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Updated: 1 hour ago 2025 Fact Book: Doing Business in Maine

From Foundation to Future: Canam’s Six Decades of Partnership in Maine’s Construction Landscape

Photo courtesy of Canam Lyman-Morse Boatyard, Camden

In construction, success is built on trust, expertise, and a shared commitment to common goals. For over 60 years, Canam Group has partnered with Maine’s builders, architects, and developers, contributing to the state’s structural growth. With a major fabrication facility just 38 miles from Jackman, Canam has proudly supported over 300 projects that shape Maine’s communities and economy.

This partnership spirit is reflected in two recent additions to Portland’s downtown: the new Portland Homeless Services Center and The Casco, Maine’s tallest building. For both projects, Canam supplied the steel framework, working closely with local teams to bring these visions to life. These structures represent more than steel and glass – they embody community aspirations, and Canam is honored to be part of turning those aspirations into reality.

Deep Roots in New England Soil

For generations, the ties between Quebec and Maine have been strong, rooted in shared labor, language, and values. Many French-Canadian families crossed the border to work in Maine’s mills and forests, just as Maine families found opportunities in Quebec. These cross-border bonds shaped not only the people, but also the industries we’ve built together. At Canam, we feel deeply connected to Maine, not just through our business activities, but through a genuine sense of belonging. The company’s founding family has longstanding roots in the region, with ancestors who helped shape Maine’s forestry industry during the early 20th century. That legacy continues today. For us, Maine isn’t just a place we work, it’s a place we feel at home.

Canam’s history is deeply tied to New England. When founder Marcel Dutil started the company in 1961, he prioritized hands-on partnerships over distant corporate oversight. This led to the first sales and detailing office in the Boston area. In those early years, every steel joist and beam produced was shipped to meet the region’s growing construction needs. This focus became the foundation of a lasting commitment to being present and accountable to partners who trust Canam’s products.

This commitment to the region was further cemented years later with the acquisition of Eastern Bridge, LLC, in Claremont, N.H. This was more than a business transaction; it was a deepening of roots. Bringing this respected fabricator of steel for highway and railway bridges into the Canam family reinforced a dedication not just to buildings, but to the very infrastructure that connects New England’s communities.

While Canam has since grown into a North American network of 22 plants with a workforce of over 5,100 people, the company’s ethos remains grounded in its beginnings: to serve as a reliable, resourceful, and humble partner to the builders on the ground.

Photo courtesy of Canam
The 18-storey Casco tower, Portland

Collaborating on Maine’s Landmarks

The true measure of expertise lies not in self-proclamation, but in the successful resolution of complex challenges. In Maine, Canam has been fortunate to collaborate on several such projects.

The Casco: Reaching New Heights in Portland

The 18-storey Casco tower in Portland was a project of ambition. Building Maine’s tallest residential structure on a tight urban site required precision and flawless coordination. Canam provided a complete structural solution, including the Hambro composite floor system, open-web steel joists, steel deck, and core structural steel. Beyond supplying materials, the team offered design-assist engineering services, collaborating with architects and contractors early on. Using Building Information Modeling (BIM), they created a shared digital twin to identify and resolve potential issues, ensuring a smoother, safer, and more efficient construction process.

Photo courtesy of Canam
Portland Homeless Services Center

Portland Homeless Services Center: Building with Dignity

The Portland Homeless Services Center needed an efficient, durable, and welcoming solution on a tight budget. For this 51,690 square-foot facility, fast construction was key to starting services quickly. Canam supplied Murox prefabricated wall panels, joists, deck, and structural steel to speed up the timeline. The Murox system enclosed the building weeks faster than traditional methods, allowing interior work to begin sooner — critical during Maine’s unpredictable weather. This helped create a high-quality, durable space that supports the community with dignity.

L.L.Bean: A Hybrid of Tradition and Innovation

This adaptability extends to unique projects like the expansion of L.L.Bean’s flagship store in Freeport, a brand synonymous with Maine’s identity. The project called for a structure that was both robust and reflective of the company’s connection to the natural world. Canam had the opportunity to furnish and install a mass timber hybrid structure, a sophisticated system that blends the time-tested strength and efficiency of steel with the natural aesthetic and sustainable properties of mass timber.

