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STUFF Made and Built in Eastern Ontario is published by Great River Media. This publication contains information considered accurate at the time of printing. However, the publisher is not responsible for any errors or omissions that may occur. Reproduction in any form is prohibited without the written permission of the publisher.
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Opportunity in motion
In times of rapid change, the smartest moves start by looking close to home.
We’re in the midst of a structural shift in society, technology, and business. The ground is moving beneath us, but with change comes exciting new options for those willing to see them.
In Eastern Ontario, in the manufacturing and construction sectors forces are reshaping these industries and creating opportunities for those ready to act.
In this issue, our goal is to give you fresh information and insights to help you understand where the possibilities lie.
If you’re a business operator sourcing manufactured goods, stay local. Our makers and suppliers are producing world-class products — often faster, smarter and with a handshake you can trust. To help you in your search, we’ve compiled a ‘B2B Buyers' Guide’ on pages 8 to 28 featuring local manufacturers across eight key sectors, most within a two-hour radius.
If you’re a student or job seeker, take a closer look at what’s happening around you. Behind factory doors, maker studios and tech shops offer careers you may not have considered. Our “What You Can Make” section on pages 34 to 41 profiles local data on the careers in demand and the associated earning potential.
- the STUFF team stuffmadeandbuilt.ca
Terry Tyo, 613-601-9734 or terry@greatriver.ca
And if you’re a manufacturer, turbulent times can open doors you didn’t expect. Move-in-ready warehouses, training and
marketing support, new site-selection technologies and tax advantages are creating real opportunities. Throughout this issue, you’ll find practical information on programs and resources that can help you seize them.
Whether you’re building, buying, hiring, working or investing, changing times reward those willing to make the next bold move. We hope this issue helps you find yours.
B2B BUYERS’ GUIDE
Your go-to resource for sourcing high-quality, locally made products across eight key sectors.
In a region known for innovation, craftsmanship, and collaboration, Eastern Ontario’s manufacturing sector drives economic growth and opportunity - from small, local businesses crafting unique and high-quality consumer products, to advanced manufacturers making cutting-edge hardware for use around the world and even beyond it!
Manufacturers in the region employ over 46,000 people, generating an estimated $5.3 billion in economic impact. They can be found in a wide array of industries: from healthcare to food and beverage, from automotive to industrial, and from high tech to defense. You may not realize how many ways you intersect with their products, which do everything from saving lives or helping you to live better, elevating your stadium experience or giving hockey players better puck control, putting breakfast on your plate or helping you unwind at the end of a long day.
This Buyers' Guide is designed to connect businesses across the region’s thriving industrial ecosystem. Partnering with local suppliers means investing in the resilience and sustainability of our regional economy. Use this guide to discover new suppliers, build up existing relationships, and gain insight into the depth and diversity of Eastern Ontario’s manufacturing landscape.
Auto and Industrial
Eastern Ontario's economy is chugging right along with the help of manufacturers who help keep the trains running, our firefighters fighting, and the air flowing in major commercial buildings, among other things. • by phil gaudreau
Battleshield Industries
Limited
Founded in 2012
50 employees
Based in Vars
Key executive: Luc Thibault, Founder
If you wanted to build a better firetruck, who better to ask than a firefighter?
In 2012, Battleshield founder Luc Thibault decided he wanted to put his expertise to use ensuring his coworkers and future firefighters had better equipment to use.
Each job is tailored to the client, with Battleshield offering pumpers, tankers, rescue trucks, specialized vehicles, and other emergency response platforms to clients across Eastern Ontario. They also offer parts and servicing as well as annual testing for pump trucks.
Acier Duval Steel
Founded in 1990
Approximately 20 employees
Based in Plantagenet
Key executives: Nathalie and Jacques Duval, Founders
Acier Duval Steel is a family business with a 35-year legacy of manufacturing and custom fabricating solutions for business and people in the Plantagenet area.
One of their most requested products is their propane tank cabinet, which is made of steel and can hold anywhere from two to sixteen tanks. They also make tank racks for construction sites, capable of holding up to 420 litres of propane.
Outside of storage solutions, they also create custom art installations using their waterjet cutting tool, and offer other steel and aluminum products.
