. Any staff member prepared to spend approximately two months in India, please contact Ewen or Hugh Dobbie Sr.

We have recently run an advertisement in the local papers for Project Leaders and Detailers for our Whonnock Office. We also need a sales person to assist Ewen in the Burnaby Office.

The subject of predetailing is being discussed more frequently within the industry. While predetailing is gradually gaining acceptance, it remains a hard sell to owners, who think they are paying more money upfront in the design and preparation of the project. Yet this is not additional money, as it still comes from the fabricator’s budget which traditionally comes later in the life of a project. A solution some general contractors promote as a start to this change in practice involves the preparation of a 3D model of the structure before the structural steel goes out for bid. Design problems and geometry problems can then be resolved, mitigating the lawsuits that have become the norm.

Hugh Dobbie