Ontario commits $2.5 million to help five manufacturers undergo expansion projects

Mar. 20, 2018 – Ontario is partnering with local businesses to help create 70 jobs and retain more than 330 others in Chatham-Kent in southwest Ontario, committing more than $2.5 million for five industrial expansion projects.

The details of the projects include:

• Dana Canada, a manufacturer and supplier of power technologies for the automotive industry, produces heat shields — metal plates that are designed to prevent electrical components from being exposed to excessive heat. Ontario is investing $662,229 from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund, supporting an additional investment of $6,662,596 from the company to implement a new high-output production and assembly line for heat shields, which will expand their production capabilities and allow the company to introduce heat shields with greater strength. The project is creating 14 positions, retaining 82 and is expected to be completed by December 2020.

• Aarkel Tool and Die is a manufacturer of die cast and plastic injection tooling, serving automotive sector clients such as GM, Toyota, Honda, BMW and Ford. Ontario is investing $1,035,000 from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund, supporting an additional investment of $9,310,900 from the company. The company will increase its capacity, capabilities and product offerings. The project includes integrating office and manufacturing space and housing new equipment, including multi-axis CNC machines and five-axis boring mill. The project is creating 15 positions, retaining 150 and is expected to be completed by December 2019.

• Waltron Trailers is a manufacturer of transportation systems for the agriculture, energy, marine and infrastructure sectors, specializing in the design and fabrication of truck bodies, flat deck trailers, highway trailers, construction/utility trailers, boat trailers and custom trailers. With an $113,000-investment from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund, supporting an additional investment of $1,018,000 from the company, Waltron Trailers will expand its facility by 6,360 square feet to house new assembly lines and painting operations. The project is creating 10 positions, retaining 31 and is expected to be completed by July 2019.

• A manufacturer of rollers, idlers and pulleys for heavy-duty conveyors in quarries, mines, mills and bulk terminals, Rulmeca Canada plans to expand its facility by more than 21,000 square feet, and invest in new equipment such as a robotic welding cell, an assembly press and a paint line system. Ontario is investing $499,550 from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund, supporting an additional investment of $4,495,950 from the company. The project is creating 21 positions, retaining 73 and is expected to be completed by December 2021.

• The Barry Callebaut Group is a manufacturer of chocolate and cocoa products. The company’s Chatham area facility manufactures a variety of cocoa-based products. With $339,000 from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund  supporting an additional investment of $3,051,853 from the company, the factory plans to undergo a “significant” project to expand its operations capacity. The project has created 10 positions and is expected to be completed by August 2019.