BASF Plasticisers
Founded in 1865
1,200 Canadian employees
Manufacturing in Cornwall
Key executive: Diana Rourke, Site Manager
Plastic can be notoriously brittle and hard to repair. If you’re buying something made of plastic or a similar material, you’ll want some assurance it will last.
At BASF’s Cornwall operation, they manufacture monomeric and polymeric plasticizers – when combined with a common plastic like polyvinyl chloride, it helps manufacturers across North America to produce items like swimming pool liners, automobile interiors, wire insulation, and packaging materials. The plasticizer helps these finished goods be more flexible, ensuring they don’t break if they encounter a bit of jostling or maneuvering as they’re being installed.
BASF is the world’s largest chemical company, boasting nearly 112,000 employees and producing products in fifteen sectors.
Hovey Industries
Founded in 1979
Over 20 employees
Based in Ottawa
Key executive: Byrne Bramwell, Chairman
At Hovey, they’ve been working on the railroad all the livelong day.
For over 25 years Hovey has been manufacturing signal bungalows, instrument cases, piers, and foundations to mount signal equipment –not the kinds of devices your average rail passenger might need or use, but critical to the function of the railway. These installations help protect the signal equipment that controls the line’s signal and switch movements.
Hovey also offers prototyping, manufacturing, metalworks, and powder coating services to a variety of clients in the greater Ottawa area. Just this past winter, they manufactured ramps, signs, and markers used on the Rideau Canal Skateway.
INVISTA
Founded in 2004
10,000 employees
Manufacturing in Kingston
Key executive: Christopher Casucci, R&D Director
The INVISTA manufacturing plant in Kingston was initially established in 1942 by DuPont to produce nylon fibres for the war effort, where they were used for things like parachutes, ropes, and flak jackets.
Today, the plant continues to make nylon which is still used for life saving applications such as airbags. The fibres are also used in electronic connectors, as well as in commercial and residential surfaces applications.
INVISTA is also known for
BASF PLASTICISERS
nylon products such as its ANTRON brand of nylon fibre, its STAINMASTER carpet, and high durability CORDURA® fabric.
Mobile Kitchens Canada
Founded in 2003
Six employees
Based in Inverary
Key executive: David Craig, Founder
Let’s say your kitchen is going to be out of commission while your eatery is being renovated. Or maybe you want to open a food truck or offer mobile catering services. How would you get started?
Your first call could be to Mobile Kitchens Canada. The company says they’re the only Canadian provider of a full range of mobile food services, from rentals right up to manufacturing a custom mobile kitchen for your business.
They’ve worked with major brands to offer pop-up and mobile kitchen operations as part of marketing or new product launches, but their work is particularly important during disasters or in remote locations.
CanArm Ltd.
Founded in 1980
236 employees
Manufacturing in Brockville
Key executive: David E. Beatty, Owner
You can breathe a little easier knowing CanArm is based in Eastern Ontario.
The company manufactures a line of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment for both commercial and industrial uses including fans and specialized equipment for greenhouses.
In more recent years, the company has also expanded
into residential work with its harmonized home line of lights, furniture, mirrors, bathroom fixtures, and –you guessed it – ceiling and bathroom fans.
Their greenhouse products also swung the barn door wide open to opportunities in the agricultural world, as they now manufacture all the pieces you might need to kit out or renovate a barn for animals.
Mate Gauge
Founded in 2006
8 employees
Based in Ottawa
Key executive: Steve Mate, CEO
Mate Gauge is laser focused on one thing: making the world’s flat products flatter.
Why does that matter? Well, let’s say you’re manufacturing something. You’ve got dust and debris in the air, and a somewhat heavy machine that might be moving around a bit. You want to make sure your product is the correct, consistent shape and size when it exits your manufacturing process.
Mate Gauge develops complete thickness measurement systems that include sensors, software, apps, reporting tools and support to increase throughput and decrease waste.
Veritas Tools
Founded in 1985
12 employees
Based in Ottawa
Key executive: Robin Lee, CEO
Veritas Tools is a sister company to Lee Valley Tools.
