The Best Seats
In The House

In an effort to bring more excitement to the game of basketball in the 1940’s and 1950’s, the National Basketball Association (NBA) introduced a shot clock in 1954.  Prior to the shot clock’s inception, the league had various problems attracting fans; perhaps the biggest being low-scoring games with far too many fouls.  These rules crippled the game with bored fans in the stands.

In an effort to revitalize the game, the team in possession was given 24 seconds to attempt a shot or lose possession of the ball. The league also added a rule limiting the number of fouls in a quarter;  both changes complimenting the shot clock perfectly.  Each foul outside of the allowable limit became a shooting foul, permanently changing the game for the better.

While we do complete a large portion of projects designed solely for athletic use for municipalities, educational and private institutions, our reach is much broader than that. In addition to our work we traditionally complete within the athletic industry, another large portion of our business is the design and manufacture of padding and other safety solutions for commercial applications.

Our most recent project brought us to the state of New York where a global company was in need of some custom-designed padding solutions for use at the commercial location.  This company specializes in the engineering, design and manufacturing of high precision mechanical components, assemblies, gears and motion control solutions.  Their global reach includes some of the most recognizable names in the medical, aerospace and industrial markets.

A large portion of our business is the design, manufacturing and installation of bleacher seating structures in Canada and throughout the United States.  While these large structures are marvels to observe (at least we think so), there is a great deal of technical knowledge that goes into both their design and construction.

A chief concern of ours and that of our customers when it comes to bleachers is spectator safety.  Serving as the backbone to any athletic event, bleachers can however, be hazardous if certain precautions are not taken during the design and construction phases and also when these structures are in use.

One of our most popular product lines is that of our gym divider curtains.  Allowing facilities to quickly and easily divide large spaces such as gymnasiums gives these facilities another level of versatility and can increase their programming capacity.

While some models are hand-drawn, the majority of installations are completely motorized which come with high safety ratings, low operating costs and virtually no maintenance when serviced on an annual basis. 

Perhaps one of the most aesthetically-pleasing dividers on the market is our top roll gym divider curtain (model 4040).  For facilities with height clearance issues, this low-profile design operates seamlessly without the use of belts, cables or exposed wires.  This curtain is supported securely from the roof structure by either attaching the product to the underside of the roof truss or by utilizing 3 1/2” O.D. horizontal and 2 3/8” O.D. vertical structural tubing.

Our recent project took us to Belleville, Ontario, home of Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board’s Quinte Secondary School.  Located in the heart of Belleville, Quinte Secondary School focuses on fostering leadership and excellence in the areas of academics, athletics, the arts and technology. 

As home of the Saints athletic program, the school’s athletic department encompasses basketball, football, rugby, volleyball, cross country, golf, hockey, curling, figure skating, gymnastics, swimming, wrestling, soccer, baseball and other sports.

No two products are built the same and we pride ourselves on manufacturing and supplying the marketplace with the very best products available. We are not paid to carry a line of products; in fact, quite the opposite. We evaluate, test, and survey every piece of equipment and product we stamp our name on and firmly stand behind each and every one.

A product that falls into this category and is one of our most popular is our retractable bleacher systems. If your facility is equipped with a gymnasium, there is little doubt that your facility should be equipped with a bank of telescopic bleachers. Allowing for spectator seating when needed, with the ability to quickly fold away when not in use, these bleacher systems are quite possibly one of the most versatile seating solutions available.

With the growing number of multi-use facilities in schools, community centres, colleges and other organizations, owners and operators are always looking for ways to maximize their available space.

Many gymnasiums today are used for a variety of athletic activities such as volleyball, basketball, gymnastics and badminton as well as other activities such as assemblies, pep rallies and theatrical performances. In light of the growing need to do more with an allotted space, manufacturers and suppliers of athletic equipment and infrastructure are required to constantly innovate and create customized products to meet the need of the fast-paced athletic industry.

Here are five products that do a fantastic job of adding a great deal of versatility to any gymnasium.

With February 8, 2016 marking the Chinese New Year, one of our most recent projects landed us at the largest Chinese New Year Festivals in Canada. Showcasing a diversity of Asian culture and community, the Lunar Chinese New Year Festival kicked off on February 5, 2016 and ran for a total of three days.

Delighting guests with an in-depth cultural tour, the festival displays an amazing series of decorations and demonstrations spread over 36,000 square feet of space. The festival was held at the Markham Pan Am Centre location in Markham, Ontario and was home to four Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am competitions including badminton, water polo, table tennis and para table tennis.

Narrated by Almonte’s Jeff Mills of Mills Community support, the NBA’s Canadian division released a special video depicting life in the hometown of basketball’s inventor and the redevelopment of a local park.

In October 2015, our team was extremely proud to have been a part of the revitalization of Augusta St. Park in our hometown of Almonte, Ontario. Following the wishes of a special young lady named Sarah, NBA Canada, Bell Canada and local organizations such as Mills Community Support and the Almonte Civitan pitched in to grant the young lady’s wish of a safe outdoor basketball court she could enjoy with her friends.

The contribution came on the heels of the game of basketball’s 125^th anniversary and we were happy to have supplied and installed the outdoor basketball systems now utilized in the park. The upgrades to the park also included a freshly-paved, raised playing surface complete with professionally painted centre-court, free throw lines and circles.