Mold industry experts predict growth

 

By Richard Riosa

Local tool and mold industry experts are predicting a bright future for Windsor’s manufacturing economy.

The Canadian Association of Mold Makers held its annual general meeting at the Giovanni Caboto Club Nov. 6. The event was a chance for industry leaders and local companies to come together and look toward the future of the industry. WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation CEO Sandra Pupatello gave the keynote speech on the role manufacturing has to play in stabilizing the local economy.

Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara said Windsor and Essex County is the mold making capitol of Canada and there are more than 260 shops in the Oldcastle and Tecumseh area. McNamara said the mold industry is critically important to the overall economy of the region.

“They (mold shops) play a major factor not only in paying their share of taxes, but it’s the thousands of people who work there that live in our communities who benefit from it (the mold industry),” said McNamara.

According to McNamara 20 per cent of Tecumseh’s taxes come from the industrial sector and a large portion of the other 80 per cent comes from citizens who work in the industrial sector.

McNamara said the mold industry’s dependence on the automotive industry made 2008 and 2009 tough years for the region economically.

Tim Galbraith, sales manager at Cavalier Tool & Manufacturing Ltd., said he saw many shops around Windsor close during the recession. Galbraith said wages decreased, benefits decreased and there were many layoffs.

However, since 2010, according to McNamara, the mold industry has become more diverse and is experiencing a renaissance.

CAMM chairman David Palmer said the local mold industry is growing and must learn from the recession when planning for the future.

“We’ve had a lot of great competitiveness when there was a good exchange rate (before the recession),” said Palmer. “We certainly were the region of choice, now we have to be more cognizant of our costs, our efficiency and our technology so we can stay competitive and maintain that market share that we’ve earned over the years.”

Palmer said he’s confident the industry will learn from past mistakes and Windsor will remain Canada’s mold-making hotbed.

Pupatello said logistics and infrastructure have improved in the local mold industry since the recession. She said the industry will have to look to new markets for future growth.

“Especially when things are going well, let’s not do what we’ve done historically,” said Pupatello. “Take at least 10 or 15 per cent of your time and dedicate it to new customers, new markets. We really have to get smart and not make the same mistakes over again.”