Under the Veritas name, the company specifically focuses on woodworking tools, and has become a leading developer of products for discerning woodworkers. Veritas is also the manufacturing arm for products sold under the Lee Valley name.
Beyond just making tools, Veritas also invents them. The company is credited with over 100 patents for innovative features in its tool range.
Their tools are available in full or miniature size for those looking to create more detailed wood creations.
Beverage
The beverage manufacturing sector in Eastern Ontario enjoys numerous advantages including abundant access to locally-grown, high quality raw materials, a strategic location close to major markets and a supportive network of producers across the region. The diverse range of businesses and products now available shows there is no shortage of innovation and success stories in this growing industry. • by
paula roy
BEER
Braumeister Brewing Company
Carleton Place and Ottawa
Founded: 2018
Key executives: Rohit Gupta, Ravi Gupta (co-owners)
This Bavarian-inspired craft brewery first brought an authentic taste of Europe’s beer culture to Carleton Place; they now have a second location – their Bierhalle – in Ottawa’s Hintonburg neighbourhood. Year-round offerings like Route 21 (a Märzen) and Biergarten Blonde (a Helles-style lager) are complemented by seasonal brews. Enjoy them on tap inhouse or take home in cans. Fun fact: Route 21 is named for the bus founder Rohit Gupta
rode each day when teaching in Salzburg, Austria.
Whitewater Brewing Co.
Cobden
Founded: 2013
Key executive: Christopher Thompson (president and cofounder)
Inspired by the mighty Ottawa River, Whitewater offers sustainable beer made with local ingredients; they’ve since branched out to distilling as well. Popular products include Farmer’s Daughter Blonde Ale, Blood Moon Sour, and Paper Boat Gin. Look for these items and more at the brewery in Cobden and seasonal brewpub in Forester Falls as well as the Beer Store, LCBO
and other retail outlets. Fun fact: Whitewater was Canada’s first brewery to be certified as climate neutral, in 2021.
Beyond The Pale Brewing
Ottawa
Founded: 2012
Key executives: Shane Clark and Rob McIsaac (co-founders)
BTP now operates two locations (at their City Centre brewery and in the ByWard Market). Popular products include Pink Fuzz, Rye Guy, Aromatherapy and The Darkness plus many more including seasonals. They also make hard sodas and cider under the Side Hustle label. Their beer is available at the taprooms as well as the LCBO and other retail outlets.
Fun fact: In 2012, Beyond the Pale was just the third craft brewery in Ottawa; there are almost 50 now.
KIN’s property along the Carp Ridge offers a superb terroir and microclimate that contributes greatly to the success of their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. Other products, made with grapes sourced in Ontario, include Gewurtztraminer, Gamay, Vidal Blanc and more. Find them at KIN’s seasonal patio at the winery or at Twin Muses, their wine bar and tasting room. Fun fact: KIN is the most northerly VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) vineyard and winery in Ontario.
Karlo Estates
Wellington, Prince Edward County
Date founded: 2006
Key executive: Sherry Karlo (owner, vintner)
Using traditional methods and an artisanal approach for
BEYOND THE PALE
BRAUMEISTER BIERHALLE
natural wine making, Karlo Estates produces a broad range of wines structured to suit many tastes and price points including a white port which was crowned best in the world at an international competition, beating out entries from Portugal and elsewhere. Their wines sell out every year and are only available through the winery. Fun fact: Karlo Estates created the world’s first vegan-certified wine.
Domaine Perrault Winery
Navan
Founded: 1999
Key executives: Denis and Lyne Perrault (co-owners)
Domaine Perrault produces fifteen wines, including rosés, whites, medium to robust reds and well-balanced dessert (fortified) wines. The winery produces 20,000 bottles each year from grapes planted on just over 5 acres of land. Fun
CIDER AND SPIRITS
Dairy Distillery
Almonte
Founded: 2018
Key executive: Omid McDonald (CEO)
Dairy Distillery makes vodka and cream liquors from milk permeate, a byproduct liquid left over after cream, fat and proteins are removed from whole milk. The company’s flagship product, Vodkow, became an instant bestseller. Purchase beverages at the distillery (Canada-wide shipping is available), LCBO or Costco. Fun fact: their expanded lineup now includes cream liquors in flavours such as dark roast coffee, vanilla, chocolate orange, maple, eggnog and more.
