Blog
We supply the most reliable Welding Equipment, Crane Equipment, Hoists, Induction Heating & Plasma Cutting Equipment for a wide variety of industries for nearly limitless applications.
Miller Build with Blue Spring Rebate – Save Big This Spring!
The Miller Build with Blue Spring rebate is back for 2025! From April 1 to June 30, get up to $1,000 back on select Miller welders and enjoy bonus savings on Miller accessories and Hobart filler metals. This rebate offer is one...
Miller 2025 Build with Blue Winter Savings Rebate
Start 2025 with BIG BLUE Savings on Select Miller Welders! Happy New Year! Miller's first Build with Blue rebate promotion for 2025 is here! From January 1st to March 31st, save BIG when you purchase eligible Miller products....
Exclusive Deals on Demag EK-DMR 5 Tonne Wire Rope Hoists!
Looking for high-quality wire rope hoists to upgrade your lifting equipment? Kristian Electric is kicking off 2025 with unbeatable savings on the industry-leading Demag EK-DMR 5 tonne wire rope hoist. Renowned for their...
Fall Special on Demag DMR Wire Rope Hoists – Up to 35% Off!
Kristian Electric is excited to announce our 2024 Fall Special on select configurations of the Demag EK-DMR 5 tonne wire rope hoist! Now is the perfect time to upgrade or add a hoist to your industrial operations in Canada with...
Miller 2024 Build with Blue Holiday Savings Rebate
For the second time this year, Miller has released new Canadian-specific savings through the Build with Blue rebate program! Miller's final Build with Blue rebate promotion for 2024 is ON! From October 1st to December 31, 2024,...
Join us in Edmonton for our 60th Anniversary Open House Event!
We are thrilled to invite you to Kristian Electric Edmonton's 60th Anniversary Open House Event on September 6, 2024! This is a special opportunity to celebrate our legacy with our fantastic customers and to showcase the latest...
Join us in Calgary for our 60th Anniversary Customer Appreciation!
We are thrilled to announce that Kristian Electric is celebrating our 60th anniversary, and we want you to join us for a special Customer Appreciation Event! For six decades, our valued customers have supported us, and now it's...
Join Us in Saskatoon for Miller Welders Demo Day!
Celebrate Our Anniversary with Hands-On Welding Demos and Exclusive Discounts! We’re excited to announce a special event to mark our 60th year in business next week at Kristian Electric Saskatoon! Join us on Thursday, July 25,...
Miller 2023 Build with Blue Holiday Savings Rebate
Note: We've updated this article for the NEW Summer 2024 Miller Build with Blue Rebate Promotion. View the current rebate information here! As we like to say here at Kristian Electric, "Build with Blue" is BACK! The final Build...
Miller Welders 2024 Build with Blue Summer Savings Rebate
New Canada-specific Miller welders savings available through the Build with Blue rebate program! Miller's third Build with Blue rebate promotion for 2024 is now live, running from July 1st through September 30th, 2024. If...
Miller 2024 Build with Blue Winter Savings Rebate
Recently, Kristian Electric manufactured, supplied, and installed four top running single girder (TRSG) overhead bridge cranes for a new maintenance facility located outside Calgary, Alberta. We were thrilled to provide custom...
NEW Miller Trailblazer & Bobcat Welder Savings
We're excited to announce the latest Build with Blue Spring Special Savings rebate promotion from Miller, featuring fantastic rebates on their newest engine-driven welders for the month of June! This limited-time offer includes...
Miller 2024 Build with Blue Spring Savings Rebate
Note: We've updated this article for the NEW Summer 2024 Miller Build with Blue Rebate Promotion. View the current rebate information here! Spring has sprung, bringing new savings opportunities through Build with Blue! Miller's...
One Crane, Two Cranes, Three Cranes, Four New Bridge Cranes
Recently, Kristian Electric manufactured, supplied, and installed four top running single girder (TRSG) overhead bridge cranes for a new maintenance facility located outside Calgary, Alberta. We were thrilled to provide custom...
Stock up on Hobart 7018 Welding Rod: Special Pricing Offer!
Attention all welders! We are thrilled to announce a special pricing offer on Hobart 7018 welding rod! Hobart 7018 is a premium-quality electrode that offers superior performance in a variety of stick welding applications. With...
From the Ground Up: Transfer Car Material Handling Solutions
As a leading Canadian overhead crane company, you might think that we are solely focused on material handling solutions above the ground. While it's not uncommon to hear the phrase, "there's a crane for that!" when our crane...
