Monday, June 22, 2026

The Sky Is the Limit

A booming precast operation is reshaping construction and working to meet Ontario’s housing demands

By Cathy Miehm

ONE OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE solutions to Ontario’s housing shortage lays in the rolling hills of rural Bruce County. Over 130 Local 519 members employed by Fritz-Alder Precast are busy manufacturing concrete floors, walls, and building products for condominiums, apartments, long term care facilities, and other buildings at the company’s 15-acre facility near Chepstow, Ontario. And business is booming.

“Precast construction stands among the fastest, most adaptable, and efficient methodologies in modern building practice,” says company President Adam Knuckey.

The Fritz-Alder Precast facility manufactures all load-bearing elements of a superstructure—walls and floors, columns, beams, and slabs. Because this is done in a controlled environment, precast construction can bypass weather delays and allow for faster assembly once the components arrive at a building site.

“A great deal of planning has gone into exactly how that product has to arrive and be erected at site, long before any concrete is poured at the Chepstow facility,” Adam says. “We plan production and dispatch schedules so that when the truck arrives at site, the pieces come off in the order they’re needed to make for a seamless workflow. Given that crane time represents one of the most significant costs in the erection process, we make every effort to maximise efficiency and ensure continuous, uninterrupted operation.”

The pieces the company produces fit together much like Lego blocks, enabling a much faster build. With traditional concrete construction, each storey can take weeks to complete. By contrast, individual precast components can usually be installed within a few minutes to an hour, depending on size and complexity.

The reliability and growing popularity of precast means much-needed housing is getting built faster than ever. Fritz-Alder Precast has had projects on the go across southwestern Ontario—from surrounding towns like Walkerton and Port Elgin to larger centres like the GTA, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Windsor, and the Niagara region.

“Our product naturally lends itself to comfortable and spacious living environments,” says Adam. “So, we have found ourselves in a real boom over the last couple of years.”

The operation in Chepstow has expanded rapidly to keep up with the growing demand. After years of running a single daytime shift, an evening shift was added in early 2024. Later that year, a night shift was introduced. By the end of 2025, the workforce of approximately 130 was almost double what it had been a couple of years earlier.

“There is real ambition at the heart of Fritz-Alder Precast, and the team have really embraced this,” says Adam.

PRECAST IS A SPECIALIZED INDUSTRY, so new Local 519 hires go through rigorous training before they join a team. The company introduces them to each part of the operation, so they and their supervisors can find the best fit.

“Any new employee joining the company will go through a rigorous induction process,” says Adam. “Through that process, we will determine which department they are best suited to. Some excel at formwork and others concrete finishing, sandblasting, or patching work. Many staff enjoy being outside, where in Bruce County we see both plenty of sun and snow. There, staff are trained to operate cranes and other heavy equipment to move products around safely.”

Robust and ongoing training is part of the company’s overall effort to keep workers safe, engaged, and motivated. Being located in a rural area brings added challenges to hiring, so the company never takes its workers for granted.

“We’ve put significant time and effort into building an organization people are proud to be part of,” says Adam. We are fortunate to draw from a strong local talent base—individuals who have grown up in the area and bring with them both mechanical skills and a deeply rooted, industrious work ethic.”

Bruce County’s bucolic countryside has been a bonus for many workers. Chepstow is just 30 minutes from Lake Huron’s beaches, and the nearby Saugeen River is a renowned fishing spot.

Local 519 member and steward Travis Grozelle has been with the company since 2021, serving as quality control foreman. With a background in environmental engineering technology, he previously worked at the Bruce Nuclear plant near Kincardine before joining Fritz-Alder Precast. Travis says he’s found the perfect fit here.

“I had some construction background and the technical background, so I just had to learn the concrete side of it,” he says.

It’s his job to conduct rigorous testing to ensure each wall and floor panel that goes out is fail-safe.

“We have to take the samples that were cast the previous day and do a compression test,” says Travis. “We break them to see how strong they are. Once we get passing samples, I have to get in there and measure everything again to make sure that nothing moved during casting or that something didn’t get overlooked.”

His team also does regular tests on concrete that is being poured to make sure it meets specifications.

“Once the batch passes the criteria, then they get to pour it into the forms that are previously signed off by the QC [quality control] team,” says Travis.

The most challenging part of the job is also the most rewarding.

“You’ve got to be on the ball 100 percent of the time,” he says. “We are into millimetres when we’re measuring things, so accuracy is everything.

He likes that his job has him collaborating with people throughout the operation.

“I’m working with the guys setting it up, the guys making the concrete, the guys that are lifting panels or stripping them, and the ones doing reworking,” says Travis. “So, I’m engaged at kind of every step, and although the days might rhyme, they never repeat. There’s always something new.