LCBOs. The rotating lineup features clever names such as Rosy Cheeks, Saw Tooth, Candy Apple and Pie Faced. Fun fact: the cider house is named for the Saunders’ friendly border collie pup.
Dunrobin Distilleries
Dunrobin
Founded: 2017
Key executives: Mark Watson (brewfather) and Adrian Spitzer (president)
facts: The Perraults are among the founders and mentors of the area’s wine industry and theirs is one of the few original wineries still operating.
Stone Crop Acres Winery And Vineyard
Morrisburg
Founded: 2017
Key executives: Norene HyattGervais and Marc Gervais (co-owners)
Stone Crop’s 5-acre vineyard of cold-climate grapes is used to produce a variety of wines. Harmony Rosé made from Marquette grapes is the flagship wine; just some of their others include Frontenac Gris Pinot Grigio, Frigio Riesling and Frontenac Noir Cabernet Franc. House-made hard ciders are also available. At this dog and family friendly spot, a patio kitchen serves wood-fired pizza and other comfort foods. Fun fact: the winery hosts live musical performances throughout the year.
Saunders Cider Co.
Munster
Founded: 2021
Key executives: Mark Saunders and Angela Grant Saunders (co-owners)
Adding the former Flying Canoe hard cider business to their portfolio has proven a great fit for Saunders Farm. Estate ciders made with homegrown apples are served at their MacIntosh’s Cider House and available at the farm shop plus select Ottawa and area restaurants and
Using spring-fed water plus locally grown ingredients including botanicals, Dunrobin Distilleries creates award-winning premium artisanal spirits, bitters and canned cocktails. Their products – available at the distillery and select LCBO locations - include Single Malt and Canadian whiskies finished on several different woods, gin, Irish whiskey, golden rum, vodka and more. Fun fact: their Earl Grey Gin has a delicious flavour and delicate purple hue thanks to the inclusion of bergamot flowers in its creation.
Top Shelf Distillers
Perth
Founded: 2014
Key executive: John Criswick (CEO)
Vodka and gin may have been their first products, but Top Shelf quickly expanded into aged whisky, Reunion Moonshine, bitters and a selection of flavoured dessert and cream liquors. The company also runs whisky distilling workshops and a four-month bootcamp for students in STEM programs. Shop at the distillery or at select LCBOs. Fun fact: two of their most unique (and tasty) products are Butter Tart Liquor and Dill Pickle Moonshine.
STONE CROP ACREES WINERY
SAUNDERS CIDER
Ontario Made is a free program that helps manufacturers increase brand awareness, build trust, and connect with new customers who value supporting local businesses.
Haico’s family of hot sauces
Ontario Made logo on packaging of Birds of Canada by TheOccurrence jigsaw puzzle company
Powered by passion, backed by Ontario Made: Turning bold ideas into entrepreneurial success
How two local startup companies transformed their vision into successful manufacturing
and retail ventures
Back in the winter of 2018, a brutal cold snap dropped temperatures in Merrickville to -46°C. Michael J. Bainbridge and Brigitte Gall looked outside and told their holiday visitors to not even think about driving home. They then watched those same friends circle their kitchen table for hours, working on a jigsaw puzzle.
Then an idea struck: Why not start a puzzle company? So the co-founders of TheOccurrence jigsaw puzzle company did just that.
Ottawa’s Haico’s Hot Sauce started with a similar creative spark, this time fuelled by heat. Growing up in the Netherlands in a multicultural neighbourhood, founder Haico Krijgsman developed a taste for exotic spices early on. But after moving to Canada he says he couldn’t find anything matching the flavour or the heat he grew up with.
So, in true DIY fashion, he started growing his own peppers and making his own hot sauces.
From puzzles to peppers – and beyond – local manufacturers like Haico’s Hot Sauce and TheOccurrence are turning homegrown creativity into nationally recognized brands.
When craftsmanship meets community and economic support Entrepreneurs supply the spark, but sparks need fuel. That’s where Ontario Made comes in. Created five years ago by Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters
(CME) to support manufacturers across the province, the free program offers branding, marketing, and networking tools to help companies get noticed.
