Northern Strands
Northern Strands is a Saskatchewan-based industrial supplier founded in 1970 that sells rigging products, wire rope, fall protection systems, and suspended access equipment to mining, construction, agricultural, and industrial customers across Canada via e-commerce, rentals, custom fabrication, and dealer distribution.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersSaskatoon, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Northern Strands does
Northern Strands is a Saskatchewan-based industrial equipment company founded in 1970 that supplies rigging products, wire rope, fall protection systems, and suspended access solutions to mining, construction, agricultural, and industrial customers across Canada. Its core offering spans two complementary engines: a BigCommerce-powered e-commerce storefront (shop.northernstrands.com) carrying thousands of SKUs including wire rope, chain, slings, harnesses, anchors, hoists, plate clamps, recovery gear, and load securement products with public unit pricing on many consumer/SMB items, and a custom engineering/fabrication and services arm delivering mine hoisting solutions, field installation, certified inspection, and engineered fall protection systems — most notably the patented "Bin Safe" grain bin fall protection system and bespoke designs such as the Grain Spout Winch System for AG Terminals. The company monetizes through four distinct streams: one-time product sales (direct and e-commerce), usage-based equipment rentals (it claims Western Canada's largest suspended access rental fleet), professional services (installation, inspection, mining services), and dealer/reseller distribution across Canada. Its go-to-market is hybrid: direct field sales for enterprise customers, inside sales via [email protected], self-serve e-commerce for SMBs, and an industrial supply dealer network for broader reach.
Northern Strands operates four physical branch locations in Western Canada (Saskatoon HQ, Regina, Esterhazy, Winnipeg) and is part of the Northern Strands Group alongside sister companies Certified Sales & Rentals (mining/construction equipment rentals and recertifications) and Fortis Mining Engineering Manufacturing (global mining engineering and manufacturing) plus NS Modular, extending its capabilities into rentals, recertifications, and international mining markets. Notable enterprise project work in 2025 includes headframe recladding on a ~200-foot mine headframe in Northern Ontario, window installation at the University of Saskatchewan's Murray Library, and a high-profile viral ice recovery operation with Big Ice Services that was featured on CBC National. Customer segments are diversified across five verticals — mining, industrial/construction, fall protection/work-at-height, agriculture, and towing/recovery — with no disclosed customer concentration. The company is privately held, Saskatchewan-owned, has operated for over 50 years, and employs between 11 and 50 people; no revenue, funding, or AI/ML capability data is publicly disclosed.
Northern Strands firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Northern Strands
- Legal name
- Northern Strands
- Website
- https://northernstrands.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Northern Strands is a Saskatchewan-based industrial supplier founded in 1970 that sells rigging products, wire rope, fall protection systems, and suspended access equipment to mining, construction, agricultural, and industrial customers across Canada via e-commerce, rentals, custom fabrication, and dealer distribution.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Northern Strands industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Rigging Equipment
- NAICS
- Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing (3331), Rope, Cordage, Twine, Tire Cord, and Tire Fabric Mills (314994), Mining Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333131), Construction, Transportation, Mining, and Forestry Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (53241)
- SIC
- Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Mining Machinery & Equip (No Oil & Gas Field Mach & Equip) (3532), Wholesale-Construction & Mining (No Petro) Machinery & Equip (5082)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial/Commercial Equipment & Machinery Moving (Rigging-Light) (HSAKAKAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Bulk Material Handling Systems (Belt Conveyors, Feeders, Stackers, Reclaimers) (IMAHABAH)
Keywords
Where Northern Strands is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saskatoon
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Northern Strands business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Product Sales (E-commerce & Direct): Direct sales of industrial rigging equipment, fall protection gear, mining wire rope, and related products through the company's e-commerce store (shop.northernstrands.com) and direct sales team. Products include rigging hardware, hoists, slings, harnesses, anchors, and custom fabricated products.
- Equipment Rentals: Rental of suspended access equipment including swing stage equipment, with Western Canada's largest rental fleet for work-at-height solutions. Services include equipment rental plus trained personnel for turnkey access solutions.
- Professional Services & Training: Specialized services including field services (installation, maintenance, inspection), mining services, engineered fall protection systems installation, and comprehensive training programs in fall arrest, rigging, crane operation, suspended access, and Wirelock socketing.
