Regeneration of the Stave Falls Spillway Gates provides opportunities for business in Richmond
The first set of new spillway gates destined for the Stave Falls Blind Slough Dam in Mission are being completed at Ebco Industries in Richmond.
The replacement of the radial spillway gates at Stave Falls is the final phase of a 15-year refurbishment of the facility that began in1996 with the upgrade of the main dam and the replacement of the powerhouse. The project will ensure the reliable and safe operation of the Stave Falls spillway gates for decades to come.
HMI Construction Inc, the primary design-build contractor for the spillway gates project, awarded a $1.3 million contract to Ebco Industries to manufacture four new radial spillway gates. The fabrication of the radial gates is a challenging task due to the need to maintain the proper curvature of the gates throughout the manufacturing process and the very precise nature of the work.
To meet these challenges, Ebco Industries designed a new innovative process and work flow to minimize the risk of distortion, improve precision and allow for efficient fabrication and machining of the gates.
The first completed gate has been shipped for installation. The second gate has been completed and is currently on-site at Ebco, ready for transport. The final two gates are currently in production and are expected to be completed in early 2012.
Each spillway gate is fabricated primarily with structural steel with some of the components being comprised of stainless steel. Each gate is 5.6 metres wide, 6.6 metres in height and weighs over 24,000 kilograms. The lifespan for these spillway gates will be approximately 50 years.
The Stave Falls Spillway Gates Reliability Project:
• The spillway gates and associated hoist system at Stave Falls was originally installed in the 1920s. The design, condition and age of the gates are such that BC Hydro has concerns about their reliability and safety.
• Spillway gates act as movable water barriers holding water in the reservoir that can be used to discharge water from reservoir in a controlled manner when water levels are high.
• The replacement of the spillway gates at Stave Falls Blind Slough Dam is the last major component of the Stave Falls Generating Station regeneration project which began in 1996 with the replacement of the powerhouse and upgrade of the main dam.
• The total cost of the project is estimated at $65.7 million dollars and is expected to generate approximately 88 person years of employment between 2011 and 2013.
• The project will be completed in spring 2013 and is part of BC Hydro’s regeneration strategy, which is renewing and expanding the province’s electricity system. BC Hydro is improving and replacing aging infrastructure originally built primarily between 1950 and 1980. Improvements will range from upgrading dams and generating stations, to building entirely new transmission lines linking existing and new substations.
About BC Hydro
Fifty years ago, British Columbians turned to BC Hydro to build the clean electricity system they count on to power B.C.'s economy, create jobs in every region, and keep the lights on. Now, BC Hydro is building again for the next 50 years. B.C. continues to grow and so has the need for more electricity. That’s why BC Hydro is building and renewing electricity infrastructure, and encouraging conservation to meet today’s needs and those of future generations. In 2011, BC Hydro is celebrating 50 years of providing power for British Columbians, and inviting them to help prepare for the next 50 years.
About Ebco Industries Ltd:
Located in Richmond, B.C., Ebco Industries was founded in 1956 by brothers Helmut and Hugo Eppich. Today, the Ebco Group employs over 250 people and specializes in heavy machining and fabrication primarily for the resource sector: mining, energy, pulp and paper and oil and gas.
About HMI Construction Inc. (HMI):
Founded in 1956, HMI provides construction and management services for a wide variety of large scale industrial projects. In 2010, HMI and BC Hydro signed a Spillway Gate Program Partnership Agreement (PPA) to improve efficiency and save costs associated with the upgrade of spillway gates at a number of BC Hydro facilities. As a result of the agreement, HMI opened a new office in Langley. The office currently employs close to 15 people and is expected to grow to approximately 25 full-time positions by 2013. HMI has subcontracted key components of the work for the Spillway Gate project to a number of companies based in B.C., such as Ebco, and estimates over 25 people will be working on site at the project peak, with the majority of those being local hires.
Visit BC Hydro’s web site at www.bchydro.com orfollow us on twitter: @bchydro
For more information, please contact:
BC Hydro Media Relations
Direct: 604 928 6468
Web: www.bchydro.com/media
Gary Herman
Ebco Industries Ltd.
Direct: 604 276 1479
Sébastien Delorme
HMI Construction Inc.
Direct: 604 888 1866 ext.103