“The Ontario Made program was created to help manufacturers grow and thrive,” says Dennis Darby, president & CEO of CME, a non-profit business association. “It streamlines supply chains and keeps jobs here in Ontario.”
Because TheOccurrence and Haico’s Hot Sauce are active members of the Ontario Made program, they have access to resources that amplify their visibility and connect them with customers who value products made close to home.
Manufacturers can list their products on Ontario Made’s searchable website, where consumers and businesses source thousands of locally produced products. Membership also provides access to a marketing toolkit that includes the Ontario Made logo, which can be reproduced on products, packaging, and marketing materials.
A toolkit for business growth, courtesy of Ontario Made
“When the pandemic hit, our retail operation and trade shows shut down overnight. That’s when we became a member of Ontario Made,” says Krijgsman. “They really saved us during the pandemic: All our hot sauces were added to their website, and it really helped our website traffic. They also connected us with other manufacturers
who share the same values.
“We have the Ontario Made logo on all our packaging,” adds Haico. “It tells buyers that this is an authentic made-inOntario product.”
TheOccurrence’s Gall says her company also utilizes the Ontario Made logo on its puzzle packaging. “When people see it, they know they’re supporting jobs and craftsmanship right here in their community.
“We’ve also taken advantage of their social media clout,” she adds. “Social media is so critical to growth, especially to access the younger set. We take part in social media contests, which has allowed us to reach a wider audience and grow our customer base.”
Getting started with Ontario Made
In addition to visibility and marketing tools, Ontario manufacturers can access free training programs through Ontario Made, including courses on lean manufacturing, leadership, and health and safety.
Whether you’re a manufacturer looking to expand your supply chain or a business operator seeking local products, you can visit Ontario Made and browse its searchable product directory. To become a member, simply fill out the online application
Want to stay connected? Sign up for the monthly Ontario Made e-newsletter.
Construction and Building
Whether it’s custom cabinetry, prefabricated steel and concrete, or even world-class permeable pavement, we make a lot of stuff right here in Eastern Ontario. • by david greenwood
Kabinets by Design
Founded in 2020 6 employees
Winchester ON
Key Executive: Garret Lihou, Owner and General Manager/ President
If your home or business is a little too cluttered for your liking, custom cabinetry from Kabinets by Design may be what you need to optimize your space.
From their manufacturing facility in Winchester, Ontario, the company handles every step of the process from consultation to manufacturing and installation. If a space can accommodate melamine cubes, Kabinets by Design can design and manufacture the perfect cabinets for it.
Manufacturing locally means quick turnaround times. They work closely with all clients, something that Garret Lihou, the company
president, emphasizes as their greatest strength. Their customer-focused style means that throughout every step, from initial consult through to final installation, you're kept in the know.
InnovaTools Inc.
Founded in 2015
~10 employees
Vars, Ontario
Key Executive: Alexandre Cloutier, President
The success of InnovaTools’ modular aluminum bending brakes and accessories comes from the experience and ingenuity of Alexandre Cloutier.
From his teenage years customizing cars to his time as a contractor, Cloutier has always been finding ways to be more efficient with any tool or material. When the tools for his aluminum brake weren’t
adequate to get his jobs done efficiently, he decided to invent his own.
Today, Cloutier and his small team manufactures and sells a complete product line of aluminum brakes and accessories from his manufacturing facility in Vars, Ontario. Developed specifically for contractors in mind, Cloutier’s brakes are built strong to handle any aluminum project and can vastly improve workflow at the job site.
MCON Products Inc.
Founded 1988 | Central Precast Products Ltd. (predecessor company) founded 1956 ~100 employees Ottawa, ON
Key Executive: John Mion, President and CEO
MCON Products' roots can be traced back to a little garage on Preston Street, where company
Since 1988, subsidiary MCON Products has been the top family-owned manufacturer of precast concrete products in Eastern Ontario, thanks to its emphasis on quality construction and customer service. They manufacture a large variety of infrastructure products, including concrete pipes, box culverts, and catch basins.
MCON is also a manufacturer of Stone Strong Systems, one of the industry’s leading precast interlock block systems.
