TNR Industrial Doors, which is part of Hörmann Group Canada, broke ground on its new $40-million manufacturing facility in Oro-Medonte on Friday.
While TNR Industrial Doors has operated on Fairview Road in Barrie for the past two decades, the company's new facility is being built at 15-25 Winstar Rd., in the township's industrial park near Highway 11.
Construction is set to be completed in January 2025, officials say.
Dirk Fell, the president of Hörmann Group's North American operations, says the company manufactures rubber high-performance doors.
"They are really heavy and durable doors," he said. "They are used for parking entrances and mining equipment facilities."
When Hörmann Group Canada acquired TNR Industrial Doors, they took over their facility in Barrie, which was a rented building alongside Highway 400.
"For us long-term, we like to own," Fell said. "We needed and wanted to invest in capacity."
While the new 112,000-square-foot Oro-Medonte facility isn't much larger than their current home, it will double the capacity that they currently have using equipment and automation.
Hörmann Group Canada received a $5-million loan from the provincial government to build the new facility, Fell said.
"It's a substantial amount and it really helps us ultimately with decision-making," he added. "We are committed to this area and to have help from the government is an important part."
Vic Fedeli, the province's minister of economic development, job creation and trade, applauded the local company.
“Ontario’s robust manufacturing sector continues to grow thanks to companies like TNR Industrial Doors,” Fedeli said in a media release.
“Through our regional development program, our government is creating the right conditions for manufacturers to expand and create new jobs for workers in communities across the province. Thank you, TNR Industrial Doors, for strengthening your presence in Ontario," Fedeli said.
TNR Industrial Doors currently employs 86 people in Barrie. Fell hopes all of them will be transferred over to the new location in Oro-Medonte, but says they will also create some new jobs.
In the next five years, Hörmann Group Canada says it plans to hire up to 30 more people across the country.
"Depending on how successful we are we have a bigger piece of land that we can add to this," Fell said. "We can double what we do here now, so there is more to come in the future."
Oro-Medonte Mayor Randy Greenlaw says having a business such as TNR Industrial Doors in the community is "huge."
"This is a global company deciding to make Oro-Medonte a part of its home," he said. "It's significant."
Greenlaw also says Oro-Medonte is the perfect place for a business like TNR Industrial Doors to call home.
"We are well situated between two urban neighbours who we work collaboratively with," he said. "We are a great place for a new industry to come to. We are going to be a hub for businesses throughout the Highway 400 corridor over the years."
