Ontario Construction News staff writer
FedDev Ontario is investing $3.9 million to support Kumi Canada Corporation in Bradford and York Metal Products in Concord with plans to grow.
Kumi Canada is a leading supplier of injection molding and assembly products for the automotive sector.
With $2 million in FedDev Ontario support, Kumi Canada will expand its Bradford facility by 60,000 square-feet, install advanced energy-efficient equipment, increase production capacity by 40 percent, and create 60 new jobs. The Industry 4.0 and Internet of Things-compatible equipment will allow Kumi Canada to automate and integrate its processes, reducing costs and energy consumption.
“Kumi Canada continually invests in our people, equipment and facilities to further develop our class leading injection molding and automation technology,” said Justin Moreau, president, Kumi Canada.
“Our team on the plant floor uses their knowledge and experience to harness existing and emerging technologies to maintain our competitive advantage. FedDev Ontario’s support further leverages these advantages and empowers Kumi Canada to continue to be a world-class supplier to the automotive industry.”
This investment will leverage an additional $15.7 million in private sector investment and strengthen automotive sector supply chain spending in southern Ontario.
York Metal Products is a leading metal fabricator that works with customers in a range of sectors to develop improved designs and processes that lower cost and improve performance. With $1.9 million in FedDev Ontario support, York Metal Products will purchase advanced automation and robotic equipment to scale up production of its proprietary one-piece metal exhaust emission parts for the automotive sector and create 32 skilled manufacturing jobs in Concord.
“The scale-up program is providing our company with the support needed to successfully grow our business through the acquisition and adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies. Many new jobs will be created through this initiative, while advancing Canada’s strategic initiatives to be a global leader in clean technology,” said David Myers, president, York Metal Products.
New parts will drastically reduce greenhouse gases and reduce or eliminate other exhaust emissions and are more cost effective than competing products. This investment will leverage an additional $10.8 million in private sector investment and will allow the company to meet growing demand from the North American auto industry.
“Today’s announcement represents a step forward for our automotive manufacturers by increasing production capabilities and creating skilled manufacturing jobs, while helping Canada to achieve its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050,” said Mélanie Joly, minister of economic development.
Advanced manufacturing accounts for half of the 45,000 skilled jobs created in Ontario since 2010.
Established in 1997, Kumi Canada is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kumi Kasei (Japan) and is part of the Kumi North American Group. In 2016, Kumi Canada was recognized as a top supplier to Honda for a fourth year in a row, receiving the Excellence in Delivery and Quality Award.
Incorporated in 2000, York Metal Products supports a number of applications in numerous sectors, outside the automotive sector, including the supply of positive seal proprietary air flow control valves that are used in hospitals, electricity transformer housings for the power industry and air supply components for the mining industry.
One hundred percent of the products manufactured by York Metal Products are targeted to reduce greenhouse gases and reduce or eliminate other exhaust emissions from reaching the environment.