Ideal Roofing
Founded in 1929
~300 employees (Ottawa)
Ottawa ON
Key Executive: Claude Laplante, CEO
founders Luigi Mion and Dino Venier manufactured under the name Central Precast Products.
KABINETS BY DESIGN
INNOVATOOLS
In eastern Ontario, we’re no strangers to extreme temperatures. Biting winters and humid summers can put a lot of stress on anything that needs to withstand the elements. Luckily, Ideal Roofing’s steel solutions are built to last.
For over 90 years, Ideal Roofing has been a top Canadian manufacturer of steel roofing and siding products. From residential to industrial, Ideal Roofing can meet the needs of any project. Fancy a metal roof to replace decaying shingles? Ideal Roofing’s popular Wakefield Bridge panels offer a stylish look combined with durability. Ideal Roofing isn’t just about roofing though. They also offer siding panels in countless styles and manufacturing services for roll steel.
SnapCab
Founded in 1995
~90 employees
Privacy pods manufactured in Kingston ON
Key Executive: Glenn Bostock, CEO
Everyone needs a little space sometimes. At SnapCab, little
spaces are something of a specialty.
Originally an elevator interior manufacturer, SnapCab expanded its product line in 2017 with the introduction of custom privacy pods. Each pod is customized to fit any aesthetic or application. SnapCab’s phone booth configuration is perfect for when you need privacy to take a quick call, while their meeting pods are the ideal solution for small gatherings that need a quiet space. SnapCab manufactures its privacy pods in Kingston Ontario. Working closely with clients, SnapCab delivers quick turnaround times and privacy solutions tailored to your vision.
Valley Roof Truss Ltd.
Founded 1988
~6 employees
Braeside, Ontario
Key Executive: Mike Battiston, President
If you’re in the market for prefabricated structural components, Valley Roof Truss has you covered. Family-owned since 1988, company president Mike Battiston and his team
have been manufacturing structural lumber products for over 25 years.
Valley Roof Truss offers wood roof trusses of all shapes and sizes, manufactured to your specifications. Their most popular products are their 'Triforce' open web floor joists. Valley Roof Truss also offers structural beams and connecting hardware, making them a one-stop shop for contractors and DIY-ers looking to get started on any framing project.
MetaLigna
Founded 2021
79 employees
Arnprior, ON
Key Executive: Domenic Idone, CEO
If you need prefabricated steel products, MetaLigna can take you all the way from design to manufacturing.
MetaLigna designs for all applications, including residential, commercial, and multi-use structures. Once a client’s design has been finalized, a digital plan is sent directly to their light-gauge steel manufacturing facility for production. Their prefabricated components are durable, easy to assemble, and made using
100% Canadian steel.
MetaLigna also provides CNC design and manufacturing for a variety of products. They can manufacture decorative trim or moulding, accent panels, or even a custom sign for your business.
Verdun Windows and Doors
Founded in 1982
100 employees
Vars, ON
Key Executive: Philippe Bechard
For over 40 years, Verdun Windows and Doors has been one of Ottawa’s top window manufacturers and installers. Verdun offers many window styles, all manufactured in their Ottawa plant. From casement windows to hung windows and even custom orders, Verdun windows are manufactured on one solid frame for durability and resilience. Verdun’s steel doors are built just as tough, and are made to order in several styles and colors.
Verdun is a leader in energy efficiency across their product catalogue. Their doors and windows are Energy Star highefficiency certified, so you can rest easy without worrying about expensive heating bills.
Defence and Security
Hundreds of companies stand on guard for Canada, creating products that help our soldiers stay safe and perform to the best of their abilities. Let's meet a few in our region. • by phil gaudreau
AirShare
Founded in 2002
20 employees
Manufacturing in Ottawa
Key executive: Rick Whittaker, Founder
While you might be annoyed by a drone buzzing overhead in your neighbourhood, on the battlefield a drone is a much more serious threat. Removing them from the field, and doing so efficiently, can be a bit trickier.