How to Winterize Your Engine-Driven Welder
Winter is nearly here, and if you're a welder in Canada, you know it's time to get ready for the cold. Here at Kristian Electric, we’ve spent nearly six decades serving Canadian welders and their equipment, so we understand the...
From Workstation Bridge Crane to Giant Claw Machine
Did you know that a workstation bridge crane played an essential part of creating a one-of-a-kind claw machine game out of a GMC truck bed? Here at Kristian Electric, we like to say that the overhead crane business has its ups...
Welding Equipment We Service & Repair
After almost sixty years fixing welders and welding equipment for customers across Western Canada, it's hard to talk about welder repair without mentioning us here at Kristian Electric! After all, we've built our company name...
We’ve Got AlumaReel
Kristian Electric Ltd. is excited to welcome our partners at AlumaReel Canada into our showroom displays in Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatoon! If you are looking for mobile products such as cable reels for your welding rig, we...
Specialty Demag Chain Hoists Available Now
As Western Canada's Demag Stocking Dealer and the only Demag distributor in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Kristian Electric Ltd. carries a lot of Demag equipment in our inventory. Occasionally, we stock specialty Demag equipment...
How to Save Big on Engine Drives with Miller Build with Blue
If you are looking to purchase an engine-driven welder/generator from Miller, now is the time! Miller has just released an addition to the ongoing Build with Blue Spring Savings rebate promotion, which runs until June 30, 2023....
Stock up on Hobart 7018 Welding Rod: Special Pricing Offer!
Attention all welders! We are thrilled to announce a special pricing offer on Hobart 7018 welding rod! Hobart 7018 is a premium-quality electrode that offers superior performance in a variety of stick welding applications. With...
3 Things You Need to Know About the NEW Miller Build with Blue Rebate Promotion
Build with Blue is BACK! This quarter's Build with Blue rebate promotion from Miller Welders runs from January 9 to March 31, 2023. If you're planning to invest in new Miller welding products, utilizing Build with Blue rebate...
2022 Holiday Gift Guide for Welders
Well – it’s that time of year again. It’s time to decorate your tree, drink hot chocolate by the fire, and buy gifts for the important people in your life. Some gifts are easy – Mom wants a new toaster; Dad wants a new drill....
We are Western Canada’s Demag Stocking Dealer
Kristian Electric Ltd is excited to announce our new partnership with Demag Cranes & Components to become Western Canada's exclusive stocking dealer for Demag DC electric chain hoists and trolleys. That's right. That means...
Ask the Crane Tech: Pre-Use Inspections
Build with Blue is BACK! This quarter's Build with Blue rebate promotion from Miller Welders runs from January 9 to March 31, 2023. As an overhead crane technician, one of the questions I get asked a lot is, "What do I look for...
CREATURE COMFORTS – CTR Crane Systems for the U of C
Following the outbreak of Avian Flu and Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) traced to Alberta feedlots, the University of Calgary established the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) in 2005, making it...
RISING STARS – The Cosmic History of CM Hoists
POST Count Off brand cereal, introduced in 1962. From 1955 to 1975, the imagination of the world was gripped by the competition between Cold War adversaries, the Soviet Union and the United States, as they raced to achieve...
Blown Away – An Almost Olympic Disaster
Still considered one of the top ten best Olympic opening ceremonies of all time, the Calgary Winter Games were officially opened on February 13, 1988. Not only are the '88 games emblazoned in our memory for the heroic ski...
SHORT CUT – Hypertherm Plasma Gouging
What is gouging? In the maintenance and repair industry, welds are often in need of replacement if determined to be worn or defective. Metal gouging and/or backgouging is the process of removing old welds or base metals to...
Give Peas A Chance – A Bulk Loading System
Lovingly Made Ingredients, a subsidiary of the UK based company Meatless Farm, has set-up shop in the Stonegate Industrial Park in Calgary. Their first of its kind, the 33,000 square foot facility produces textured plant-based...
Made to Measure – A Custom Fit Workstation Crane
When a Calgary manufacturing facility decided to expand their production to include a new aluminum-aging batch oven, they called on Kristian Electric Ltd. to install a new overhead lifting system to handle bundles of aluminum...
Feel The Heat – 4 Applications that Benefit from Induction Heating
The Miller Proheat Induction Heating system utilizes inverter technology, similar to their welding equipment, to convert alternating 60hertz per second to kilohertz per second. This high-frequency alternating current, applied...
Ask the Crane Tech: 10 Ways to Prolong the Life of Your Crane
Have you ever wondered why you have so many problems with your crane? After over a decade servicing cranes, I’ve seen it all. Frequent crane issues can be caused by age, use (or perhaps abuse) of the crane, and even...
