Ontario Supporting 400 Jobs in Chatham-Kent

Ministry of Economic Development and Growth

Province Partners with Local Businesses to Boost Local Economy

Chatham, ON – March 15, 2018

Ontario is partnering with local businesses to help create 70 jobs and retain more than 330 others in Chatham-Kent.

Steven Del Duca, Minister of Economic Development and Growth, made the announcement today at Dana Canada in Chatham on behalf of Jeff Leal, Minister Responsible for Small Business.

Dana Canada is a leading manufacturer and supplier of power technologies for the automotive industry. Their facility in Chatham produces heat shields — metal plates that prevent electrical components from being exposed to excessive heat. With support from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund, the company will 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.

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. With support from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund, the company will increase their capacity, capabilities and product offerings. The project includes integrating office and manufacturing space and housing new equipment, including Multi Axis CNC machines and 5 Axis Boring Mill.

Waltron Trailers is a manufacturer of transportation systems for the agriculture, energy, marine and infrastructure sectors. They specialize in the design and fabrication of truck bodies, flat deck trailers, highway trailers, construction/utility trailers, boat trailers and custom trailers. With support from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund, the company will expand their facility by 6,360 square feet to house new assembly lines and painting operations.

Rulmeca Canada is a leading manufacturer of rollers, idlers and pulleys for heavy-duty conveyors in quarries, mines, mills and bulk terminals. With support from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund, the company will expand their facility by more than 21,000 square feet, and invest in new equipment such asa robotic welding cell, an assembly press and a paint line system.

The Barry Callebaut Group is the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products. The company’s Chatham area facility manufactures a variety of cocoa-based products. With support from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund, Barry Callebaut’s Chatham factory will significantly expand its operations capacity.

Supporting business investments in southwest Ontario is part of Ontario’s plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change. The plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.