In Ottawa, AirShare manufactures 3D-printed, lowcost, non-lethal counter-drone missiles that use machinevision technology and artificial intelligence to detect, track, and safely neutralize rogue or malicious drones by deploying a cloud to entangle their rotors. The technology can differentiate drones from other flying objects, and the company continues to improve it for use on private property as well.
AirShare is focused on providing a cost-effective solution to a growing military threat, reducing production time and logistics through 3D printing.
Calian Group Ltd.
Founded in 1982
1,225 employees
Based in Ottawa
Key executive: Larry O’Brien, Founder
You may know Calian as a staffing agency covering a wide array of sectors such as engineering and IT. But did you know they’re a manufacturer too?
Among the devices manufactured by Calian in Ottawa are vehicle electronics, also called vetronics, for defense applications. The company says its cables and cable harnesses are used on combat platforms all around the world – on land, in the water, and in both air and space.
They also specialize in the design and production of high-precision carbon epoxy antenna structures for satellite and positioning applications. Whether you want to see something in low earth orbit or deep space, their custom antennas are used by everyone from NASA to electric vehicle manufacturers.
Leonardo DRS
Founded in 1969
350 employees in Ottawa Manufacturing in Kanata Key executive: Mark Allan, Senior Director of Quality & Operational Excellence
Canada’s Halifax-class frigates carry two gas turbines and a diesel engine, generating tens of thousands of shaft horsepower to move the vessel. But integrating these different fuel sources, and deploying energy across the ship and not just to the engines, requires specialized
hardware working behind the scenes.
In its Kanata manufacturing facility, Leonardo DRS manufactures advanced power conversion equipment for naval ships which helps to create a stable, unified power grid across the ship. And if that isn't cool enough, Leonardo DRS also manufactures a system called SHINCOM, which stands for Shipboard Integrated Communications. It helps naval crews control and manage every aspect of internal and external communications.
D-TA Systems
Founded in 2007
35 employees
Based in Ottawa
Key executive: Angsuman Rudra, CEO
With D-TA on your side, you’ll see any threat coming. They manufacture a range of devices that help defense clients to monitor, assess, and respond to threats whether electronic or physical.
Their Multi-Function Electronic Intelligence family of products are designed to be deployed in any platform for fast situational awareness, threat detection, bearing estimation, classification, identification, and high-fidelity recording of threat signals. They also manufacture devices to help with training, such as their THREAT2
CALIAN GROUP
system which both supports deployed aircraft with a dense signal to ensure data transmission, and is also billed as a portable, affordable electronic warfare threat trainer for F-35 pilots.
Collins Aerospace
Founded in 2018
80,000 employees
Manufacturing in Ottawa
Key executive: Frank Karakas, Vice President and General Manager
Collins Aerospace is one the world's largest suppliers of aerospace and defense products, as part of the RTX Corporation which includes defense giant Raytheon. Collins manufactures a range of equipment for both military and civilian aircraft use, from avionics equipment to landing gears, and from safety equipment to creature comforts for passengers.
In Ottawa, Collins Aerospace specializes in the design, development, and servicing of wireless, ad-hoc networking technologies for tactical defense applications, serving customers like the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Navy. Whatever the application, Collins says they equip all rotorcraft from all major manufacturers to help their clients save more lives, complete more missions, and get more done.
CCX Technologies
Founded in: 2017
26 employees
Based in Ottawa
Key executive: Chris Bartlett, President
Did you know it takes 17 person- hours of maintenance per hour of flight time for a CF-16? And that’s if everything goes well!
CCX Technologies makes a tool that helps with some of that maintenance work. Their T-RX Avionics Radio and Pulse Tester is a versatile, handheld technology that consolidates over 100 avionics tests across 17 systems into a single portable device.
The tester is one device they manufacture in Ottawa, alongside secure networking and multi-format data collection appliances, and networking solutions like routers and antennas for use on air, land, and sea-based platforms to ensure reliable connectivity.
CAMCOR Industries
Founded in 1992
60+ employees
Based in Ottawa
Key executives: Roberto and Orlando Campagna, Founders
Looking to go to space? Want to buzz around at top speeds in a fighter jet? How about detecting earthquakes half a world away?
