Engineering

We offer a complete suite of mechanical engineering services, supported by Permits to Practice and an in-house P.Eng. We specialize in overhead lifting and oilfield-related equipment, but our expertise extends across a wide range of industries. Our team can:

  • Design new equipment with full drawings, specifications, capacities, and operating instructions;
  • Measure, document, and analyze existing equipment to provide accurate capacities and specifications;
  • Deliver 2D and 3D CAD services using SolidWorks and validate designs with COSMOS FEA software; and
  • Help you establish fall protection systems and engineered lift plans.

See the expandable tabs below for additional information regarding each of the above, or call our office if there is a service you require that is not listed.

New Designs

Sometimes the equipment you need simply isn’t available off the shelf, but it can be designed, fabricated, and certified. Even if you have the materials and fabrication capabilities in-house, operating without professional documentation for capacity, safe use, and maintenance can have serious consequences. Proper engineering oversight ensures your custom equipment is safe, compliant, and legally defensible under OHS Code Section 3.

Whether it’s a spreader bar, lifting device, tool rack, manbasket, or jib crane, our team can help:

  • Define your requirements and create a validated design;
  • Produce drawings and specifications built to code;
  • Perform load testing, inspection, and certification; and
  • Provide complete documentation for safe operation and maintenance.

Verified capacity ratings, clear operating instructions, and engineered designs ensure your custom equipment delivers a long, safe, and productive service life in the field, on third-party sites, or on your own location. Good safety culture relies on well-documented and maintained equipment, supporting your COR, ISNetworld, PICS, and Complyworks results.

Existing Items

You own it and use it, but without proper documentation, that’s a problem. It happens more often than you’d think: lost manuals, worn-off markings, auction purchases, or equipment built in-house or acquired from another company. Even if it’s been used safely for years, questions inevitably arise:

  • How should it be repaired?
  • How should it be maintained?
  • What is its maximum safe working load?
  • Which jobs is it suitable for, and which should it never be used for?

Under Alberta OH&S Code Part 3 Sections 12 & 13 (and similar legislation), employers are legally responsible for answering these questions. When you don’t have the documentation or guidance you need, Rees N.D.T. can provide the answers, ensuring your equipment is safe, compliant, and fit for purpose.

CAD Services

Great projects start with great plans, and with SolidWorks CAD software, we bring your ideas to life with precision and clarity.

Whether you’re documenting an existing item or creating designs for new equipment, our team has the expertise and tools to produce professional 2D and 3D drawings from any viewpoint. SolidWorks allows us to:

  • Generate detailed drawings and bills of materials automatically;
  • Export files to PDF for easy sharing and electronic archiving; and
  • Provide a free viewer so customers can turn, spin, and zoom drawings, seeing the final product before it’s built.
Validation

Having a design is one thing, but will it perform as intended? That’s where design validation comes in. We validate designs using several methods:

  • Load testing – applying a load above the rated capacity to ensure structural integrity;
  • Destructive testing – loading until failure to confirm safety factors are sufficient;
  • Engineering rules-of-thumb – following proven design and material standards when
    testing isn’t feasible; and
  • Finite Element Analysis (FEA) – simulating loads, stress points, and potential failure scenarios using integrated COSMOS FEA with SolidWorks.

FEA allows us to identify problem areas, test unusual or extreme loads, and refine designs before fabrication begins, saving time, materials, and costs. This ensures your equipment meets its intended performance safely and efficiently. Signed, sealed, and delivered right the first time.

Fall Protection & Engineered Lift Plans

Fall protection requirements have become stricter in recent years, with new regulations expanding the areas where safeguards are mandated. Permanent work areas (where workers perform tasks regularly for more than 15 minutes at heights of 1.2 m (4 ft) or more above a potential fall zone) must now have fall hazard mitigation in place. This can include guardrails, travel restraint systems, or full fall arrest systems when other measures aren’t practical. Even residential roofing operations are subject to these updated requirements.

All fall protection anchor points, unless installed by the manufacturer, must be designed and approved by a professional engineer. At Rees N.D.T., our trained professionals can help you design, implement, and certify fall protection systems tailored to your site, equipment, and operational needs.

Additionally, our team can assist you with creating engineered lift plans for cranes, pickers, and heavy lifting operations. These detailed, engineer-approved documents outline the lift method, equipment setup, load calculations, and safety procedures required to perform complex lifts safely and within code.