“It’s a good work culture. Everyone seems to focus on working as a team. The work-life balance is pretty good. They are 10-hour long days, 5 days a week, but the shift I’m on starts at 6 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m., so it gives me a good opportunity to be home with my family during the after-school activities.”

LOCAL 510 MEMBER CODY IRWIN is a yard foreman, steward, and bargaining committee member who has who has been with Fritz-Alder Precast for 16 years. On a typical day shift, he is supervising at least 15 people who are organizing and checking loads in advance of shipping. The large yard is a busy and dynamic work area, with giant machines moving precast walls and floors.

“It’s always busy—very busy,” says Cody. “I’m usually getting 20,000 steps a day out here.”

Winters bring their own challenges. The area sees significant lake-effect snow, and conditions can get tough.

“We had six or seven feet of snow at one point last winter,” one worker recalls. “But it’s just part of the job. We deal with it and keep things moving.”

Local 519 member Chad Boulton never imagined he’d end up managing the hollow core division at Fritz-Alder. His path started far from concrete and cranes, first in sporting goods and later in car sales.

“I needed a change out of the retail business,” he says.

When Fritz-Alder appeared at a job fair seven years ago, he made the connection and got hired as a labourer.

“It was hands-on right away,” says Chad of his first day on the job. “It was feet on the floor and learning as you go.”

Back then, the Hollowcore division had only five workers. Today, it has 19—and Chad oversees them all.

“I had no idea what Hollowcore was when I first started,” he says. “But I’ve learned and they’ve trusted my knowledge to lead a team.”

Chad sees movement, rhythm, purpose in his busy production hall.

“It’s repetitiously routine, but different every day,” he says.

Machines hum, cranes glide overhead, concrete is cast and shaped into pieces as long as 12 metres.

“We’re really never down,” says Chad. “The machines are a big investment and require constant care, and I’m constantly staying ahead to make sure my employees are prepared, working well and safe.”

Safety, he repeats, is everything. His crew is diverse—mostly international workers, many with backgrounds in construction or concrete work. They all take great pride in their work, especially when they go to see a finished building.

“Being able to see the completed job is always pretty interesting,” says Chad, who has visited sites across southern Ontario to see new structures going up. “It never gets old.”

The team recently celebrated the completion of the 320-bed Markham Long Term Care Centre, north of Toronto. And the company recently won an Ontario Concrete Award for its work on the Northport Meadows apartment complex in Port Elgin.

WHEN YOU FIRST PULL UP to the Fritz-Alder facility, it appears modest—industrial and compact. But once inside the gates, the operation unfolds across roughly 15 acres of constant movement, machinery, and coordination. It’s here that Local 519 member Blake Taylor, foreman of the strip, sandblast, and repair division, starts each day.

Blake has already spent more than five years with the growing company. With his background as a millwright and his diploma in industrial maintenance and engineering technology, he arrived with hands-on skills and a problem solver’s mindset.

The construction landscape has changed dramatically over the last few decades, especially in Ontario’s fast-growing cities. Blake sees that transformation first-hand, as has anyone who has been watching modern skylines sprout seemingly overnight.

The shift isn’t only about faster construction. As Blake explains, architectural liners—used to imprint designs like brick or stucco directly into the concrete—allow skilled precasters to replicate and honour aesthetic details once built by skilled bricklayers and masons. This innovation has opened new revenue streams, elevated the company’s offerings, and encouraged people to move into the trade.

As foreman, Blake’s 10-hour day begins with planning. He gathers his team, providing the information they need to lift completed panels off the casting beds. From there, he shifts into the intricate choreography of rework, repair, sandblasting, and loading.

“There’s a lot of moving parts,” he says—an understatement in a facility that feels both vast and constrained, depending on how many massive concrete pieces are moving through the workflow.

For Blake, the best days are the smooth ones, when every team, every crane, and every panel is in sync.

“Seeing all that work, and a smooth process without stoppages, that’s the best part,” he says.

Blake, who grew up in nearby Tiverton, says staying close to home while working in a growing, technically sophisticated industry is a privilege.

Giving the business room to grow is a priority for Fritz-Alder’s president. Plans are in the works to expand the existing facility, which would be far preferable to starting from scratch elsewhere.

“One of our biggest limiting factors is capacity,” says Adam. “We seem to use every available square foot of the facility.

“That said, this manufacturing hub is well established and supported by infrastructure including mixing and batching equipment, cranes, casting tables, concrete delivery, and so on. This creates opportunities to strategically expand on this site, to create new jobs, and further grow the business.”

