Originally published in 2020. Updated July 2025 for context.
For over 100 years, Bockstael Construction has helped shape Manitoba’s skyline. But behind the concrete and cranes is a deeply rooted commitment to innovation, continuous improvement, and community building. As one of the province’s leading construction firms, Bockstael brings lean thinking to life, on job sites and beyond.
That commitment led them to the North Forge Fabrication Lab™, where the spirit of invention aligns perfectly with their people-first, process-strong philosophy.
From the Job Site to the FabLab
It all began with Morgan Fiks, a carpenter at Bockstael, who was already a member of the FabLab in his personal time. When leadership learned that Morgan was using the space to prototype ideas and build out custom solutions, they saw an opportunity to support both employee development and broader industry innovation.
“Our partnership with North Forge helps us keep continuous improvement in focus and gives our employees a space to work on innovative projects with current tools and technology,” said Alain MacNair, former Construction Manager at Bockstael.
By giving employees access to advanced equipment at the FabLab, Bockstael empowered them to explore custom tools, refine their processes, and bring solutions back to the job site, without the overhead of purchasing expensive equipment for short-term R&D.
A Culture of Continuous Improvement
At its core, Bockstael’s lean culture is all about challenging outdated processes while being easy on people. That mindset mirrors what happens daily at the FabLab: members are constantly iterating, collaborating, and creating. This partnership helps blur the lines between construction and entrepreneurship by fostering an environment where experimentation leads to real change.
“We’re very happy to support an organization like North Forge that encourages entrepreneurs and makers to innovate and improve their worksites and manufacturing processes,” said Sarah Anderson, Director of Talent Management and Business Development Manager at Bockstael. “It’s ingenuity and hard work that our company was founded on, and we want to continue to support that for other entrepreneurs in Manitoba.”
Why It Matters
By embedding innovation into its culture, and backing that up with resources like FabLab access, Bockstael Construction isn’t just building structures. It’s building capacity across Manitoba’s construction and maker communities. This kind of partnership doesn’t just benefit one company—it contributes to a stronger, more collaborative innovation economy for the province.
Are you looking to prototype a solution that could transform your worksite or manufacturing process? Become a North Forge FabLab™ member and get access to the tools and community that can help you build what’s next.
