1946 – 2026 Watching Steinbach Grow: Concrete could become newest building material

APRIL 11, 1973— Just about everybody in the Southeast knows that a large plant on Highway 12 in Steinbach turns out truckloads of septic tanks, sidewalk blocks and steps; what may be less well known is the size and scope of the entire precast concrete operation, which employs nearly 60 people and sells its finished product to every part of Manitoba, western Ontario and several northern American states. In fact, Barkman Concrete is the largest manufacturer of its kind in Western Canada.

The company’s main operation, in principle, hasn’t changed much in the past few years, but greatly increased production and numerous technical refinements have taken place. For the past few weeks, even with part of the factory working on a nearly round-the-clock basis, they simply can’t keep up.

Two sidewalk block machines, with a combined production of about 1,000 blocks per shift, are working a frantic 19 hours a day to supply what is likely to be the best construction season in many years.

Last year was a very good year and 1973 was shaping up to be a much better year, the Barkmans forecast.

“Our industry rises and falls with the construction trade and 1973 looks like a record season for new construction in the province.”

The familiar, smart-looking Barkman steps and convenient sidewalk blocks or slabs have become the company’s best seller, even though the septic tank, which started the whole precast concrete business rolling in 1952, is still finding a ready market in farm construction and, more recently, cottages.

The Barkmans’ complaints that they just can’t keep up with market demands seem misplaced, when one looks at literally acres of steps and blocks stockpiled outside, ready for shipment.

Those stockpiles out there don’t mean a thing and assistant manager Ernie Toews wishes they had twice as much in stock.

What caught the company by surprise this past year was the runaway success of their winter booking program. Through this sales promotion, implemented in hopes of spreading product demand more evenly throughout the year, dealers were offered special deals if they placed orders during the normally slow winter season, instead of ordering mainly in summer.

The program caught on instantly, as dealers, mostly lumber yards, snatched up a good portion of what would normally have been the company’s stockpile for use during the peak summer months. This program, added to a brisk and exceptionally early construction season, has left the factory in a position where they wish they could somehow double production, especially in sidewalk blocks.

Changes in farming techniques mainly in the manner and type of barns in which animals are fed resulted in a whole new line of concrete agricultural products.

Freestyle dairy barns now use heavy concrete slats for the floor, hog barns are equipped with smaller slabs, and silos can now be built using Barkman’s newest product, precast concrete panels and buttresses.

Management views production of agricultural products becoming an ever-increasing portion of the company’s business, even though concrete farm products now represent only a small percentage of overall sales.

The company is optimistic about future demands for these products because of a shift in emphasis among Manitoba farmers from grain production to livestock raising.