HIKE METAL
CUTTING-EDGE CUSTOMIZATION
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HIKE METAL
I PROFILE
CUTTING-EDGE
CUSTOMIZATION Hike Metal has worked hard to create a name for itself in the custom boat and shipbuilding industry. With innovation at the helm, the company built up a strong customer base and a solid reputation of versatility, quality, reliability, and competitiveness. Continuing that trend, the company is exploring endless opportunities. President Steve Ingram explained more, in an exclusive interview. Report by Imogen Ward.
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O
ver the years, Hike Metal has
According to Mr. Ingram, supply chain dis-
continued to revel in steady,
ruption was a major factor during this period.
organic growth, whilst building
However; Hike Metal remains optimistic on
a stellar reputation. “We’re a very special company,” said
this front, and the disruptions have lessened. “Things are definitely improving,”
President Steve Ingram. “We’ve carved
Mr. Ingram added. “Nobody could have
out a niche market and become very well
predicted what happened over the last
known for it. Ask any Canadian about Hike
three years, and all things considered, we
Metal boats, they’ll tell you that they’re
are dealing with that well. We are paying
high quality vessels.”
due diligence to our supply chain to ensure
Despite recent disruptions that affected
that we can continue to offer our clients the
the entire industry, the company remains
best. If that involves looking for alternative
on track and raring to go.
materials and components, then we are
“Like many companies, we suffered
willing to do so.
through the pandemic and managed to
“However, we will need to do so strategi-
emerge fairly unscathed,” said Mr. Ingram.
cally to ensure the quality and the weight of
“We have had to battle major cost increases,
our products remain the same. That is crucial
long lead times and parts becoming obso-
in custom boat construction.”
lete – which had a domino effect on our design and engineering costs. That’s what
Self funding strategically
the whole world has been dealing with
Over the years, Hike Metal has created
though, and we are proud to have made it
several amazing projects that have
out the other side.”
afforded it the reputation of a world class
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HIKE METAL
I PROFILE
manufacturer. One such example was
“We were very pleased and excited to
the company’s autonomous search and
have successfully built our first autonomous
rescue (SAR) vessel, which it self funded.
boat, and the testing trials were extremely
“We jumped at the opportunity to enter
successful. However, this project did not
the autonomous sector because we know
reach the personnel that we had hoped for,
it is going to become a large part of the
which is sometimes the case with these
future marketplace. In comparison to the
kinds of projects. The vessel was sold to
car market, the marine industry is slower
a customer in the U.S. to support a project
moving; but that’s just because of the
within the Gulf of Mexico.”
dangers of the sea and the health and
Despite the rocky start, Hike Metal
safety requirements. We have to be a lot
found the perfect home for its SAR
more careful about how we implement
vessel and is now gearing up for rede-
this transition.
velopment. The company intends to recreate the original boat, making it more technically innovative. “We are a company that prides itself on being amongst the leading edge of the industry, and we never stand still for long,” Mr. Ingram continued. “That’s why we are planning to construct a more advanced version of our autonomous SAR. Depending on manpower and workload, we hope to start this project late in 2024.”
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Contracted by the Coast Guard
we have to wait until spring to continue,
The company was also contracted by
which makes scheduling tricky at times.”
Public Services and Procurement Canada
This relationship with the Coast Guard
and the Canadian Coast Guard to extend
is longstanding, with the first government
the lives of 11 vessels. Initially targeted to
granted contract occurring in the mid
complete two vessels per year, the project
1980s. Hike Metal is also on the verge of
has gotten off to a steady start, despite industry wide disruptions. “We were contracted to refit, refurbish, and repower these vessels,” said Mr. Ingram. “Progress on this project has been slower than initially planned: however this is no fault of our own. Extenuating factors including engine delays and seasonal weather conditions resulted in a longer lead time. We are at the mercy of the Canadian winters, so if the boats are finished in November, then we can’t put them in the water for sea trials because of the ice. That means
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HIKE METAL
I PROFILE
completing a new build project for the
vessel, the Explorer which was dedicated to
Coast Guard. This $80 million project con-
research, and the Navigator – a pilot boat
sists of 10 bay class search and rescue
perfect for crew transfer.
vessels, eight of which have already been
“Previously, when a customer requested
delivered to their new home. Delivery of the
a HIKE30 series boat, there were too
final two vessels is expected to be com-
many options,” Mr. Ingram explained.
plete in 2024 and 2025 respectively.
“This evolution has allowed us to narrow
“This project has been great, and it isn’t
that down to three main categories that
the only one. Our books are filled with
can be modified and customized according
amazing projects,” Mr. Ingram continued.
to client requirements.
“We’ve just started building a small search
“This has been incredibly successful for
and rescue vessel for our local community,
us, and it has made the whole process a
and we have another research boat on our
lot easier. It has gone so well, that we will
books that is dedicated to hydrographic
even consider breaking these categories
studies. We are also engineering a new
down further in the future.”
contract to provide eight landing craft
With a focus on the future, Hike Metal
for the Fisheries and Oceans Canada
is ready to offer more evolution should
Department. So it’s an incredibly busy
customers call for it. The company has
time for us.”
been assessing the industry wide transition to green energy and endeavors to stay
Success in standardization In recent years, the company made the
current with all trends and changes. “All the decisions we make are based
decision to mix up its HIKE30 range, creating
upon our customers’ needs and our per-
three separate standardized models, each
sonal market,” said Mr. Ingram. “We attend
of which targeting a different specialization.
conferences and training sessions, and we
The Guardian, a patrol and law enforcement
are always looking for partners in the areas
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of hybrid and full electrical systems, but we are reluctant to make that change until our customers require it. There is not a demand currently, but we know it is coming. It’s just a matter of when. “Regardless, as we look to the future, we intend to continue with our steady expansion. We had an excellent response from the recent opening of our new Detroit branch, and that is just the beginning of our future growth plans. “The announcement of the Government’s $2.5 billion National Shipbuilding Strategy Program has also given us confidence for the future,” he concluded. “This kind of grant would not normally apply to us, so we are excited to see what future projects come with it.”
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