Back in Fashion – An Old Jersey Gets Another Swing At The Bat
In the spring of 1985, Kristian Electric employees, family, and friends joined the Calgary Riverside Modified Baseball League. Kris Gjertsen, then company President, and his wife Bertha sponsored the team, provided the...
New Years Greetings from Kristian Electric
o our valued customers across the industrial community: May this message find you well during the holiday season. Although our usual gatherings and traditions are not something everyone can enjoy this year, I hope you are doing...
The Boss of Entertainment Hoists
Can you guess what Bruce Springsteen did for work before he became one of the world's most successful recording artists ever? Before he was dubbed “The Boss” and drove us down Thunder Road? Before he was Born to Run and...
A Not So Carbon Copy Crane – A Safety Sensitive Lifting Solution
Cancarb, a member of the Tokai Carbon Group, is a worldwide provider of thermal carbon black and is based out of Medicine Hat, Alberta. Thermal carbon black is a product derived from the thermal decomposition of natural gas. It...
Buttoned Up – Demag DST Pendants
DST pendant controls from Demag are a one-stop, universal solution for the operation of overhead cranes, hoists, and more. Easily configurable with multiple operations, ergonomically designed for ease of use and constructed...
55 Years – A Classic Worth Preserving
Anniversaries are always a good cause for reminiscence and contemplation. When company president, Kevin Gjertsen, was asked to reflect on the past half a century of the family business and what it means to him, it was of no...
Hang in the Balance – A New Intuitive Hoist from Demag
Demag is a world leader in material handling innovation and design and there has been no exception to this rule with the introduction of their latest design, the DCBS chain hoist. Designed with the same reliable versatility and...
Easy Does It: 8 Welding Innovations from Miller to Make Your Job Easier
The welding industry can be very demanding. Operators must conform to all sorts of environments, climates and surroundings. Miller has always taken these demands seriously and is constantly producing better technology and...
Outside Chance: Maintaining Outdoor Cranes
Regardless of where your crane is located, regular overhead crane maintenance is important to ensure safe crane and hoist operation and extend the useful service life of your equipment. However, overhead cranes that either...
Work Smarter, Not Harder: Implementing Castellated Beams in Crane System Design
This past fall, Saskatoon carbon fiber composites manufacturer SED Research Inc. (SRI), a Calian subsidiary, commissioned Kristian to increase their shop productivity with the design and installation of three new overhead...
The Cutting Edge: Kristian Calgary’s New Demo CNC Plasma Table
While the Kristian team has grown steadily throughout 2019, an audience formed recently in Calgary when our newest addition to the shop was brought in: our very own CNC plasma table! Acquired to strengthen our own hands-on...
Customer Spotlight: Inline Fabrication
Over the past four years of writing the Kristian Electric blog, we have worked hard to share exciting updates from across our company – expert interviews, crane manufacturing and installation jobs, technological advancements,...
Suck It Up
Vacuum lifters are devices used to transport a variety of products within a set area, such as a warehouse or manufacturing facility. They are regularly employed in applications as delicate as placing eggs in egg-cartons, as...
Top of the Game
Kristian service trucks can usually be found on site at industrial businesses. May it be at a manufacturing facility, a potash mine, a factory and even an airport, however, from time to time we take on a job at more unique and...
See the Light
Safety should be the number one concern when working with an overhead crane system. Many different types of safety features can be installed on a crane, such as load limiters, collision avoidance and speed controls, yet these...
Son of a Gun
Miller introduces the newest addition to their MIG gun line-up with the MDX series, with improved operator comfort and superior wire feeding. The new MDX series of MIG guns from Miller replaces the old outdated guns and...
One for the Money, Two for the Show
In the world of overhead bridge cranes, customization is key. Crane designs have a number of configurations and adaptations available that can make a critical difference in the production and efficiency of the crane itself....
Over or Under?
Top Running or Under Running Bridge Crane: What To Choose? One of the biggest differences between overhead bridge crane systems is configuration: a bridge crane can be either top running under running. What’s the difference?...
Jack of All Welds
Millers newest multi-process welding machine is a true jack of all trades, giving you the freedom to weld any process including AC/DC TIG, MIG, flux-cored, and stick with one portable, powerful, easy to use machine. Setup and...
Let’s Get Digital
Say goodbye to the old, handwritten, hard-to-read, carbon copy inspection report and welcome a NEW digital inspection app-based platform, for faster, cleaner and more detailed crane inspections for you and your material...
Breathe Easy
Welding fumes are a complex mixture of metallic oxides, silicates and fluorides that form when a metal is heated above its boiling point and its vapors condense into very fine, airborne particles. However, fume origins are not...
