Q&A: An exclusive look behind the scenes of Nuframe Group’s newest acquisition

On Tuesday, Nuframe Group announced its strategic acquisition of AJ Construction.

Following this news from the construction leader, we sat down with Nuframe President Russ Esau, and Founder and CEO Lorne Derksen, to discuss the company’s strategic intent, business philosophy, and forward-looking vision.

SiteNews: How would you describe Nuframe’s core business philosophy?

Lorne Derksen: Our entire focus is on delivering maximum value, which we define as completing projects on time, on budget, and with a high level of quality. We are not a price-focused company; we position ourselves on providing the best value, which ultimately saves people costs in the long run.

As a company, Nuframe is fundamentally people-driven — it would not exist without our people. Our strategy is to develop, inspire, and incentivize them to embrace best practices and processes. 

We operate on a very simple philosophy: “People + process equals performance.” And, as we say, “Elegance is simplicity.”

SN: What does the acquisition of AJ Construction mean for Nuframe — and what does it signify for today’s marketplace overall?

Derksen: This announcement primarily does three things: it gives us a larger geographical footprint, greater capacity, and an incredible amount of legacy knowledge through experienced people.

We acknowledge the economic challenges today, but these challenges are not unique. We are consummate long-term planners unafraid to deploy capital and take calculated risks in a market downturn. We’ve deliberately developed our strategy around growing through acquisition to build a more nimble, superior platform. When an inevitable recovery occurs, we are best positioned to service the marketplace. We move with conviction and purpose.

SN: What led you to acquire AJ Construction specifically?

Derksen: We would never acquire or partner with a company that didn’t share our values and principles. AJ Construction and its leader, Albert Wiens, definitely have the same core values as we do. They have an excellent reputation for delivering on what they promise, they possess a very strong culture, and they are a team-oriented organization.

Our group believes very strongly in partnerships, believing very much that “1 + 1 = 3.” Through this merger, we anticipate increased innovation, the capacity to better develop our people, and collaborating with our customers more effectively.

SN: How will this acquisition influence the type of projects you pursue, or the way clients experience your services?

Derksen and Russ Esau: Our core project focus remains consistent: mid-rise, multi-family, residential wood-frame projects, covering the scope “from concrete to roof.”

However, the AJ Construction acquisition will specifically enhance our forming company’s capacity, bringing our forming capabilities into closer concert with our longstanding framing capabilities to fulfill the full scope on an increased number of projects. This balance is a priority moving forward.

Overall, our goal is to collaborate strongly with clients around technology to create a better product with more consistent timelines, more predictability, and, ultimately, far less stress for everyone involved.

SN: What is the long-term vision for Nuframe following this expansion?

Derksen and Esau: The Nuframe platform was specifically constructed for growth through acquisitions, enabling the efficient, effective, and rapid integration of new companies. This acquisition is just the start of that journey. 

We can confirm that other acquisitions are currently in the works, and we remain open to exploring future opportunities — with great purpose and velocity — as we continue to build the most capable construction platform in the market.