Industry Intelligence

Industry Facts

• Alberta’s metal fabrication sector includes over 50,000 employees and over 2,600 companies.

• 85% of the sector’s companies have fewer than 50 employees.

• The metal fabrication sector generated approximately $9 billion in business revenues in 2008. This estimate includes the following subsectors:

  • Fabricated Metals
  • Metal Service Centres
  • Primary Metals
  • Transportation Equipment Manufacturing 
  • Machinery Manufacturing
    

• Imports are equivalent to 61% of demand in Alberta, with 70% of these imports originating from outside the country. (Conference Board of Canada)

• Combined international and interprovincial exports are equivalent to 45% of production. About two thirds of exports are bound for other provinces, with one third destined for foreign markets. (Conference Board of Canada)

Resources

• AlbertaMetal.ca
  
  For current information on business intelligence, sector events, market opportunities and the Metal Fab Pulse Newsletter make sure to visit Alberta's metal industry-base website resource portal, AlbertaMetal.ca.
  

• Alberta Metal Fabrication and Machinery Manufacturing: Sector Overview (PDF, August 2008)
  
  This report was sponsored by Alberta Finance and Enterprise, Calgary Economic Development, the Central Alberta Regional Innovation Network and Edmonton Economic Development Corporation to support the growth of the metal fabrication and manufacturing industry in Alberta by determining its present status and its future prospects.

• Edmonton Economic Development Corporation – Welding and Joining Technologies Opportunity and Gap Analysis for Regional Firms: Final Report (PDF, April 2006)

  This study looks to identify and quantify gaps in current skills and capabilities of Edmonton region firms that are providing or that wish to provide welding and joining services to large northern Alberta industrial projects. This study then looks to provide options to address these gaps.

• Greater Edmonton Bitumen Upgrader Study (Phase I and II)

  These studies outline the size, type and timing of business opportunities, arising either directly or indirectly, from the bitumen upgrading industry.

  • Phase I (PDF, March 2007) identifies and documents the existing proposed upgrading facilities’ equipment, service and infrastructure requirements.

  • Phase II (PDF, January 2008) assesses the local capacity in Alberta to supply the construction and service requirements of the upgraders. It also identifies the gaps in defined segments of the local manufacturing and service industries, and in existing industrial infrastructure.
    
    

• Alberta Pressure Vessel Manufacturing Sector: Benchmarking Report 2008 (PDF, April 2008)
  
  The pressure vessel manufacturing industry plays a critical role in the development of oil sands and its resultant downstream processing. This report provides Alberta pressure vessel manufacturing companies with insight on their relative competitive positioning within a global context.

• Oil & Gas Equipment and Services Investment Opportunity Analysis (PDF, May 2006)

  The study identifies and evaluates investment attraction opportunities in the oil and gas equipment and services industry in Alberta.

• Statistics and Publications
   
  Relevant information on Alberta’s economy and industrial sectors.

Date Updated: Feb 17, 2010
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