Feds invest $5.6M to advance automation at three Ontario companies

The federal government is investing $5.6 million to support the scale-up and growth of three manufacturing companies in the Southern Ontario region.

Factory Bucket is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider based in London, Ontario. Founded in 2016, the company continues to develop its digital platform for manufacturers to digitize workflows.

With a team of 15 employees, Factory Bucket is supporting the transition to Industry 4.0 by digitizing manufacturing operations through a no-code platform designed so that non-technical employees can solve everyday business challenges.

FedDev Ontario’s repayable contribution of $500,000 will leverage over $1 million in private investment and allow Factory Bucket to scale up the development and sales of its software, configure solutions to specific supplier needs and market its product globally.

Through this project, Factory Bucket expects to create more than 20 skilled jobs in London.

Titan Trailers designs and manufactures custom aluminum trailers for bulk cargo and shipping industries, such as waste management, recycling, agriculture, forestry and construction.

FedDev Ontario’s repayable contribution of $4.1 million supported the construction of Titan’s newly modernized Delhi facility, the reconfiguration of its newly acquired Tillsonburg facility and the purchase of advanced production equipment.

Titan Trailers has also used the funding to increase its annual production capacity from 600 to 1,500 trailers, and created 75 skilled jobs between Tillsonburg and Delhi, Ontario.

This project opened opportunities for Titan Trailers in the global marketplace and doubled its supply chain spending. FedDev Ontario’s contribution leveraged over $1.3 million in private investment.

Oxford Pallet operates a wood pallet recycling business in Norwich, Ontario. Established in 1999, the company has grown from a small pallet repair shop with six employees to a multi-service, state-of-the-art facility, currently employing 68 full-time workers.

It serves customers all over southern Ontario and is part of the supply chain for many companies such as Scotts Canada and Lowe’s Distribution Centre.

With a $1-million repayable contribution from FedDev Ontario and $9 million in private investment, the company will install new, advanced equipment, including a custom designed automated pallet sort line in its new 48,000-sq. ft. facility.

This technology will enable Oxford Pallet to increase productivity and completely recycle scrap pallets with zero waste. Through this project, the company expects to create 20 jobs in Norwich.