- Industrial Supply Dealer Distribution: Distribution through a network of trusted dealers across Canada, providing industrial supply dealers with Northern Strands products for resale to end customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Miner Belts - publicly listed pricing by size |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fall Protection Kits - Roofer's Kits |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Chain Hoists - Vitali-INTL series |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Plate Clamps - BIRD Products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Load Binders - Peerless Products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fall Protection Anchors - Various Brands |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Northern Strands product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Northern Strands supplies industrial rigging, wire rope, mining hoisting equipment, fall protection systems, and suspended access solutions, and complements these products with field services, custom fabrication, engineered fall protection system installation, and certified training programs. The company operates Canada's largest selection of rigging products and Western Canada's largest suspended access rental fleet, serving mining, construction, industrial, agricultural, and recovery customers through e-commerce, direct sales, dealer networks, and branch offices across Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Product overview
Northern Strands is a Saskatchewan-based industrial equipment company operating for over 50 years, specializing in rigging, mining, fall protection, and training solutions. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of products and services organized into two main divisions: an e-commerce storefront (shop.northernstrands.com) featuring physical products including Mining Wire Rope/Attachments/Equipment, Industrial Rigging Equipment & Supplies, Fabricated Products, Fall Protection Products (harnesses, lanyards, anchors, self-retracting lifelines), Suspended Access Systems, Bin Safe grain bin fall protection, and various rigging hardware categories (rigging hooks/shackles/slings, recovery gear, load securement, material handling equipment, chain, synthetic rope, wire rope and accessories, tow truck equipment); and a services division providing Field Services, Mining Services, Engineered Fall Protection Systems, Training programs, and online Calculators. The company serves demanding industries requiring precision, safety, and reliability.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bin Safe: Patented engineered fall protection system for grain bins designed to break falls and make climbing safer, faster, and compliant.
- Suspended Access Division
Products and services
- Mining Wire Rope, Attachments and Equipment Complete mine hoisting solutions including wire rope, attachments, equipment, and expert services engineered for safety, performance, and reliability in demanding mining environments.
- Industrial Rigging, Equipment & Supplies Canada's largest selection of rigging products, custom fabrications, and technical services backed by expert support, certified testing, and a full e-commerce catalog.
- Fabricated Products Custom-engineered and jobsite-ready fabricated products including lifting gear and personnel carriers built to meet real-world industrial demands.
- Fall Protection Products Fully engineered fall protection systems including harnesses, lanyards, anchors, self-retracting lifelines, and tool fall protection that prioritize worker safety and regulatory compliance.
- Suspended Access Systems Safe, reliable, and customizable work-at-height solutions backed by Western Canada's largest rental fleet and expert on-site support for rigging, lifting, and rescue operations.
- Bin Safe Grain Bin Fall Protection System Patented engineered fall protection system for grain bins designed to break falls and make climbing safer, faster, and compliant. Available for corrugated bins, smooth wall bins, and standing seam configurations.
- Industrial Supply Dealer Distribution Distribution program providing trusted dealers across Canada with Northern Strands products for resale to end customers, accessible via map and dealer list.
- Field Services Expert installation, maintenance, and inspection solutions for bulk handling facilities, hoist systems, and cable barriers ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant operations.
- Mining Services Wire rope products, attachments, equipment rentals, training, and technical support tailored to mining operations.
- Engineered Fall Protection Systems Design and installation of fully engineered fall protection systems prioritizing worker safety, regulatory compliance, and seamless integration into any work environment.
- Training Programs Industry-recognized training programs in fall arrest, rigging, crane operation, suspended access, and Wirelock socketing delivered on-site or at training facilities by certified instructors.
Quantifiable outcome
- Custom grain spout winch system eliminates frequent emergency repairs and extends system life indefinitely
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Northern Strands
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Northern Strands technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Northern Strands partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Big Ice ServicesminorBig Ice Services contacted Northern Strands to procure rigging equipment needed to lift a truck from ice on the Slave River near Fort Chipewyan. The job required Aircraft Cable, Bright Steel Cable, Wire Rope Slings, Shackles, Sockets, Web Slings, Fall Protection Equipment, and other Rigging Accessories. The project gained viral attention and was featured on CBC National.
