Heidelberg Materials is building a better world for its people, customers, communities, and shareholders from the [under]ground up. With its headquarters in Texas and a regional office on the West Coast of Canada, Heidelberg Materials North America is a leading supplier of cement, aggregates, ready mixed concrete and asphalt with more than 450 locations and approximately 9,000 employees in the U.S. and Canada. Globally, Heidelberg Materials is represented in more than 50 countries with around 51,000 employees at almost 3,000 locations.
Most companies expand for two reasons: to extend its reach so it can serve more customers, and to extend its product line so it can create new options. Over the years Heidelberg Materials North America has done both, expanding and acquiring different companies, which has allowed the organization to take on a wide range of projects, delivering a volume and variety of products and solutions that most competitors simply cannot match.
Over the years, the company has grown through a series of acquisitions and partnerships, acquiring strategic assets across North America that have helped it expand its geographic reach. Today, Heidelberg Materials provides a broad spectrum of products and possibilities to the markets it serves.
In addition to aggregates, cement, ready mixed concrete and asphalt, Heidelberg Materials offers a variety of other products and services in select markets throughout North America. These products include concrete pipe and precast concrete drainage products such as box culverts, catch basins and manholes. Heidelberg Materials also offers construction services in parts of the northern United States.
In Canada, the pipe divisions of Heidelberg Materials were formerly known as Inland Pipe in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and Ocean Pipe in British Columbia. There are production facilities in Winnipeg, Calgary, and Vancouver, as well as a Sales Depot in Edmonton. In January 2023, the company rebranded to Heidelberg Materials, to better represent its global reach and focus on sustainability, digitalization and leadership in the building materials industry. Dedicated to a bold goal of leading the industry on the path to carbon neutrality, Heidelberg Materials offers customers sustainable building materials and solutions for the future.
Though its pipe products are never actually seen by anyone, Heidelberg Materials plays a critical role as partner with the contractor and the owner of every project it works on, which can range from large-scale projects like micro tunneling to projects on a slightly smaller scale such as storm drains. The team works in tandem with contractors to make sure that everything is designed properly, specifications are in the clear and any challenges or issues are addressed up front to avoid delays along the way. “Our goal with all divisions, is to supply a good quality product and ensure the project goes through successfully,” says Tannis Karklin, Area Sales Manager.
“Heidelberg Materials’ Canadian operations produce a full range of precast drainage materials for the municipal, commercial, and industrial markets.”
For pipe-related jobs specifically, the fruits of Heidelberg Materials’ labor aren’t easily seen. “Everything we do is underground, so you don’t see it. Essentially, the product gets buried,” says Karklin. “It’s not like with concrete where you can see people pouring driveways and bridges. Pipe is buried deep under the surface, and it’s used in wastewater and storm drainage applications.”
Despite this, the pipe work is critical, playing an important role in a variety of local projects. Heidelberg Materials’ Canadian operations produce a full range of precast drainage materials for the municipal, commercial, and industrial markets. Concrete pipe ranging from 300mm to 3000mm in diameter and a full line of manhole, catch basin, box section and vault structures accommodate the largest drainage projects. For the convenience of clients, Heidelberg Materials maintains a large inventory of concrete pipe, manhole and catch basin products at each location.
One major project that demonstrates Heidelberg Materials’ ability to adapt to the specifications needed, regardless of the challenges it may present, is the Rangeview Project. This supportive infrastructure project will support the new development of the Southeast section of Calgary, Alberta, which has seen a lot of growth in recent years. The new Rangeview Sanitary Trunk Project includes a new, 3.5-kilometre-long trunk to convey wastewater from the new development to the Pine Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project included 900-metres of open cut construction, 2.6 kilometres of micro tunneling. While impressive, the project was not without its challenges. The team needed to reduce risks at the highway underpass where the tunnel would run. They did this by:
- Controlled tunnelling advance rates
- Reduced tunnelling target pressure by 40%
- Established an on-site and 24-hour standby cleaning crew
- Implemented a strong real-time communication system.
Heidelberg Materials has also played a crucial role in the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project, serving as subcontractor alongside Bothar as the lead. Chronicled in countless headlines and think pieces, the environmental impact of this project has routinely been called into question. Reducing environmental impact and remaining culturally sensitive during installation is a small – but important – step. Heidelberg Materials engaged closely with the Stk’emlupsemc Te Secwepemc Nation (SSN) in recognition of the cultural significance of the land. It worked closely with the partner organization, Bothar, to ensure that the production of the micro-tunnelling pipe met the tunnelling and timeline demands. This collaboration and tact allowed for a safe, innovative, and respectful process to unfold. Heidelberg Materials also established a temporary precast facility in Kamloops as a way to better collaborate and overcome logistical, operational, and environmental challenges.
As for the future, Heidelberg Materials has big plans to continue making big strides in sustainability, committed to continuing its work with city specifications, designers, and local governments to ensure it can provide the best playbook, specifications, and tools. “We’re aiming to be the first net zero concrete company in the world,” says Karklin, of Heidelberg Materials’ bold sustainability goals for the next three years and beyond. She adds that the industry is changing so much, and she wants to ensure that Heidelberg remains on the forefront by evolving, growing its team, establishing new and fostering existing partnerships it enjoys with its customers. “The world is changing, and the industry is changing so much. Over the next three years our goal is to continue to evolve with that industry, continue to grow our team and continue to create strong partnerships with our customers.
“Put simply, we just want to keep improving, so we are always better than yesterday.”
For more information on how Heidelberg Materials can support your upcoming project, visit their website or
submit a sales inquiry.
