The Galway Business Centre will welcome its first industrial resident in early June when Tristar Mechanical Ltd. starts the month-long move from its current home in nearby Donovans Industrial Park in Mount Pearl.
Wayne Flynn, president of the 33-year-old company he started with his late father George and brother Dennis, says the biggest motivation behind the move is additional space.
“We have 18,000 square feet here now and we’re moving to 30,000 square feet simply because we bought new machinery and we don’t have any room to expand here,” Flynn said.
“In order for us to do work in the mornings, we’ve got to move stuff outside.”
The new space will also allow for more pre-fabrication work to be completed before moving the components to a work site.
Tristar is a mechanical contracting company that does pipe welding, sheet metal fabrication, plumbing, heating and air conditioning for industrial and large-scale commercial clients.
This marks the third move for the company, which was located on Pearl Place in west end St. John’s before moving to Dundee Avenue about 15 years ago.
Flynn says they explored some other areas, like Kelsey Drive and Manuels in Conception Bay South, but they were more commercial than industrial and the latter is still operating on a problematic well and septic system.
“Plus, we wanted to be closer to the Trans-Canada Highway for our shipping and receiving and for trucks coming in with heavy pieces of equipment,” he says, noting how the operation is strategically located at a crossroads servicing the rest of the province, the metro region, Conception Bay South and the Southern Shore.
The new building cost the company about $2.5 million to construct, and Flynn says it will help save on energy costs.
“Right now, we just have a steel, pre-engineered building which is a beast to heat. In Galway, we have tilt up construction, we have geothermal heating and we’re doing light harvesting, so as soon as you leave the office the lights will automatically turn off.”
The move to a bigger space will also allow Tristar to bring on a few extra employees, and it doesn’t hurt the company’s chances to score some contracts once more industrial and commercial retailers start setting up shop in the masterplan community.
Flynn expects it won’t be long before they have company in Galway’s industrial park, which was called the Glencrest Business Centre until it was recently rebranded under the Galway name.
“We’re after talking to a bunch of people and providing an idea of pricing for people that are budgeting and looking at moving up there,” he said.
“In 10 years’ time that place will be full.”
Twitter: kennoliver79
