It may not be apparent by their humble exteriors, but the buildings in Abbotsford’s Peardonville industrial area are full of fascinating stories and remarkable innovations.
On Sept. 18 our Business Spotlight series brought us through the unassuming doors of BE Power Equipment to get a look at the extraordinary work done within.
Braber Equipment was founded in Abbotsford in 1969 by Bill Braber, who got his start by selling farming equipment out of the back of his truck. In 1991 Bill's son Nick created BE Pressure Supply, which soon became Canada’s largest pressure washer manufacturer with four global manufacturing facilities. In 2018, the name was changed to BE Power Equipment to better reflect their variety of products. The company has stayed in the family for three generations, and today Bill’s grandson Curtis is at the helm.
BE Power Equipment has come a long way since its humble beginning and is now of one of North America’s largest industrial power equipment manufacturers. It has grown to include nine companies worldwide with nearly 800 employees working in 16 facilities across North America, Southeast Asia and Australia.
BE Power Equipment’s head office, however, continues to be right here in Abbotsford. Curtis led the tour of the 140,000-square foot headquarters, from the Elvis-themed offices to the factory floor where there was a whole lot of shaking going on as employees were hard at work producing equipment like the power washers you may use in your own home or business. The facility employs 145 people and focuses on producing Honda powered industrial pressure washers, water pumps and compressors. It’s also the distribution center for the Canadian market.
Like many local companies that do business across the border and sell to the United States, BE Power Equipment has felt the effects of tariffs and reciprocal tariffs. This has resulted in decreased staff in their American operations and has led them to consider updating and possibly adding to their Abbotsford location. Another common issue facing BE Power Equipment is the lack of industrial land in Abbotsford. As Council this is an area that we have been advocating for with the BC Government, since access to land is key for us to be able to retain our manufacturers and allow them to expand and thrive.
We’re grateful to Curtis, BE Power Equipment president Rory Bjarnason, and the entire team for letting us drop by to learn about their history and operations and get a look at how their products are made on the shop floor. From operating out of the back of a truck to operating around the world, BE Power Equipment is a perfect example of a homegrown Abbotsford success story. On Council we’ll continue doing what we can to set the stage for even more success stories.
Abbotsford City Council