A Quiet Presence Across the State

While these landmark projects draw the eye, the true depth of Canam’s partnership is woven into the fabric of communities across the state. The company has been honored to contribute to a diverse range of projects, each essential to the life and economy of its local area.

This includes vital community hubs like the Piscataquis County Ice Arena in Dover-Foxcroft, the Thomas College Ice Vault in Hallowell, and the Thornton Academy Basketball Arena in Saco. These long-span structures are more than just buildings; they are gathering places that foster community spirit and provide healthy outlets for families.

It also includes the economic engines that drive local commerce, such as the Agren Distribution Center and Kellogg Distribution Center in Auburn, and advanced manufacturing facilities like Molnlycke Healthcare in Wiscasset. For these large footprint buildings, efficiency and value are key, and Canam’s solutions are tailored to meet those specific needs.

Furthermore, Canam has contributed to specialized facilities that serve unique functions, from the MAC Air Group hangar in Portland to the Safe Harbor Boat Storage in Harpswell. From educational institutions like North Yarmouth Academy to health care facilities like the Bedard Medical Campus in Auburn, Canam’s presence is a quiet but consistent thread.

These projects were made possible through long standing relationships with many of Maine’s most respected construction firms, who share a commitment to quality craftsmanship.

Innovation Designed for Partnership: The Murox System & BuildMaster

Many of these diverse Maine projects utilized the Murox Prefabricated Steel Building System, an innovation born from Canam’s focus on providing practical, tangible advantages to its partners. Murox is a key component of the company’s BuildMaster™ approach — a philosophy centered on making the construction process safer, faster, and more collaborative.

The BuildMaster philosophy is a direct response to the real-world challenges faced on a job site. It’s a five-step process designed for shared success:

  • Early Collaboration: Engaging with the client and contractor from day one to align goals and expectations.
  • Integrated Design: Using BIM to create a unified digital model where all trades can coordinate their work, preventing costly surprises.
  • Controlled Fabrication: Manufacturing components like Murox wall panels with windows and doors pre-installed in a controlled environment. This enhances quality and significantly improves onsite safety by reducing the amount of work done at heights or in hazardous weather.
  • Just-in-Time Delivery: Sequencing and delivering materials precisely when they are needed, minimizing site congestion and protecting components from damage.
  • Supervised Erection: Having a Canam supervisor onsite to ensure the seamless installation of the building envelope and to serve as a resource for the erection crew.

By fabricating wall panels in a controlled environment, the Murox system helps streamline schedules, improve quality, and enhance worker safety. The goal is simple: to help contractors reduce building time by up to 50% and minimize the complexities of foundation and parapet work. It’s about providing a smarter, more efficient solution to help partners succeed.

The value of this approach is best expressed by the partners themselves. “The entire process with Canam is always smooth from design to erection. I wish every project we tackled could be a Murox Building,” says Chris Hebert, Vice President of Daniel Hebert Inc.

For the Throttle Car Club project in Scarborough, CEO Jamie Nonni found the collaborative process key: “From a pencil-sketch into reality, you have been great and straightforward, with no surprises!”

A Philosophy of Shared Success

Canam’s approach is simple: quality is a collaborative effort. It starts with understanding project needs from the earliest design stages, using superior materials, and ensuring every component is carefully fabricated. Onsite supervisors maintain the integrity of the building envelope and work as part of the team to solve problems, not just identify them. The BuildMaster™ approach is built on a commitment to shared schedules and budgets. As Bert DeLabruere, President of ReArch Company, said of his experience, “ReArch needed a partner we could rely on, and Canam was the right partner.”

Over six decades, Canam has earned trust project by project and relationship by relationship. With more than 300,000 completed multi-residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional projects, the company has gained deep experience. However, its focus remains on the future — continuing to serve as a dedicated partner to Maine’s construction community. As the industry evolves with new materials, sustainable practices, and digital technologies, Canam is committed to contributing to Maine’s growth, achieving energy savings, and delivering lasting quality for generations to come.

Canam

11505, 1st Ave., Bureau 500, Saint-Georges, Québec, Canada G5Y 7X3

Sector: Steel fabrication and construction

Marc Dutil, CEO

Founded: 1960

canam.com