President's Message

Dear valued customers,

Welcome to the spring issue of In the Pipeline, your news and information source from Crane Supply.

We are pleased to announce that this year marks Crane Supply's 100th year in Canada. What started as a modest supply house in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1906 has grown into a distribution network of 33 branches across the country. Look for details of our rich history online at www.cranesupply.com.

Also inside, you will find our customers sharing specific experiences with Crane Supply products and services and how we've helped improve the way they do business.

Enjoy our second of many issues to come.

Sincerely,

Tom Frazer
President, Crane Supply

E-Commerce Saves Time & Money

As Electronic commerce gains acceptance with consumers, one Crane Supply customer explains why he can't see doing business any way but online.

"I love it, I love it, I love it", exclaims Marco Scorcia, President of Star Fire Systems Limited in Brampton, Ontario. "It's efficient. I get a fax from the guys on the jobsite at night, go online before I leave the office, and by morning, everything's delivered" summarizes Marco when asked why he uses Crane Supply's
e-commerce site.

"When I show other people how fast I can put through an order, they can't believe it. I can enter a 30-item order in five minutes."

Marco also enjoys the control e-commerce affords him over purchases and deliveries. Where some contractors send workers offsite to pick up material for the next day, Marco uses the delivery modification tool online to prevent unnecessary downtime with his workers, closely monitoring costs during construction. And that's not limited to days where he's in the office. "I sent at least two orders a day on my Caribbean cruise last week" explains Marco.

Marco describes - ordering the next day's material was a bit of a chore: "Well, you know how it is: everybody calls between 3:30 and 5:00 pm, so you guys [at the order desk] are really busy. You end up on hold, or get voice-mail. And who knows where faxes end up."

Marco is also discovering other e-commerce features that can help manage large projects. "I'm starting to use the Order Release tool more and more. It makes sense for multi-level buildings. I can manage deliveries to different levels without calling or faxing. [Laughing] I don't wanna talk to you guys!"

Marco can't imagine going back to traditional ordering methods and goes on to say "I hope someday all my suppliers offer e-comm sites like this."

March 23-25, Toronto, ON
Metro Toronto Convention Center

This year the Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) and the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) joined forces to provide one national show for the air conditioning, heating, hearth, plumbing, piping, refrigeration, and ventilation industries. Crane Supply was one of over 400 exhibitors.

For more information, visit the show website(www.cmxciphexshow.com) or
contact the show office toll-free (1-800-282-0003).

MEET 2006

May 3-4, Moncton, NB
Moncton Colliseum

Mechanical Electrical Electronic Technology attracts mechanical and electrical companies from across North America. It is where industry professionals come to source solutions for the next level of competitiveness. Crane Supply was one of over 300 exhibitors to over 5,000 visitors.

For more information, visit the show website(www.masterpromotions.ca/meet.asp)
or contact show management, Master Promotions, at 1-888-454-SHOW.

Offshore Newfoundland Petroleum Show

June 20-21, St. John's, NL
One Mile Stadium

The Offshore Newfoundland Petroleum Show is Eastern Canada's key offshore trade show, providing a forum for offshore service companies and producers to network, exchange ideas and offer solutions. Visit us at BOOTH 300!

Contact show management (dmg world media) toll-free (1.888.799.2545) or visit the show website(www.petroleumshow.com).

Canadian Petroleum Contractors Trade Show

March 1-2, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

The Canadian Retail Petroleum Construction Association held its annual trade show and general meeting on March 1st and 2nd. Crane Supply was on site to promote high performance check and butterfly valves to contractors involved with the petroleum industry. Crane's Norbert Krogstad (Saskatoon) and Dave Allison (Winnipeg) also had a chance to present the latest in engineered valves and Transair's aluminum compressed air piping system to the entire exhibition.

Project Focus:Legris Transair

Test Drive Your Air Pipe System with...
Legris Transair Kit
1.0 CD-ROM

In our last issue, we introduced you to Legris Transair compressed air piping system and its unique characteristics. Now we put the system to the test at TPG Pritchard Metalfab Ltd., a
custom and contract metal fabricator with its own line of industrial products, including dust collectors, airlocks, bag house shakers and pulse jets.

When another compressor was added to the site this year, the project initially called for new piping to be installed for bypass routes, and to lead into the filters and dryer. This add-on was to be fed back into the current piping system. However, a small order for Transair pipe soon turned into over a thousand feet.

"When I cut into the existing pipe, about a cup of dirt fell out", notes Crane Supply sales representative Dave Allison, of his initial visit to the site. This accumulated debris obstructs
airflow, which decreases system efficiency and increases energy costs. Smooth materials, like Legris Transair's aluminium piping, offer exceptional resistance to deposit build-ups.

"Pritchard Metalfab needs 99.9% clean air to run the laser. Any debris in the controls can cause major malfunction", explains Dave. For a precision CNC machining operation, contaminated air is a huge problem.

Dave put forward one simple question to the customer: "I asked them if they wanted cleaner air in their new million dollar laser." It's no surprise that he got an order for re-piping the entire facility - on the spot.

Legris has introduced a CD-ROM that goes beyond the conventional product catalogue. Transair Kit 1.0 presents a complete guide to compressed air pipe systems. It includes:

• Software components to calculate flow rate and pressure drops
• A short click-through presentation on compressed air as an Energy Source
• Case studies detailing Transair systems in various applications
• CAD drawings to help design your air pipe systems
• A complete Transair air pipe system catalogue
• A detailed instructional installation video

Order your copy today by calling 1-800-268-0624, ext. 218 or e-mailing marketing@cranesupply.com