Hamilton, Ontario, is set to become one of North America's largest sugar production and refining centers, with a projected increase of over 1 million metric tonnes of production by 2025. This development positions the city as a vital contributor to Ontario’s thriving food and beverage manufacturing sector, which is already the third largest in North America, generating more than $48 billion in revenue and employing over 104,000 people. A significant part of this transformation is taking place at the Port of Hamilton, a sprawling 1,400-acre site hosting over 160 tenant companies and employing approximately 40,000 people.

Sarens was commissioned by Exact Industrial to install processing equipment at the new sugar refining and processing plant. Sarens is also collaborating on the project’s broader scopes of work to ensure seamless execution.

Upon commencing work, Sarens faced the challenge of operating within a partially constructed steel structure, standing over 32 meters high. The Sarens engineering team selected a Liebherr LTM1070 crane equipped with a main boom and jib to dismantle portions of the structure, allowing the installation of the processing equipment. A Demag AC220 crane was also deployed, initially considered for its offset jib capabilities. However, the longer main boom ultimately proved sufficient to set the tanks in place, saving valuable time during setup and takedown operations.

To ensure safety and efficiency, Sarens coordinated extensively with other ongoing construction activities at the site. The team prepared the work area by compacting gravel for the crane outriggers, enabling stable and precise operations. This collaborative approach facilitated significant progress on construction before the onset of winter, ensuring the project remained on schedule.

Sarens has consistently demonstrated its capability to handle complex lifting and installation tasks. Bert Kustermans, Sarens Project Manager said, “Our expertise in heavy lifting and transport, combined with meticulous planning and coordination, allows us to support projects like this one in Hamilton. We are proud to contribute to the growth of Ontario’s food and beverage manufacturing sector and Canada’s evolving industrial landscape.”

With its unmatched expertise and innovative engineering solutions, Sarens is playing a pivotal role in the realisation of this landmark project, helping to cement Hamilton’s position as a leader in sugar refining and processing.