As Ontario continues to push for new and faster housing solutions, Fritz-Alder Precast’s operation shows what’s possible when innovation and teamwork align. From the factory floor to the far-reaching skylines their panels help create, Local 519 members are proving that the sky truly is the limit, building not just stronger structures, but a stronger future for communities across the province.

Building with Hollowcore: Step by Step

Hollowcore construction uses long, prestressed concrete planks with continuous voids (called cores) running through them. These hollow spaces make the planks lighter, while maintaining strength and durability.

The planks are made in Fritz-Alder Precast’s manufacturing plant in Chepstow, Ontario, and then transported to building sites, where a crane lifts them into place to create a floors and ceilings system within the building.

At the Factory

Preparing the Casting Bed – Workers clean long metal beds and add a release agent so the concrete doesn’t stick.
Adding the Steel Strands – High-strength steel strands are stretched tightly along the length of the bed. These prestressed strands give the concrete strength once it’s cured.
Pouring the Concrete – A specialized extruding machine travels along the bed, placing the concrete while forming the hollow cores inside each plank.
Curing the Concrete – The concrete is covered and left to cure. Sometimes heat is used to help it reach strength more quickly.
Cutting the Planks – After the concrete is at full strength, the tension in the steel strands is released. The long slab is then cut into pieces that match the lengths needed for the project.

At the Construction Site

Preparing the Site – The site is prepared so the crane can be safely erected. Trucks deliver the planks as they are needed to keep the installation process quick and efficient.
Lifting and Placing the Planks – A crane lifts each plank from the truck and sets it on the walls or beams of the structure.
Grouting the Joints – The joints between the planks are filled with grout, which helps lock them together, creating a unified flooring system.
Final Touches – A thin layer of concrete may be poured on top to create a smooth surface and further strengthen the floor system.

Why Hollowcore Is Popular

Fast Construction – Floors can be installed quickly, allowing other trades to begin work sooner and keeping the project moving.
Reduced Weight – The hollow cores make the planks lighter than solid slabs, reducing loads on the structure and foundation.
Long Spans and Open Layouts – Hollowcore planks can span long distances, reducing the need for bulky columns or load-bearing walls and allowing for more open, flexible floor plans.

From Agricultural Roots to Urban Skylines

The Evolution of Fritz-Alder Precast

1972

- Tom Fritz enters the precast concrete industry, laying the foundation of what would become Fritz‑Alder Precast.
- The focus begins on agricultural precast products, driven by Tom’s innovation and commitment to quality.

1970s–2000s

Fritzall (as it was previously named) expands to become a general contractor for farmers, delivering complete barn structures.
The company broadens into industrial and commercial building projects.
Fritzall gains expertise in concrete bases for wind turbines, opening opportunities in renewable energy, including advanced FIT solar installations.
The company takes on highly regulated projects for Ontario’s Bruce Nuclear Power Plant, emphasizing stringent quality control and meticulous manufacturing processes.

2018

Fritzall partners with Alder Concrete Group.
The partnership enables expansion into the high‑rise residential market by providing structural and architectural precast panels.

A New Chapter

The companies begin exploring expanded precast capabilities, with a growing focus on Hollowcore products.
The strengths of each organization become clear:
- - Fritzall contributes innovation, extensive precast experience, and strong quality standards.
  - Alder Concrete Group brings strong market presence, sales strength, and installation expertise (including Hollowcore installation).
  - The company is officially renamed Fritz-Alder Precast, reflecting the combined strengths and shared vision of both organizations.

History and Hidden Gems of Bruce County

Bruce County features the dramatic Niagara Escarpment, two national parks, and 44 of Ontario’s 61 native orchid species. It lies within the traditional territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON), part of the Anishinaabek Nation, whose ancestors have lived in the area for thousands of years.

The region has long been recognized as a spiritual destination. Hope Bay, located on the Bruce Peninsula, is known to the SON as Nochemoweniing, meaning “a place of healing.”

Bruce Peninsula National Park is home to The Grotto, a breathtaking natural limestone cave filled with clear turquoise water along the Georgian Bay shoreline. Since the 19th century, Lake Huron’s sandy beaches and spectacular sunsets have drawn cottagers and day-trippers from across Ontario. The county also plays a crucial role in powering the province, producing roughly one-third of Ontario’s electricity, thanks largely to the Bruce Power nuclear generating station near Kincardine.

Beyond its natural and industrial landmarks, Bruce County boasts 15 historic lighthouses, 80 kilometres of mountain bike trails, and more than 260 kilometres of the Bruce Trail. It was named in honour of James Bruce, the 8th Earl of Elgin and 12th Earl of Kincardine, who served as the sixth governor general of the Province of Canada from 1847 to 1854.

The Sky Is the Limit

Building with Hollowcore: Step by Step

History and Hidden Gems of Bruce County

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