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Britco booming

Langley company thriving in tough economy times

Despite continuing uncertainty in the economy, local modular building manufacturer Britco has created 77 new jobs in B.C. and added more than 150 employees outside of the province.

The job growth coincides with two significant acquisitions made by the Langley-based company: the purchase of a production plant in Edmonton, Alta. last month and the purchase of a large manufacturing facility in Waco, Texas last fall.

“We are extremely pleased with our expansion — the first units have already started to roll off the production line in Texas,” stated Britco president Mike Ridley.

Together with its B.C.-based production facilities in Agassiz and Penticton and its newly acquired production plant in Edmonton, Britco is now one of the largest manufacturers of modular buildings in North America.

Britco is also working on one of it’s largest projects ever, a $50-million workforce housing project for a large energy company in Alberta, he said, crediting the primary driver for Britco’s growth being the energy, mining, and infrastructure sectors in B.C. and Alberta.

Britco is providing 880 rooms that will be contained in 10 two-storey dorm wings totaling 280,000 square feet. The rooms, which are currently being manufactured in Britco’s Agassiz and Penticton plants, are 200 square foot executive style accommodations that have private washrooms, flat screen TV’s and high-end hotel quality finishes.

According to Ridley, Britco’s expansion in Edmonton will also mean more work for its factories in B.C. because its stronger presence in Alberta better positions Britco to secure work on large projects in that province.

“The energy and mining activity in BC’s north and in Alberta is driving our expansion and allowing us to hire more people locally.” Ridley said.

Britco is expecting 2012 to be another strong year, with Ridley estimating that its B.C.-based workforce will grow by another 20 per cent.

From projects in Russia, Indonesia, and for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Britco and its 500 employees, have developed a strong reputation for being a designer and builder of innovative accommodations in remote locations with extremely challenging site and weather conditions.