Apollo Concrete Contracting has been serving the needs of the greater Hamilton area (GHA) for 25 years now, while providing its expertise in greenhouse and specialty flooring to customers across North America.
President Jim Woods says the company works on a diversity of GHA industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) projects enhanced by specialized knowledge of greenhouses. This niche expertise is based on knowledge learned in Holland.
“Our greenhouse work has become a niche specialty that has taken us all across Canada and the U.S.,” he said. “We’ve installed more than five million sq. ft. of greenhouse flooring, and are currently working on 2 million sq. ft. of greenhouse including one million sq. ft. intended to support the growth of legal marijuana.”
He says greenhouse work can be challenging, both for technical and site requirements and because of working conditions. In the summer, for instance, he says temperatures can reach upwards of 45 degrees. That can mean working in the early morning hours before the heat gets too bad, or working at night so the sun isn’t compounding to the problem.
Apollo works closely with Tradewind Construction, which specializes in greenhouses, but also applies its own expertise and know how to help guide other greenhouse projects.
The company co-ordinates other ICI work including manufacturing and condominium projects, freezer buildings and self-storage facilities. “We worked on Casino Niagara and have done condos for New Horizon in Burlington and Stony Creek. Our industrial projects have included Dofasco and General Motors. Our team is experienced with slab on development, iSpan systems, and super flat flooring among other capabilities.”
The company’s team of 25 includes family members and multiple generations of families in some cases. Woods says the company typically hires two or three new people annually, then trains them internally. The strategy seems to work as most stay on, he says.
“We’ve also brought in staff from other companies. We look for people who want to work, who are reliable, and who are open to working the hours and shifts that are sometimes required.”
Apollo employs LiUNA Local 837 members and belongs to the Concrete Floor Contractors Association. Woods says this membership helps the business stay up to date on the latest news, trends, technologies and safety requirements.
The combination of experience, knowledgeable staff, and the ability to be current to industry standards means Apollo has a solid base of customers, Woods says. Though he tries to keep his crews within an hour or so of Hamilton, he says sometimes projects or specific clients will take his team much further out into the field.
“It’s our clients, our team, and our reputation that have gotten us though the last 25 years. We look forward to the next 25.”
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