August 25, 2020 - Woodbridge, Ontario
Ontario is Canada's manufacturing powerhouse, generating nearly half of the country's production while supporting the livelihoods of thousands of Ontarians. As the economy evolves and recovers from the impact of COVID-19, many manufacturers in the region are embracing technology to take advantage of new opportunities, become more productive, stay competitive and maintain highly skilled workforces that support good, local jobs.
York Region is home to many of these world-leading manufacturers, most notably three longstanding companies in Aurora and Woodbridge. These manufacturers support good, local jobs and produce top-quality goods, while finding opportunities to grow and invest to become more resilient and expand at home and abroad.
Creating jobs for Ontarians
Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario, along with Francesco Sorbara, Member of Parliament for Vaughan-Woodbridge, announced an investment of $7.8 million from FedDev Ontario to help three local manufacturers grow and create jobs. This helps to create 116 skilled jobs and maintain 30 more. It will also leverage more than $28 million in additional investments in York Region, and increase regional supply chain spending.
Vision Profile Extrusions manufactures the world's third-most produced synthetic polymer and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for use in the installation of windows and doors, primarily for construction. The Woodbridge-based company is a member of the Vision Group, an industry leader in North America, with more than 970 employees in Canada. With a $2.3-million repayable contribution from FedDev Ontario, Vision Profile Extrusions will be able to adopt leading-edge processes, integrating first-in-Canada and first-in-industry capabilities in robotics and automation. This will allow the company to increase capacity of its PVC processing line, strengthening its position in key export markets including the United States and Latin America. Through this project, Vision Profile Extrusions expects to create 36 skilled jobs and maintain 30 jobs in Woodbridge.
Axiom Group is a leader in the plastic injection molding and mold-making industry, operating in Aurora for over 30 years. The company was an early adopter of leading-edge manufacturing and automation technologies to increase productivity. A $4.5-million repayable contribution from FedDev Ontario will allow the company to automate and digitize its processes to improve its Industry 4.0-enabled facilities. This will help Axiom increase its capacity to develop high-tech molding for leading automakers, as well as enhance and expand its development, design and quality control capabilities. Through this project, Axiom expects to create 60 skilled jobs in Aurora.
DuROCK is a manufacturer of high-quality products in Exterior Insulation Finish Systems (EIFS), specialty coatings for floors and walls and specialty interior and design finishes. The Woodbridge-area company has a patent pending non-combustible EIFS solution on the market: the PUCCS NC. With a $1-million repayable contribution from FedDev Ontario, DuROCK will establish a new manufacturing facility. This will allow the company to produce 2,000 PUCC-ROCK boards per day in order to meet the growing demand for this technology. As pandemic-related restrictions ease, DuROCK's increased capacity will allow the company to take advantage of new infrastructure and retrofitting projects, particularly those requiring energy-efficient and non-combustible solutions. Through this project, 20 skilled jobs will be created in Woodbridge.
Quotes
"These three projects build on our region's role as a pillar for manufacturing and innovation. As our economy recovers, it is reassuring to see local companies not only remaining productive, but expand opportunities for residents in York Region. These Canadian manufacturers have been in business a long time, and scaling up will not only strengthen our manufacturing cluster, but will create 116 quality jobs here in Vaughan and across York Region."
- Francesco Sorbara, Member of Parliament for Vaughan-Woodbridge
"Ontario's advanced manufacturers are world leaders, supporting thousands of jobs while producing the cutting-edge products the world wants and needs. This investment from FedDev Ontario will create 116 jobs in York Region, and help our manufacturers not just survive in the new economy, but thrive. Our message to them is clear: we've been here for you with immediate measures, we're here for your now as our economy reopens and we'll get through this, together. We're working with you to support good, local jobs and help Ontario's economy come back strong."
- The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
"We are delighted to be working with FedDev Ontario. With the assistance of this program, Vision Profile Extrusions will be able to more quickly realize the productivity, efficiency and technological advancement goals it needs to grow and create jobs in Vaughan. Vision Profile Extrusions is a leader in the extrusion industry and the FedDev Ontario support allows us to continue our innovation at an accelerated pace, a critical component in our growth and job creation strategy."
- Mark DiVito, Partner and General Manager, Vision Profile Extrusions Limited
"We appreciate FedDev Ontario's contribution for enabling a world-class smart manufacturing facility like Axiom's to compete, and to create real opportunities for a high-quality skilled workforce in southern Ontario."
- Majid Sharifi, Vice-President Finance, Axiom Group Inc.
"My sincerest thank you to the Government of Canada for recognizing and rewarding Canadian technology. DuROCK's growth and sustainability is largely due to research and development. None of our achievements would have been possible without the generous support, guidance and expertise of the Government of Canada (NRC, CCMC, IRAP) and the extraordinary work of FedDev Ontario. Much appreciated!"
- Gary Campacci, President, DuROCK Alfacing International Ltd.
Quick facts
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More than one in 10 of Ontario's jobs are in the manufacturing sector, recognized as Canada's manufacturing heartland.
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Advanced manufacturing has contributed to a large share of job creation, accounting for half of the approximately 45,000 factory jobs created in Ontario since 2010.
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Established in 2016, Vision Profile Extrusions is a member of the Vision Group of Companies. The Vision Group leverages collaboration with post-secondary institutions, like the University of Toronto's Mechanical Engineering Department to support its efforts to apply new technologies to its production processes.
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Established in 1987, Axiom and its divisions are recognized industry wide for their accomplishments, having received the "Supplier of the Year" award from numerous automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
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Established in 1979, DuROCK is a third generation family-owned business and the first company to revolutionize the Exterior Insulated Finish System (EIFS) industry by developing PUCCS, a superior EIFS that became a prototype for others to follow, and one that has since been incorporated into the Ontario Building Code. In addition to its Canadian presence, DuROCK currently has projects underway in the Caribbean, United States, Qatar, and China.
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Since November 2015, FedDev Ontario has invested almost $285 million in 75 manufacturing projects across southern Ontario.
