Northern Strands Latest News

Northern Strands Group of Companies Donates N95 Masks and 3D Prints Face Shield Components for Healthcare Workers

31. Mar 2020 northernstrands 3D printing

Recently Northern Strands purchased a 3D printer from Wave of the Future 3D. At the time we purchased a 3D printer in the interest of innovation and cost savings. It was a excellent investment for Northern Strands, with the cost of 3D printers going down and the quality and capabilities of 3D printers going up.

It was business as usual...Then seemingly out of nowhere the world changed. Covid-19 was spreading throughout the world and Canada. The virus has put a strain on healthcare systems around the world. In Saskatchewan and Canada, there is a shortage of personal protective equipment or PPE for our healthcare workers. A local dentist approached the owner of Northern Strands, Garry Clarke, asking what our capabilities are and if we could help out? At the same time we were receiving emails from SIMSA(Saskatchewan and industrial mining supply chain association), asking their members if we could donate PPE? We wanted to help in any way we could. Our first thought was to check our own PPE inventory for N95 masks. Our sister company, Fortis Mining Engineering & Manufacturing had N95 masks in stock! We immediately donated 80 masks to St. Paul's hospital in Saskatoon.

Next we contacted our 3D printer supplier, Wave of the Future 3D, and asked if our 3D printer had the potential to fabricate anything that would be of use to the healthcare industry? We soon realized that our 3D printer could indeed help in the production of face shields for healthcare workers. Specifically, we can fabricate the headband component of the face shield. Currently we are printing 24 a day and sending them to Wave of the Future 3D. They will then assemble them and send them to the hospitals and other healthcare facilities that require them. Recently Global News did a story on Wave of the Future 3D's fabrication of face shields and other needed ventilator parts https://globalnews.ca/news/6728235/saskatoon-business-3d-printing-supplies-covid-19/

Video of the below medical face shield headband being 3D printed

https://youtu.be/0EgQIgCj7sU

From everyone at Northern Strands Group of Companies, we thank our healthcare and front line workers. This includes everyone from home care to nurses to grocery store workers. Stay safe.

COVID-19 PRESS RELEASE

25. Mar 2020 northernstrands Covid-19 Updates

We, as a country, are in an unprecedented health crisis that is affecting all business. Northern Strands serves a variety of critical and essential industries from mining, construction, grain handling facilities, agriculture and more. We take this responsibility very seriously. For this reason, we will continue to serve our clients and these critical industries in an effort to support the local, national and international infrastructure and economy.

Because of these important reasons, Northern Strands is CURRENTLY OPERATING and OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

However, in the interest of employee and customer safety, we have locked our doors to public access. Our sales team will be accepting orders via email and phone. Incoming and outgoing shipments will be received by our shipping support staff via our shipping bay entrance.

Call 306-242-7073 for Saskatoon and 306-352-7073 for Regina when you arrive at the shipping doors to receive your package. We will then leave the package outside or load the shipment for you. This being said, our operating situation could change very quickly.

Using various marketing tools and technologies, we will keep our clients informed by sending emails, posting messages on our website, using digital ads, and other various social media platforms. In addition, we are utilizing a simple means of video/digital communication with our customers and clients for meetings, webinars, screen sharing, etc.

We have the health and welfare of our employees and their families, our customers and vendors as our top priority and main concern. We will continue to follow municipal, provincial and federal announcements regarding COVID-19. To support our employees in this difficult time, we have implemented a number of measures internally. We have followed suggested government health measures: restriction of business travel, social distancing, enhanced sanitation, limiting face to face interaction, minimizing paper document exchanges, staggered work times, and asking employees that feel ill to stay home. We continue to investigate alternative options that will allow us to reduce person to person contact in the workplace while continuing to maintain operations. We will do everything possible to keep everyone safe, to “flatten the curve” and to reduce strain on our healthcare system.

Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss an order, project or need for your business.

Please call us at 306-242-7073 or visit our contact us page for a specific list of emails and phone numbers for each division, including emergency contact info.

We hope that everyone in your family and business stays safe and healthy in these trying times.

Sincerely,
Garry Clarke
President

Northern Strands Group of Companies

Northern Strands Offers Better Load Tie Down Equipment with the Folding Handle Load Binder

16. Mar 2020 northernstrands Rigging

The Load Binders available at Northern Strands can accommodate Gr 70 Transport Chain.. Northern Strands offers Ratchet Load Binders with a fold down handle.

There are many advantages of a folding handling on Load Binders. The folding handle keeps the mechanism out of the way after the load is secure. The user is able to quickly secure the load and move the handle out of the way to prevent it from catching on any materials. The folding handle also eliminates any protrusion from the side of the truck.

Along with Load Binders, Northern Strands has a variety of load secure products. This includes Grade 70 Transport Chain, Grade 70 Grab and Slip Hooks, and Ratchet and Lever Style Load Binders.

For more information about our Transport Chain & Accessory options, please contact us! We are Saskatchewan owned & operated and we are celebrating 50 Years in Business!

CONTACT Us:

Saskatoon: (306) 242-7073, Regina: (306) 352-7073 or email sales@northernstrands.com for more information.

Northern Strands' Engineers Offer Fall Protection Design Advice

3. Mar 2020 northernstrands Fall Protection

Northern Strands is excited to announce our latest service, Fall Protection Design Lunch & Learns. In person or via webinar. Learn the ins and outs of the fundamental principles of Fall Protection Design. Our team can teach the key points in Fall Protection design

Some of the topics covered in the Lunch & Learn will include: CSA Z259, Lifeline Design, Fall Protection Design, Anchor Loading, Fall Protection Layout, ANSI Fall Protection, Suspended Access, and more. For qualified companies we are offering Fall Protection Design lunch and learns in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

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Fall Protection is a serious business. Designing Engineered Fall Protection systems is a responsibility and privilege that we do not take lightly.

Design experience is paramount. Backed by an experienced team with a thorough understanding of the applicable engineering principles, Northern Strands applies these principles to both flexible and rigid systems.