There are many Ontario manufacturing success stories. It’s easy to find one that will inspire you to consider a manufacturing career. From IT gear for the Olympic Games and high-tech equipment for NASA to vegan desserts and clothing labels, everyone can find a product they will be proud to manufacture. Once you find your manufacturing passion and become part of the company family, you may never want to leave.
Ontario Manufacturing Success Stories Across the Province
Trulife - Trenton, Ontario
Specializing in healthcare products like mastectomy bras and prosthetic sock, Trulife distributes products from eastern Ontario to other parts of Canada, the US, Ireland, and the UK. Trulife creates mastectomy bras in over 30 styles and is one of the few sewing manufacturers in Canada.
Trulife recruits talent from within the region and through the Quinte Manufacturing Association and the Manufacturing Resource Centre, the company has been able to further train their highly skilled staff to benefit from higher job satisfaction and higher caliber skills.
Mrs. B’s Country Candy - Brighton, Ontario
While technically a food production facility, Mrs. B’s is probably more accurately described as an “artisanal manufacturer”. Producing Belgian chocolate and gelato, Mrs. B’s is now enjoyed in 11 locations around Ontario. But this small businesses manufacturer, achieving success amongst larger companies like Kellogg’s, has operated in the area for the last 20 years and the original storefront is still a popular tourist destination.
Quantum5X Systems Inc. (Q5X) – London, Ontario
Manufactures wireless transmitters, receivers and remote-controlled audio systems for sports, broadcasting, and entertainment purposes.
Their wireless microphones were used by rowers in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Ontario Drive & Gear Ltd. (ODG) – New Hamburg, Ontario
An industry leader in the manufacture of amphibious, all-terrain six- and eight-wheel vehicles for commercial and military applications. Their ARGO all-terrain vehicle has aided search and rescue in Canada’s wilderness, hunting expeditions on the Serengeti plains, avalanche control in the Himalayas, gas and mining exploration, remote firefighting, military evacuation, and Antarctic research.
A lunar rover, developed by ODG, may participate in a 2020 search for water on the moon.
Aeryon Labs Inc. (Aeryon) – Waterloo, Ontario
Created the SkyRanger, an industrial drone that works in all weather conditions to explore where humans can’t see or walk. Customers include public safety organizations, commercial clients, surveyors, industrial users, agriculturalists, and the Ontario Provincial Police, who used the drones for traffic monitoring at the 2015 Pan Am Games. More than 50% of sales are exported to international clients in the Middle East, China, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and the United States.
Sweets from the Earth – North York, Ontario
Specialty baked goods manufacturer with a wide range of over 150 types of vegan desserts baked in two separate gluten- and nut-free facilities. Products include cookies, muffins, loaves, breads, bagels, cupcakes, bars, squares, frozen cookie dough, cakes, cheesecakes, and even special-order wedding cakes. Partnerships include school nutrition programs and a new line for low-income neighbourhoods. Products can be found in Loblaws, Metro, Second Cup, and Whole Foods.
Yum!
Mabel’s Labels – Hamilton, Ontario
A company created by four busy moms that designs, manufactures, and distributes custom labels for children’s clothing and accessories. Labels are laundry, dishwasher, and microwave safe, UV resistant, and waterproof. Customers create their own designs using a wide selection of colours, patterns, styles, and fonts to showcase their child’s or family’s name. E-commerce accounts for 90% of sales, with the remaining 10% comprised of non-custom labels sold to retailers like Walmart and Target.
Salford Group Inc. (Salford) – Salford, Ontario
Founded by an engineer with a farming background, Salford now manufactures a full line of tillage and seeding equipment, and fertilizer applicators. Salford is especially well-known for their cutting-edge Residue Tillage Specialist line.
Products are sold through over 450 dealers in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Nuform Building Technologies Inc. (Nuform) – Woodbridge, Ontario
The world’s leading manufacturer of stay-in-place polyvinyl chloride (PVC) concrete forming systems, which have been used to construct over 10 million square feet of industrial and commercial buildings in the Greater Toronto Area. “CONFORM®”, Nuform’s patented concrete wall forming system, allows an entire house to be built in a mere 48 hours.
CONFORM® was used to build homes in the Philippines, which withstood Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.
In areas where homes of other materials were severely damaged or destroyed, leaving 1.9 million people homeless, Nuform was asked to rebuild with CONFORM® and spent several years on the project.
London Mat Industries Ltd. (London Mat) – London, Ontario
Manufactures safety mats for customers in various industries:
- amusement parks,
- car washes,
- transit companies,
- safety industries,
- agriculture,
- construction,
- environment,
- information technology and telecommunications,
- manufacturing,
- medical/biotechnology/chemical,
- mining/petroleum/gas,
- service industry,
- transportation,
- aerospace,
- defence,
- automotive,
- pulp and paper,
- plastics and rubber products,
- primary and fabricated metal, and
- electrical equipment.
Also created the world famous “MATEX” Treadle Switches used on buses, trains, and trams for door safety, opening, and passenger counting. Clients include Mercedes Benz, Renault, Volvo, M.A.N., GMC, Van Hoole, and 3M.
Mosaic Manufacturing (Mosaic) – Toronto, Ontario
Created by three graduates of Queen’s University, Mosaic Manufacturing was started with prize money from Queen’s Innovation Centre’s Summer Initiative program (QICSI) and a “wildly successful” Kickstarter campaign. Mosaic’s Palette (3D printer accessory) enables printers to print objects with up to four different filaments, revolutionizing the previously monochrome output of 3D desktop printers. Now users can create objects that are not only useful and dynamic, but also visually appealing with the Palette. Working with existing printers, Palette provides an easy, affordable solution with exceptional results.
It would be difficult to find a more inspiring hub of manufacturing anywhere in the world. And these companies are proud to hire local employees for their workforce. Contact the Eastern Ontario Manufacturing Workforce Development Project (EOMWDP) at workforcedevelopment@ontarioeast.ca to find out what training you need to turn your passion for innovation into a rewarding manufacturing career.
Reap the Rewards of a High-Tech Manufacturing Job
Working and living in a region like eastern Ontario allows you to enjoy a high-tech and rewarding career in manufacturing as well as enjoy the benefits of life in a richly diverse community. Download this infographic to learn more about how eastern Ontario compares with urban centres in Ontario.
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