After a year in the market, this steel supplier continues to pick up steam
When Rick Cable and his then-girlfriend Melissa Butler left the East Coast and arrived in Vancouver with nothing more than a suitcase full of clothes in 1996, he never imagined that 20 years later he would be the president of Pacifica Piling Ltd.
Cable graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the Memorial University of Newfoundland and Butler graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce. Their job prospects in St. John’s were not promising, so they took a risk and moved to Vancouver.
When they arrived, the job market was not as good as they had hoped. After seeing a job in the newspaper, Cable applied for a job at a local steel supplier. He was hired and remained in the steel industry ever since. Butler, now his wife, worked her way up to a senior management position in the software industry but took on the role as the nance manager with Pacifica Piling.
Cable started out as a shipper and receiver. After working in that role for five years, he moved into sales and helped his customers purchase the best steel piling for their jobs. His next role was a branch management position with a major regional steel piling supplier. Over the decade, he gained the experience that has helped him to run his own company.
In 2016, he came across an opportunity he could not pass up and had the industry knowledge to take on a leadership role as president. Pacifica Piling Ltd. was incorporated in 2016. The company started out as ESC Steel Canada and still maintains strong ties with the ESC group of companies.
For the Cables, it has been a whirlwind year full of wins but also some challenges.
“Over the course of the last 11 months, we’ve been winning projects from California to Illinois in the U.S. and from British Columbia to Quebec in Canada,” said Cable. “At the same time, we’ve been navigating government regulations. It’s been taxing administratively, but we’ve come out on the other side of a steep learning curve.”
Pacifica Piling will supply steel pilings to some major infrastructure projects across North America, including the Calgary Ring Road, the Portland airport expansion and the Winnipeg-light rail transit project, to name just a few.
With a lean, agile corporate structure, Pacifica Piling can react quickly and efficiently to market conditions to meet customers’ needs.
“The company’s number one goal is providing exceptional customer service while becoming a leading steel supplier in North America,” said Cable.
For now, Cable operates Pacifica Piling with a lean team, including a finance manager, salespeople and administrative support. The company is headquartered in Maple Ridge, B.C. but also has a presence in Houston, Texas.
With stocking yards in British Columbia, Alberta and Louisiana, Pacifica Piling delivers high-grade steel piling products to customers in Canada and the U.S. All Pacifica Piling piles are produced in accordance with the latest North American standards (ASTM).
Pacifica Piling focuses on providing high-quality sheet piles, pipe piles and related accessories, including tie rods, painting services and joint sealing.
“We offer pipe piles and stock everything from six inches to 96 inches. Right now we’re doing cold-rolled sheet piles and we do hot-rolled piles,” said Cable.
What sets Pacifica Piling apart from other suppliers is its customized solutions.
“Piling offers sheet pile solutions that are based on fulfilling very specific client requirements exactly as requested. Our client service doesn’t end with the completion of the sale – that’s just the beginning,” said Cable. “We strive to build long-term relationships with our customers and offer support when it comes to construction and corrosion control.”
With Cable’s experience and ESC Steel Canada’s reputation in the marketplace, Pacifica Piling landed some major contracts early on. For instance, the company will be supplying more than 110,000 feet of H-piles for the Calgary Ring Road project. With high-load bearing capabilities, steel H-piles lend themselves to hard driving conditions. Pacifica will supply around 10,000 feet of H-piles for the Regina Ring Road.
For now, Pacifica Piling will continue to operate with a lean team, but Cable has a strategic growth plan.
“We want to become a leader with a focus on serving Western Canada and the Western U.S.,” said Cable.
Safety will play a major role in Paci ca’s workplace culture. Pacifica Piling has already earned the Certificate of Recognition from COR. Cable is currently in the process of becoming CWB certified.
“There are a lot of things to do in 10 months,” said Cable. “It’s been a great first year, but it has been a busy one.”
Major projects
Pacifica Piling Ltd. will be the steel-piling supplier for major projects across North America, including:
- Calgary Ring Road
- Portland Airport Expansion
- Regina Ring Road
- Winnipeg Light Rail
- Grande Prairie Bypass
- B.C. Hydro Penstock
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