Click here for wireline truck product information...
Nov 15, 2006: Lee Specialties Ltd. unveiled the first wireline truck entirely manufactured in the city of Red Deer.
View the Shaw TV coverage of this event...
The design, production, and distribution of wireline trucks mark the next step in establishing a one-stop shop for wireline and coiled tubing products for the organization, as well as introducing another industry exclusive to Red Deer.
“The expertise in Red Deer to design, to manufacture, and to assemble products without outsourcing enables us to hire a wide range of talent to build an innovative product with global appeal. This elevates Lee Specialties to a more globally recognized organization,” says Jim Lee, CEO, Lee Specialties Ltd.
“We are very proud to offer a ‘Made in Canada’ truck to add to our current product lines,” says Milton Friesen, Lee Specialties Ltd truck shop manager, “The final product would not be possible without the combined efforts of the team and customer support.” (Left to right - Milton Friesen, truck shop manager; Ed Ho, general Manager)
Click here for wireline truck product information...
Red Deer Advocate
Firm builds wireline trucks
By HARLEY RICHARDS - Advocate business editor – 16 November 2006
The demise of one vehicle manufacturing plant in Red Deer has set the stage for another. On Wednesday, Lee Specialties unveiled a wireline unit it’s produced for an oilpatch customer in Lloydminster. The entire body structure was fabricated in Red Deer and placed on a single-axle International chassis, with all the equipment needed for the field installed as well.
“We are the only supplier worldwide that does that,” said Lee Specialties CEO Jim Lee, explaining that other truck manufacturers do not produce wireline equipment.
“We’re a bit unique because we’re the only truck manufacturer that has people on staff with actual application experience -- field experience,” he said, adding that the technology that went into the new wireline unit was developed in Red Deer.
Wireline units transport instruments and other downhole devices into and out of well bores. The impetus for Lee Specialties’ new venture was the April announcement by fire truck manufacturer E-ONE that it would be closing its Red Deer plant. Lee said he realized that workers with vehicle fabrication experience would become available.
Milton Friesen, who had spent 18 years with E-ONE and 25 in the fire truck industry, is now managing Lee Specialties’ truck division. He said about 10 former E-ONE employees made the move. “For a lot of them it was more or less a natural transition to come over here. The work was as similar as they possibly could have found anywhere.”
A broad skill set was needed to construct the prototype wireline unit, said Lee. “It takes every discipline. It takes electrical engineers; it takes mechanical engineers, draftsmen, machinists, welders, and mechanics.”
Friesen said design work for the unit began in early June, with manufacturing underway by the end of July.
Lee Specialties designs and manufactures pressure control equipment, production logging tools, logging systems and related equipment for the cased-hole wireline service industry. Now that it is also producing the trucks that use this equipment, it can better serve the needs of its customers, said Lee, adding that each unit will be customized to the buyer’s specifications. “By building this particular unit, the customer is able to come and pick it up ready for the field.” Lee said his company already has a number of orders on its books, and he’s optimistic demand for Lee Specialties’ other products will increase.
“We were sometimes losing sales because our competitor would sell the unit and he would choose someone else’s equipment to supply with that truck.” Lee Specialties employs approximately 90 people, with about 15 to 20 working in the new truck division.
Previous News
Various dates: Machine shop building construction archive
June 2006: Lee Specialties Ltd Open House
May 4, 2006: Lunchtime Staff BBQ
Various dates: Media updates and/or implementation