Scaffolding Giant Safway Launches Infrastructure Services Group
Scaffolding giant Safway has created a new Infrastructure Service Group to focus on providing solutions for construction, maintenance and repair of bridges, railroads, airports, shipping ports and other transportation systems, power plants, stadiums and arenas.
Safway will dedicate a focused team of six regional infrastructure managers and nine engineers and field service professionals to support its more than 150 sales reps as they pursue infrastructure opportunities in the United States and Canada. The Infrastructure Services Group is expected to become the third major component of Safway’s revenue base, in addition to its historical markets of energy/industrial and commercial renovation and new construction.
“Safway is responding to the tremendous need to rebuild North American infrastructure and is unique positioned and distinctly qualified to serve this need through our broad and deep array of access services, technologies and resources,” said Bill Hayes, Safway president and CEO. “Now, infrastructure customers can work with a dedicated team providing market-specific engineering and project management expertise. From transportation and waterways, to traditional and green power plants and large public venues like arenas and stadiums, Safway’s new Infrastructure Services Group understands how to deliver safe, productive and time-saving access and protective coatings solutions.”
To enhance its access services technology, Safway recently acquired respected powered suspended access specialist SafeWorks, with its highly respected brands Spider, Power Climber and Power Climber Wind.
“For 70 years, Spider has established a reputation for quality hoists, swing stages and rigging solutions,” said Hayes. “And bridges are one of the company’s areas of expertise.”
In recent years, Safway has also added several companies with a wide range of expertise and technology in surface preparation and coatings including North American Coatings, U.S. Gulf-focused Mobley Industries Services (now MobleySafway Solutions) and western Canada-based Dalco.
With its QuikDeck and QuikShield suspended access systems, Safway has also enhanced its repair and bridge maintenance capability.
Brent Luedtke, business development director of the Infrastructure Services Group points to the growing need for infrastructure maintenance and repair services. According to the Federal Highway Administration in 2016 there were more than 130,000 functionally deficient or structurally obsolete bridges in the United States – 22 percent of total bridges.
“The backlog will only continue as bridges age,” Luedtke said. “Similar needs exist with rail, airport and port infrastructure.”
