Tower manufacturers for 345 kV, 500 kV, 735 kV and 765 kV lines

Fabrimet

Steel products manufacturer

Mission

The achievement of excellence, both for the quality of its products as for the efficiency of its services, represents the main concern of Fabrimet Inc. our galvanized steel structures have established our reputation over the years.

Fabrimet Inc. is a company that guarantees its products to meet the criteria of quality and delivery to all customers.

About

Manufacturer of steel structures in Canada and United States

Thank you to Alexandre Brault, Isabelle Racine, Suzanne Chapdelaine and all the people who worked on the illuminated tower project that welcomes visitors to Fabrimet.

Over the years, Fabrimet obtained, an excellent reputation for its competitive prices, their respect of deadlines and the Fabrimet quality of its products and after-sales service, delivered by public utilities and engineering consulting firms.

A constant modernization of its installations confers on Fabrimet an annual production capacity exceeding today 50 000 metric tons. Fabrimet is one of the largest manufacturers of lattice structures, sub-station and redistribution structures, guardrails and steel structures in Canada and in the United States.

As an expert in the manufacture of transmission towers for 345 kV, 500 kV, 735 kV and 765 kV high-voltage lines, Fabrimet is your partner of choice for your power distribution project.

FABRIMET : A FAMILY JOURNEY

From left to right Paul Guerette, Gilbert Guerette (both second generation), Raphael Guerette, Antoine Vaillancourt (third generation) and Georges Guerette (second generation) are all poised to continue the family business.

An enterprising and inventive young man by the name of Georges Guerette, with his son Gilbert, founded the company “Guerette Machine Shop” in 1944 in the town of Drummondville. As Gilbert had seven children, he needed to generate some aggressive growth to provide for his family going forward. Thus, he grew the initial company into three diverse industry divisions under the name of General Manufacturing Company; a Woodworking Machinery, a Cast Iron Foundry and a Sheet Metal Divisions.

Over the years Mr. Guerette sold the Woodworking Machinery and Cast Iron Foundry divisions to family members and ultimately changed the name of the Sheet Metal Division to the current name of Fabrimet Inc in 1978. During the past few decades Fabrimet Inc. has focused on the steel fabrication of different products mainly in the energy transmission tower industry.

In 1978 Gilbert's sons, Georges and Paul, joined the firm and presently, with Gilbert recently on board, represent the second generation's management.

Georges Guerette, president states, “As the majority of our historical products were galvanized, our principal production evolved into the area of power transmission and highway accessory items like guard rails.”

“My father's engineering background and experience in designing innovative woodworking machinery meant we were always eager to engage in automation for the fabrication of our products. This creative thinking helped pioneer our initial investments in CNC angle fabrication systems in 1979.”

History

1946 - Foundation of General Mfg. By Gilbert Guérette and his father at 835 Cherrier Street in Drummondville.

1958 - Inauguration of the Smelter division at 835 Cherrier Street in Drummondville.

1960 - Beginning of the sheet metal workshop division at 835 Cherrier Street in Drummondville.

1968 - Moving and construction of the Belgen Inc. Foundry at 4475 St-Joseph Blvd. In Drummondville.

1978 - Moving and construction of the Fabrimet Inc. Factory (sheet metal) at the actual site at 4375 St-Joseph Blvd. In Drummondville.

1993 - Sale of the General MFRE to a member of the family and creation of General International.

1998 - Repatriation and construction of administrative offices of Fabrimet Inc. from Cherrier Street to 4375 St-Joseph Blvd. In Drummondville.

1998 - Quebec ice storm crisis.

Please find the translation of Hydro-Québec's commemorative plaque as follows: "Hydro-Québec offers this commemorative plaque to FABRIMET INC. in recognition of the exemplary dedication and support of its staff during the ice storm that hit Quebec in January 1998. On behalf of all Quebec citizens, a big thank you."

2001 - To meet Fabrimet's growth strategy, a major plant expansion is necessary to meet North America utilities actual and future needs for electric transmission towers.

2005 - The Tennessee Valley Authority and Thomas and Betts expressed their appreciation to Fabrimet for the fabrication and delivery of the emergency replacement tower.

2005 - Sale of the Belgen Inc. Foundry to a member of the family.

2008 - Fabrimet continues focus on CNC technology upgrade by consolidating multiple operations into one system to eliminate the material handling steps from one fabrication operation to the next. The CNC systems that were installed in 2008 accomplished several consolidated operations.

2013 - Investment in automation continues as Fabrimet once again invests in new technology with the purchase of three new CNC systems.

2018 - Additional floor space is needed for Fabrimet's industrial reengineering of its production facility to accommodate and support future investments in CNC fabrication systems.

2019 - Fabrimet acquires another three state of the art CNC fabrication systems in addition to its existing capability and capacity.

2020 - Fabrimet continue to understand the role that technology and productivity in the fabrication of their product line plays today and for the future by adding another CNC production line to support the company growth and position in the industry.

2020 - In order to accommodate its new acquisitions, Fabrimet needs additional footprint and is therefore proceeding with a new expansion of its plant.

Fabrimet key role during the 1998 ice storm

2023 marks the 25th anniversary of the historical ice storm that took place mainly in Québec.

While the Fabrimet plant and its employees were themselves in the midst of the storm and many without electricity, they worked 24/7 for several weeks to provide the materials needed to restore power and a further 12 months to restore the transmission lines.

Fabrimet was the main supplier of Hydro-Québec in the building of a temporary transmission line system within two weeks and the complete restoration of the transmission towers that were crushed by the storm ice accumulation to help reconnect millions of citizens without electricity for weeks.

We are proud that our solidarity and our sense of duty have made it possible to overcome one of the greatest crises that Quebec has ever known.

Fabrimet has gained experience and expertise from this large emergency operation and is ready to supply the power industry to take on the climate challenges to come.

A valued partner

Exceptional employees, recognized expertise, state-of-the-art installations and constant concern to satisfy the customer are the ingredients which make up the range of services offered by Fabrimet and which makes it an industrial partner of choice.