LOU-TEC Opens a New Branch in Bécancour
LOU-TEC, the Quebec leader in equipment rental, kicked off 2025 on a strong note. In February, the company opened a new branch in Bécancour, located in the Centre-du-Québec region. The goal? To meet the growing demand in a booming area filled with construction sites and industrial projects.
As Jean-Marc Dallaire, President of LOU-TEC, explains:
“With the battery industry booming in the Bécancour region, many clients are reaching out. There are several active projects. The south shore—Trois-Rivières, Shawinigan, and the entire area—has become an attractive market.”
The new branch is located at 8055 Maurice-Guillemette Street in a brand-new building. It’s designed to serve the needs of industries and contractors requiring specialized equipment for their worksites.
A Network Spanning Quebec and Ontario
Furthermore, LOU-TEC stands out as an industry leader with 24 strategically located business units. This strong network enables the company to serve clients across Quebec and Ontario—no matter where the job site is located.
Always on the lookout for acquisitions, LOU-TEC targets specialized sectors such as lifting and energy. The goal is to continuously expand its service offering for construction and industrial needs.
Shifting Toward Corporate Clients
LOU-TEC was originally founded in 1979 by six franchisees who joined forces. Their goal was to secure better purchasing conditions from suppliers and share a common brand. At that time, their services mainly catered to individual customers.
Over the years, more independent rental centers joined the network. This growth led to a major merger in 2017, along with a shift to a corporate model. Two years later, Jean-Marc Dallaire was appointed president. Since then, the company has shifted its focus to primarily serve business clients.
Sustained, Well-Planned Growth
In 2021, new financial partners joined the company. This strategic support enabled LOU-TEC to double its revenue through targeted acquisitions.
As a result, in 2023, LOU-TEC became a fully corporate entity. Today, it operates as an integrated, well-capitalized company with a strong presence across Quebec.
In 2025, LOU-TEC is focusing on two main client segments: construction contractors and industrial companies. These clients rent heavy equipment for large-scale projects, expansions, or maintenance work.
Prioritizing Proximity and Efficiency
To better meet growing demand, LOU-TEC emphasizes proximity and operational efficiency. Proud of its Quebec roots, the company continues to open new branches across the province.
“Our clients are getting bigger. They want a partner with multiple locations and a standardized service offering. They prefer dealing with a single contact who can support them anywhere in the province—whether in Trois-Rivières, Quebec City, or Montreal,” says Mr. Dallaire.
In addition, LOU-TEC has adjusted its opening hours to support early-starting clients. Its service trucks are constantly on the move across Quebec. While regions like Abitibi, Côte-Nord, Bas-Saint-Laurent, and Gaspésie don’t yet have physical locations, they are still fully serviced by LOU-TEC’s provincial team.
A Leader in Lifting Equipment
Over the past three years, LOU-TEC has made four major acquisitions: Accès Location +, YEP Location, and MKS équipements in Quebec, as well as Torcan Lift Equipment in Ontario. These companies were already well-known in the lifting and handling equipment market.
By joining LOU-TEC, they have strengthened the network’s position as a trusted expert. With their aerial lifts, platforms, and telehandlers, LOU-TEC now offers even more complete services on job sites across the province.
“We’ve invested tens of millions annually in recent years to maintain a young, diverse, and well-maintained fleet,” emphasizes Mr. Dallaire. “Our service offering is perfectly tailored to the needs of construction and industrial work.”
Expanding into Ontario
Back in 2020, LOU-TEC’s leadership team launched a long-term strategic planning process. The goal: to become Canada’s industry leader by 2032.
As part of this plan, the company acquired two Torcan Lift Equipment branches in Ontario, located in Toronto and Cambridge. LOU-TEC chose to keep the Torcan name because of its strong brand recognition in the province.
“Expansion relies on strong collaboration between our Quebec and Toronto teams. However, Torcan’s local teams manage the day-to-day operations,” Mr. Dallaire explains.
Strong Values Supporting a Bold Vision
In 2024, LOU-TEC revisited its strategy and clarified its core foundations. The leadership team defined five key growth pillars, each with specific initiatives, ambitious but realistic targets, and clearly set deadlines.
At the same time, the company reaffirmed its core values: safety, respect, integrity, pride, and customer passion.
“Our employees take great pride in delivering well-maintained equipment that meets the highest industry standards,” says Mr. Dallaire.
Customer passion is at the heart of LOU-TEC’s approach.
“We are, above all, a service company. What makes the real difference isn’t just the equipment—it’s the people. When we hire, we look for individuals who embody this value. People who make exceptional service their top priority. That might mean taking a customer call in the evening, or adding a small extra gesture that makes a client say, ‘Wow!’” concludes the president.
– Adaptation of Caroline Lepage’s Article (Revue Industrie & commerce, february-march 2025)
To view the article on the Industrie & Commerce magazine website, click here.