History
Our history stems back to the late 1920s when our oldest company was founded on the West Coast.
I’Anco (eye-ann-co) was started in 1927 as a pattern shop and the foundry started producing equipment for the logging industry in 1935. The I’Anco cast alloy chains are still preferred more than 80 years later.
Lacey Harmer’s roots can be traced back to 1935 when it started supplying equipment to the logging industry. During the early 1980s Lacey Harmer designed and introduced the world to Sharp Top Chain™ with the Summit ® product range, still the most respected chain in the lumber industry.
Viking Chains started in the early 1990s supplying good quality chains to various industries including Wastewater Treatment. Its presence can still be seen today where it is specified by most end-users in North America who require good quality and reliable non-metallic chains.
Lazer Blazer was introduced to the North American market and became the industrial guided line lasers market leader within three years. The range was expanded with Laharco, Lasalign and Lazer Tracker since then. Our lasers are used from the lumber industry to the food industry to provide cut lines for the optimum processing of raw materials.
Metal detectors are essential to the lumber industry. The industry relies on our MetalShark metal detectors with German engineering and North American support to protect equipment, production, and the safety of operating staff.
Connexus Industries are harnessing our history approaching a hundred years by combining the simplicity of chains with the complexity of lasers and digital metal detectors to provide products our clients have relied on for decades. We are working hard to live up to your expectations and want to remain your partner of choice.
Viking Chains Inc.
Viking Chains Inc. was founded in 1994 by Cliff Lane and 2 other business partners and operations began from a small office on Annacis Island in Delta, B.C. Soon after the company expanded to a manufacturing facility in an industrial park in Delta B.C. The Viking name came from the company’s early roots distributing Swedish chain in North America. Expansion into Quebec City and Marietta, Georgia happened in 1997. In early 2000 acreage was purchased in Acworth Georgia approximately 45 minutes north of Atlanta and soon after a 15,000 sq ft plant was completed. While market presence grew further expansion to Vancouver, Washington happened in 2005. Continued growth had Viking Chain and Viking Chains Enviro division expand to international markets in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and all of Latin America. In 2013 Viking Chains ownership sold the business to Canerector Inc. and in 2014 the name was changed to Connexus Industries with the merger of the 3 other companies.
I’Anco Products
I’Anco Products was established in the early 1960’s. I’Anco Products was originally called A1 Steel Foundry, located in Vancouver, B.C. The company was purchased by Highland Foundry in the early 1990’s and moved to Surrey to become Highland’s child company, manufacturing and supplying cast products to the pulp and paper, mining, and cement industries using Highland and some overseas foundries to provide the castings. I’Anco was a full fabrication shop during this time. The primary product lines were all cast products, including marine parts like anchors, logging and rigging parts, cast chains, sprockets, de-barker chains. In 2011 Highland foundry was acquired by Canerector Inc. Shortly thereafter when Viking Chains was acquired, both I’Anco and Viking Chains merged becoming the early beginnings of today’s Connexus Industries.
Tectronix Systems Inc. Metal Shark
Tectronix Systems Inc. Metal Shark, founded by Greg Balmer Tectronix, began manufacturing and selling metal detection equipment in 1993, and slowly evolved into a leading supplier, servicing all aspects of the Forestry Industry, from raw materials to finished products. The uniqueness of the Metal Shark electronics set them apart from all other manufacturers of metal detection equipment. In 2005 Tectronix moved to larger facilities in Surrey, B.C. Canada. In 2015 Tectronix was acquired by Canerector and added to the Connexus group of companies. Since then, Connexus has merged Rens-Metal Shark adding the best of all worlds in metal detection.