Carry A Heavy Load
When it comes to overhead cranes, safety is critical. A load test is a literal testing of limits. Pushing a crane beyond it's rated capacity under controlled conditions to expose any flaws or breaking points, so that any...
Freedom of Reach
Eliminate the cumbersome use of remote cables when welding with ArcReach technology from Miller. No longer will you need to walk or climb from the weld-joint to the power source and back again to adjust parameters.. With...
A History Of Overhead Cranes
There have been many moments in history that have brought to fruition the function and design of the overhead Crane, however there are a few specific moments whose impact stand out more than the others. This fun video timeline...
Gas Up
Take the hassle and fees out of cylinder rental, and just exchange for a brand new cylinder every time! What is ALbee? ALbee is Air Liquide’s line of portable, lightweight, rent-free gas cylinders designed for light industrial...
A Helmet for the Modern Welder
TThe latest series of welding helmets released by Miller Electric have so many updates for the modern welder. From peripheral lenses to integrated grind shields, these helmets are some of the most state-of-the-art designs in...
Gorbel Workstation Cranes
Workstation cranes are ideal for work cells where there is one or more operators required to manually manipulate and handle loads up to 4,000 lbs. The cranes modular bolted connection design allows for easy future relocation or...
Inspection VS Preventative Maintenance: What’s the Difference?
You may see a lot of businesses offering equipment inspections on everything from your car to your home and of course on any heavy duty industrial machinery. Overhead cranes are no exception to this, in fact Occupational Health...
Overhead Crane Training – We’ll Hook You Up!
In today’s industrial workplace, heavy-duty equipment can be quite common place. However the constant exposure to this dangerous machinery can cause a sense of apathy and carelessness by some individuals, which is a detriment...
Don’t Hesitate, Calibrate!
5 Reasons to Calibrate your Welding Machine Today! 1. If your machines meters are not properly showing the output of the machine you could start to experience issues that could diminish the strength of your weld and the quality...
The Norwegian Connection
From the Norwegian fjords to the Canadian prairies, Kristian Electric has it's roots deep in Scandinavia. BORN AND RAISED In 1930, Kristian Electric founder Bjorn Kristian Gjertsen (Kris) was born and raised in Bergen Norway....
Go BIG or Go Home
DECA INDUSTRIES SHOW US THAT BIGGER IS BETTER Deca Industries is no stranger to going big. In their new 100,000 square foot facility in Saskatoon, they take on the biggest and heaviest jobs around, machining products for the...
A Straight Flush
Traditionally, lug and attachment removal has relied on carbon arc gouging, oxyfuel and traditional plasma cutting equipment. However, these applications can be inefficient, time consuming and may pierce or damage the actual...
There’s An App For That – 2 Welding Apps to Download Now!
In today's society there is an app for pretty much everything. Online dating, fashion and beauty, travel plans, cooking and recipes....you name it, and there's most likely an app for it. The welding industry is not exempt from...
Kill Three Birds with One Stone
We’ve all heard the adage, ‘kill two birds with one stone’, meaning to complete two tasks at once. Over the last year, Kristian Electric tackled a project that almost perfectly echoed the context of this old expression. However...
The Rocket Science of Welding
With the retirement of the Space Shuttle Program in 2010, and the cancellation of the Constellation Program in 2011, NASA was looking to create their most powerful rocket yet, a single launch vehicle usable for both crew and...
Get To The Chopper
In 2004, Miller Electric Mfg. celebrated it’s 75th year as a company. To celebrate, they enlisted the services of the guys at Orange County Choppers to design and build a custom motorbike for the occasion. For those of you who...
Riverboat Fantasy
In areas of B.C. and Alberta not yet accessed by road or rail, boats were the primary form of transportation for large amounts of freight or passengers since the days of the fur trade. However, paddle-wheeler boats could travel...
Lifting Entertainment to a New Level
When I was 17 I saw Miss Saigon at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton Alberta. It was my first introduction to any type of Broadway show and suffice to say I was blown away. Not only by the songs and story but...
We Can Hook You Up – Crane Training
Crane and rigging accidents are often the direct result of operator error or the lack of adequate operator training or experience. So what can you do about this? Have your employee, or yourself for that matter, properly trained...
HOT DAM!
In 1992, The Oldman River Dam was constructed just north of Pincher Creek Alberta, on the Old Man River. The Dam was built in response to many years of drought in the southern part of the province, and to not only provide water...
