L. Robert Enterprises provides heavy equipment and truck repairs, welding and fabricating, equipment rentals and parts sales.

Premier Business Partners:

Enterprise Steel UAP/NAPA L. Robert Enterprises

L. Robert Enterprises’ (LRE) dedicated work force allows it to be one of the top suppliers of heavy equipment in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada.

“Our employees could work anywhere, but they choose to stay with us,” General Manager Gary Ritchie says. The company provides heavy equipment and truck repairs, welding and fabricating, equipment rentals and parts sales to a range of industries including oil and gas, forestry, construction and mining, mainly for the Wood Buffalo region of northeastern Alberta. “We take pride in providing safe, quality products and services to the energy and natural resources processing industry,” Ritchie states. “We strive to meet the requirements of customers, owners and employees by professionally managing growth and operations in an ethical manner.

“LRE hires individuals who have the skills that the industry requires, as well as a desire to learn and expand their knowledge,” he continues. “Contrary to those who suggest our personal resources are tapped in Alberta, we are of the opinion that there remains a substantial market of potential employees that will continue to require support from industry and government for ongoing training programs, thus enhancing both the trades and providing initiative in creating a spirit of entrepreneurship similar to the one that kick-started LRE some 25 years ago.”

LRE participates in Alberta’s apprenticeship program and currently has 30 apprentices on staff. The interns receive on-the-job training as well as attend college for technical training, which is offered through Keyano College in Fort McMurray.  

“The college and industry have developed a synergy working towards training the people that are required,” he says. “It’s all about the people. They are the backbone of our company, and without a doubt, our future.”

In 2002, LRE was recognized for its participation in the program. “We’ve had quite a few of our apprentices complete their training and become the tradesman of Canada’s future, which brings the LRE family a great deal of satisfaction,” he says. “The other members are also very active within the trades’ training programs and as a group. CEDA International is a huge corporate sponsor to Keyano College.”

New Partnership
Husband and wife team Leo and Debbie Robert founded L. Robert in 1980. In April 2006, CEDA International Corporation acquired LRE. CEDA, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading provider of industrial maintenance and turnaround services, as well as additional specialized services to the industry. It mainly provides services for oil refineries, petrochemical plants, utility plants and pulp and paper operations in North America.

“The acquisition is in part a continued response to growing customer preference to contract with larger industrial maintenance companies with a strong financial profile and a more comprehensive scale of operations to handle large projects,” CEDA said in a statement. “Customers have historically rewarded both CEDA International and L. Robert for consistently delivering quality, safe and fairly priced products and services.”        

Also in 2006, Leo Robert retired and Ritchie was promoted to general manager. Ritchie joined the company in 1992 as a B-pressure welder. “Our management consists of experienced individuals who have invested years of dedication with the company,” he says.

CEDA International is celebrating its 35th anniversary as a service supplier in Alberta, and has operations across Canada and in several areas in the United States. The Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) purchased CEDA in 2006. As one of Canada’s largest pension plans, OMERS provides pension services to 372,000 active and retired members and about 900 employers.

“We believe CEDA has growth potential and is the type of long-term investment that we need to meet the future pension obligation of our members,” OMERS President and CEO Paul Haggis said in a statement.

Acquisition Benefits
The CEDA acquisition allows LRE to take on larger projects and offer more services to its clients, Ritchie says. On a recent project, the CEDA-owned companies, which include LRE, REPPSCO SERVICES LTD., CASCA Electric and CEDA-REACTOR LTD., joined forces in the successful construction of one of the world’s largest inland dredges, which will be permanently utilized within the oilsands operations.  

The dredge has a 36-inch pump, is 120 feet long, not including the ladder that supports the digging head. The project took eight months to build and was put into service at the end of September 2007. “This is a prime example of CEDA International’s commitment to new technology and to the future development of environmentally friendly products that will help all players in the area to secure industry for the future,”
he says.

Another benefit LRE received is CEDA International’s success and experience in the industry. For example, in 2006, the CEDA group of companies reached 5.2 million man hours without a lost time injury.    

Future Growth
LRE owns 11 acres of land and is currently building a larger facility. It also
has a 30,000-square-foot facility at the Fort Mackay Industrial Park, which is used primarily for servicing of light vehicle fleets.

Work is also done at that site for other major oil sands players in the area, including owners and contractors, Ritchie says. He states that he sees the company growing in coming years by expanding
in current markets and performing more work in the growing Wood Buffalo region. “The potential of northern Alberta is well known,” he says. “We need to get involved with their plans and needs.

New plant sites and construction will dictate much future growth. “We are always looking for new technology and solutions to help our customers,” Ritche continues. “Working in synergy with our customers helps build strong partnerships, all striving for the same goal – safe, productive and efficient workplaces.”

Assisting the community
Both LRE and its parent company strive to stay involved in its communities. “We hold a strong commitment to the community and are very community oriented,” Ritchie says.

In April 2006, CEDA donated $100,000 to the Northern Lights Regional Health Foundation MRI Campaign, located in Wood Buffalo. All of CEDA International, “have a strong and genuine commitment to health and safety, both on and off the job,” CEDA stated. “As such it is our hope that the purchase of a MRI will assist the community that we are so proud to be a part of.”

Also recently, it contributed $125,000 to the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Center in Keyano College. The donation will be used to incorporate state-of-the-art team change rooms for its soccer, badminton, volleyball and basketball teams.

The company was originally going to donate $50,000, but increased that amount because it was impressed with L Robert’s support and commitment to the facility and organization. “CEDA holds certain beliefs about health and safety, and embracing these beliefs within the community in which we live and work helps us to sustain a healthy culture for our employees which is an integral component of our overall management philosophy and management structure,” CEDA International President Roger Heam said in a statement.

“The Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre at Keyano College will enhance the health and well-being of our employees and the community, and we are very pleased to have the opportunity to contribute towards the construction.”