- Certified Sales & RentalscoreSister company that offers specialized equipment, machinery, and services in the mining and construction industries, including repairs, recertifications, and underground ready equipment. Part of Northern Strands Group of companies.
- Fortis Mining Engineering ManufacturingcoreSister company providing globally-focused mining, engineering, and manufacturing services to the mining and construction industries. Part of Northern Strands Group, extending capabilities internationally.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Northern Strands competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kito Group: Manufacturer of chain hoists, electric hoists, and material handling equipment; directly comparable to Northern Strands' Vitali chain hoists, trolleys, and material handling product lines.
- Crosby Group: Global manufacturer of rigging hardware including hooks, shackles, slings, and lifting accessories; directly competes with Northern Strands' rigging, wire rope accessories, and lifting sling product lines for industrial and mining customers.
- Columbus McKinnon: Manufacturer of hoists, cranes, and rigging equipment under brands like CM and Yale, overlapping directly with Northern Strands' chain hoists, material handling equipment, and lifting gear product portfolio.
- 3M (DBI-SALA / Protecta): Operates the DBI-SALA and Protecta fall protection brands covering harnesses, lanyards, SRLs, and anchors; competes head-to-head with Northern Strands' fall protection product line on both standard SKUs and engineered systems.
- Honeywell (Miller Fall Protection): Miller by Honeywell is a global fall protection brand offering harnesses, anchors, and self-retracting lifelines; directly comparable to Northern Strands' fall protection and engineered fall protection systems offering.
- MSA Safety: Global safety equipment manufacturer with a strong fall protection portfolio (harnesses, lanyards, SRLs) serving construction, mining, and industrial markets; competes with Northern Strands' fall protection and suspended access solutions.
- Tractel: Supplies industrial lifting, rigging, and suspended access equipment worldwide; comparable to Northern Strands in combining rigging hardware, fall protection, and suspended access/swing stage capabilities for industrial and construction customers.
- Petzl: Specialist in work-at-height and fall protection equipment including harnesses, lanyards, and rescue systems; comparable to Northern Strands' fall protection product range and expertise in confined-space and elevated work scenarios.
- SpanSet: Provides lifting, rigging, and fall protection equipment and services including training; similar business model to Northern Strands in combining engineered products, field services, and training programs for industrial and mining users.
Broad incumbents
- Acklands-Grainger: Canada's largest broad-line industrial supply distributor carrying rigging, fall protection, and material handling products from many brands; competes with Northern Strands both as a distribution channel and as an alternative source for commodity rigging and safety SKUs across Canada.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Northern Strands social profiles
Digital presenceNorthern Strands financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Northern Strands leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Northern Strands subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Northern Strands funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Northern Strands M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Northern Strands
What does Northern Strands do?
Northern Strands supplies industrial rigging, wire rope, mining hoisting equipment, fall protection systems, and suspended access solutions, and complements these products with field services, custom fabrication, engineered fall protection system installation, and certified training programs. The company operates Canada's largest selection of rigging products and Western Canada's largest suspended access rental fleet, serving mining, construction, industrial, agricultural, and recovery customers through e-commerce, direct sales, dealer networks, and branch offices across Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Is Northern Strands a public or private company?
Northern Strands is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Northern Strands founded?
Northern Strands was founded in 1970. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Northern Strands based?
Northern Strands is headquartered in Saskatoon, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Northern Strands make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Product Sales (E-commerce & Direct) is the primary driver. The others are equipment Rentals, professional Services & Training and industrial Supply Dealer Distribution.
Who are Northern Strands's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kito Group, Crosby Group, Columbus McKinnon, 3M (DBI-SALA / Protecta), Honeywell (Miller Fall Protection), MSA Safety, Tractel, Petzl and SpanSet. Acklands-Grainger is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Northern Strands have an API?
No public API is recorded for Northern Strands.
What industry is Northern Strands in?
Northern Strands's product category is Industrial Rigging Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAKAKAI, Industrial/Commercial Equipment & Machinery Moving (Rigging-Light), with a secondary code of IMAHABAH, Bulk Material Handling Systems (Belt Conveyors, Feeders, Stackers, Reclaimers). Its NAICS code is 3331 and its SIC code is 3530.