To Infinity and Beyond
The new Miller Infinity welding helmets, introduced in the summer of 2015 are upping the ante of auto darkening helmet technology. The Digital Infinity welding helmet is outfitted with the largest viewing area of any welding...
Inspection Dissection
One of the most important and sometimes overlooked aspect of being an owner and/or operator of an overhead crane system is annual inspections. The Occupational Health and Safety Act and CMAA regulations recommend having an...
Building A Crane One Girder At A Time
In the spring of 2014, a producer of highly complex HVAC units at their state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in the South Foothills Industrial Park of Calgary, began looking at doubling the size of their existing facility....
Gorbel Gantry Cranes
Gantry cranes usually bring to mind the monstrous structures found in seaports and ship yards, used to move, load and/or construct massive items and equipment. With the ability to lift over 20,000 tons, some of these colossal...
The MacGyver Installation
"You've heard of building a ship in a bottle? Well this was building a crane in a cement box!" - KEL Project CoordinatorWhen it comes to installing a customers crane, we at Kristian Electric are the best at what we do. Even...
A New Spin on Hand Chain Hoists
Traditional hand chain hoists only allow the user to pull the chain in a single vertical direction. This can cause a few different problems. First off, it requires the user to be directly under or in very close proximity to the...
Auto-Set Takes the Guess Work Out of MIG Welding
After extensive customer research, Miller Electric Mfg. realized that many of their home hobbyist welders struggle with setting up the parameters on their MIG welding machines. Typically, a welder would set their voltage and...
Winter is Coming – Welder Winterization
For those of us who live in Canada, especially western Canada, we know that old man winter can wreak havoc, dipping down to -30 Celsius or colder is a common occurrence. We store away our lawnmowers and bicycles, bring out the...
We Are Your Authorized Miller Distributor
For the past 50 years, Kristian Electric has been the go to for Miller welder repairs, warranty, service and parts in western Canada. However, we are excited to announce that we are also now full Miller distributors and now...
3 Welding Websites You Should Check Out Right Now!
The internet contains a huge extent of information and resources across it's vast web, some good, some bad. Here are three welding sites that we turn to for great articles and information, and you should too! A huge resource...
5 Questions To Ask Before Buying Your First Welding Machine
So you want to purchase your first welding machine. But with the myriad of equipment out there, what is best suited for you? Whether you are looking to just tinker around in your garage, or build a 12 foot steel sculpture,...
Welding 101
We take our infographics in a different direction now, and focus on the diffferent types of welding processes.
Gantry Cranes 101
Gantry cranes are one of the most versatile type of overhead cranes when it comes to portability and adjustability. In out next infographic we show you the different options available to you.
Hoists 101
Wire Rope or Chain? Manual or Powered? Electric or Pneumatic? So many decisions! In our latest infographic, we break down the different hoist options available for your lifting needs!
Jib Cranes 101
Jib Cranes. What are they? How do they differ? What are they good for? Let us answer your questions with our latest infographic.
BOP Handling Systems
In the dangerous environment of an oil rig, the manipulation and positioning of a BOP (Blow Out Preventer) requires reliable, robust and efficient equipment suited to the humidity, dust or hazardous conditions with a high risk...
Overhead Cranes 101
Our latest infographic lays out the basics when it comes to overhead crane types.
What is Intelligent Lifting?
Based on servo mechanics, intelligent lifting devices use a powered mechanism that produces motion or forces at higher levels of energy than the input level. Basically, these ergonomic lifting devices are extensions of your...
3 Ways to Increase Welding Shop Air Quality
Welding can be a dangerous job. Working with high temperatures and flame increase the opportunity of burns to the skin and welder flash to the eyes. However, a much less noticeable but equally dangerous hazard involves welding...
Tele-Radio Wireless Control Systems offer a Multitude of Options
Can you imagine being able to control up to 4 different cranes with just a touch of a button? With Tele-Radio industrial remote control systems, you can! The wireless Panther and Tiger systems are adaptable for up to 95% of all...
Demag’s Revolutionary New V-Type Girder is changing the game!
Demag; a world leader in overyhead crane design is changing the way we look at load handling. The innovative composition of "V" shaped supports through the interior create an organic tensile strength, much like the interior...
Stampede Dream
The Calgary Stampede is known across the globe. It not only boasts the highest rodeo purse in the world, but cowboys consider it to be the highlight of the rodeo season. One of the biggest draws to the rodeo grounds every...
The Roots of our Company Tree
2014 marks the fiftieth year that Kristian Electric Ltd. has proudly serviced the welding and overhead crane industry. This year marks KEL’s golden anniversary, and while the company is looking forward into the future, we are...