Five Ontario industrial firms get provincial funds for multimillion-dollar expansions

WINDSOR, Ont.—A handful of industrial firms at the southwest tip of Ontario in Essex County are sharing in more than $3 million in new funding from the province.

The five projects at Windsor, Ont.-area manufacturers are expected to create a combined 168 jobs and help the companies scale up.

The funding recipients:

• Jahn Engineering, a tool and die manufacturer for the auto industry is spending a total of $6.6 million to expand its plant in Oldcastle, Ont., bringing in equipment such as a new thermal forming oven and hydraulic press. The work is expected to double the site’s workforce, adding 80 new jobs, and reach completion by the beginning of 2021. Queen’s Park has committed $602,456 to the project.
• Reko International, a maker of automated assembly systems and tooling for a number of industries, is spending $15.4 million on a scale-up project that includes unspecified advanced equipment and technology. The project will get $1.5 million from the province and create 30 jobs in Windsor. The company aims to complete the expansion by 2021.
• Technicut Tool will receive $661,722 from the province to put toward a $4.4 million expansion. The aerospace and defence sector manufacturer expects the work to create 10 new jobs at its Windsor plant by January 2021.
• Metal fabricator Uni-Fab is also scaling up its operation by spending about $5.4 in company funds, plus $585,970 from the Ontario government. The company will buy new equipment over next two years and expects to create 33 jobs.
• Fellow fabricator Windsor Industrial Services is also embarking on a smaller-scale expansion at its Windsor plant. The company expects to spend nearly $1.9 million, including $185,700 from Ontario to increase its production capacity and branch out its offering to new industries. The company says the project will create 15 new positions and be complete by early 2022.