By Cathy Dobson, from www.theobserver.ca The Observer
It’s encouraging to see what Anderson Webb is up to at 530 McGregor Road.
The heavy industrial piping contractor has just made a multi-million-dollar investment in its offices, shop and fabrication equipment because owners Charlie Webb and Karl Rankin sense several major projects are on the horizon in Sarnia.
“I’m very optimistic that work in the area is going to pick up,” said Webb, who started Anderson Webb in 1985. “I feel Sarnia is poised to expand its oil and chemical facilities.”
Webb said he’s fairly confident at least one new refinery will locate here to take advantage of a new supply of gas from Marcellus shale. But he’s predicting that it could be several.
Anderson Webb recently held an open house to show off its new, 3,000-square-foot office building and 20,000 square feet of new shop space. Inside the shop are three new five-ton overhead shop cranes, a pipe cutting table, new welding machines, new positioners and an 85-ton ironworker.
The company, which has 40 to 50 core employees, is ready to act as primary contractor for the Suncor Energy shutdown scheduled for the fall. When that happens, another 450 to 500 tradespeople will be hired.
“It’s a massive job and we’re ready for it,” said Anderson. “We are also prepared for further announcements. I think there’s going to be multiple refineries coming.”
Anderson Webb does the engineering, fabrication and installation of piping, vessels, skids, tanks, hoppers, stacks, silos and other steel components. The company employs plumbers, pipefitters, boilermakers and welders. And, while most of its work is in Chemical Valley, Anderson Webb also regularly handles a number of commercial contracts.
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