SUCCESS STORY:
Building for Growth in Fort Macleod
Companies: Forma Steel / Structural Truss Systems
Location: Fort Macleod, Alberta
Industry: Manufacturing / Construction Products
How two Southern Alberta manufacturers scaled from a rural community to serve markets across Western Canada
The Companies
Structural Truss Systems has manufactured engineered wood building products in Fort Macleod since 1980. Its products now include roof trusses, floor systems and prefabricated wall panels, with its dealer network serving Western Canada.
Forma Steel was established in Fort Macleod in 1992 after the success of Structural Truss Systems created an opportunity to expand into steel roofing and siding. The company has grown from a small operation with two employees and two panel profiles into a manufacturer offering more than 16 panel profiles and over 40 colours and finishes.
Together, the sister companies provide a compelling example of manufacturing growth from a smaller Southern Alberta community.
The Opportunity
Manufacturers require more than an available building. They need room to expand, access to employees and the ability to move products efficiently to customers.
Forma Steel and Structural Truss Systems have demonstrated that those requirements can be met outside a major metropolitan centre.
After decades of growth in Fort Macleod, the companies committed to a major new shared manufacturing facility designed to substantially increase their production and logistics capacity.
Why Southern Alberta?
Growing from Southern Alberta
In 2023, Forma Steel and Structural Truss Systems announced a major expansion in Fort Macleod.
Their new shared facility includes approximately 90,000 square feet of production space and 25,000 square feet of office space, with the expansion intended to double production capabilities and office capacity while increasing logistics capacity.
Forma Steel completed the move of its production operations into the new Fort Macleod facility in 2025.
The expansion followed decades of incremental growth within the same community and provides a strong example of successful rural manufacturing investment.
Forma Steel and Structural Truss Systems demonstrate that manufacturers can establish, reinvest and scale from Southern Alberta while serving customers throughout Western Canada.
For companies considering a rural or regional location, their growth provides evidence that smaller communities can support substantial manufacturing operations.
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