In 2023, our SMS Equipment teams from coast to coast celebrated our 15th anniversary in style. Through events large and small, we brought together employees, partners, customers and communities. Together, we looked back at our achievements, looked forward to the exciting road ahead, and made memories that will last a lifetime.
An entrepreneurial past
In 2008, three Canadian heavy equipment companies joined forces to bring multiple industry segments together under one roof. SMS Equipment was born out of a vision to serve customers more efficiently and effectively, coast-to-coast. Now, as we celebrate our 15th anniversary, SMS Equipment is recognized as one of the top heavy equipment dealers in the country and the largest independent Komatsu dealer globally.
“We’re extremely proud of the entrepreneurial mindset and customer-first philosophy that have driven our company’s growth for the past fifteen years,” says SMS Equipment President and CEO, Robin Heard. “While our name is still relatively new on the industry landscape, we draw from a rich history of heavy equipment expertise that fuels our passion for innovation.”
SMS Equipment was formed by the merger of three leading equipment companies: Federal Equipment, Coneco Equipment and Transwest Mining Systems. With a combined 120 years in the business, we became a one-stop supplier of equipment and support services for customers in the mining, construction, road construction and forestry industries. In the years that followed, SMS Equipment grew both in size and geographical footprint across Canada and Alaska, including a Komatsu-certified remanufacturing centre in Acheson, Alberta. Today, our company serves clients with more than 2,600 employees at 42 locations from Anchorage, Alaska, to Paradise, Newfoundland.
An exciting future
As SMS Equipment recognizes its past achievements, we’re also focused on the years ahead.
“Innovations like intelligent machine control, autonomous equipment and tele-remote operations are just the start of how we’re helping our customers improve their productivity and gain a competitive edge,” Heard says. “As our customers’ needs evolve in areas like efficiency, safety, human resources and decarbonization, our people are there, pushing the boundaries of technology to find great solutions.”
A time for making memories
In celebration of our anniversary, SMS Equipment created a series of unique employee, customer and branch activations. Acclaimed Canadian country music artist Brett Kissel headlined an outdoor festival at our Acheson, AB, headquarters for more than 1,200 guests and customers and employees attended additional VIP concert experiences along Kissel’s Canadian tour.
Each SMS Equipment branch was also encouraged to leverage special anniversary funding to create memorable experiences within their local communities. Our Fort McMurray branch coordinated an impactful Every Child Matters event, in partnership with the Fort McMurray 468 First Nation and Suncor, to raise awareness of Truth and Reconciliation. Our Calgary and Red Deer locations tied into local community celebrations and hosted employee and partners events for Calgary Stampede and Westerner Days, respectively. In Kamloops, two new BBQs were purchased for the branch which serve the team for many team events ahead.