Camcor Industries manufactures specialized, hightolerance components that have been used in a wide variety of applications, from aerospace to defense, medical, oil and gas, and scientific industries to name a few. You’ll find their handiwork in places like the James Webb Space Telescope, the F-35, and many more – with plenty of applications they can’t talk about.
From their modern machining shop on Carp Road, the team tackles all sorts of interesting projects, from temperature control components for satellite electronics to sensor assemblies.
Magellan Aerospace
Founded in 1996
3,000 employees
Manufacturing in Renfrew Key executive: Drew Timbers, Operations Manager
A modern Boeing 747 has over six million parts and pieces. That means it takes quite a few manufacturers and a lot of work for your average Boeing to get going.
Manufacturers like Magellan Aerospace are an important partner in that supply chain. From their Haley Station-area facility, they manufacture casings from magnesium and aluminum which are then used as lightweight structural components. They also work on more complex parts like
housings, brackets, and engine components for commercial airliners like the 747 or Airbus A380.
Company wide, Magellan is also involved in the F-35 program, manufacturing components such as the horizontal tail assemblies at its other Canadian plants.
Tulmar Safety Systems
Founded in 1992
72 employees
Based in Hawkesbury Key executive: Patrick Tallon, President and Chief Executive Officer
In an emergency, your life may depend on a life vest, a raft, or a shelter. But they aren’t all made equally. And if you’re in a combat zone, you need protection you can depend on.
Tulmar Safety Systems manufactures the Galeo tactical life preserver which is customized for military use. It has a low profile to ensure the wearer won't be impeded while moving. The vest has been tested in a variety of climates and will even work at -20°C. Importantly, the life preserver is easy to quickly put on and to repack, even under challenging circumstances.
Tulmar also manufactures solutions for civil safety and commercial aviation, such as breathing equipment and training evacuation slides.
booming logistics and manufacturing hub demonstrates that geographic location is critical to achieving efficiency and cost savings
Cornwall’s evolution as a logistics hub is fueling a new wave of manufacturing investment, creating a powerful synergy between the two sectors. The city’s strategic position along Highway 401 has become a key competitive advantage, proving that growth in one sector directly benefits the other.
Logistics success fuels manufacturing growth
Michelin is the latest global player to invest in Cornwall, adding to the city’s reputation as a North American supply chain hub. In 2024 the multinational moved into a new 984,000-square-foot distribution centre, joining Walmart, Loblaw, and Shoppers Drug Mart, which also operate large-scale facilities in Cornwall.
By locating midway between Ontario, Quebec and the U.S., these companies benefit from reduced transportation costs and faster delivery times.
The strength of Cornwall’s logistics sector has directly supported the expansion of local manufacturing. Fieldless Farms, an agricultural technology company and indoor produce grower with operations in Ottawa and Cornwall, launched in 2019 to improve food sovereignty and reduce reliance on foreign imports.
“We grow all our produce indoors,
which allows us to create an ideal climate year round — which is pretty handy for our Canadian weather,” says CEO Jon Lomow.
In 2022, Fieldless secured $17.5 million in equity and debt financing to scale its Cornwall facility by ten times.
Several years ago, Biscuits Leclerc, a family-owned company with roots in Quebec expanded into a 160,000-squarefoot building in the Cornwall Business Park. In 2025, Leclerc invested yet again in its Cornwall facility, adding capacity to make cookies and its newest product, GoPure Energy Ball in a Bar.
“Cornwall offers a strategic location within North America, and this new facility will allow us to continue to grow our operations,” says Denis Leclerc, president of Leclerc Group.
Both companies join Olymel, a state-ofthe-art processing plant also situated in Cornwall. Olymel specializes in fresh and pre-cooked bacon products, serving both
Canadian and U.S. markets. The plant employs over 600 people in Cornwall and recently celebrated 25 years of operation.
Advanced manufacturing and resilient industrial and automotive sectors Cornwall has long been home to companies that employ advanced manufacturing techniques to compete globally. Contract electronic manufacturers Timila and Kontron are recognized as leaders in rapid prototyping, assembly, and engineering services, serving clients in the telecommunications, aerospace, defense and medical sectors.
Nautel C-Tech produces sonar technology employed on Royal Canadian Navy frigates, while NuMed Canada helps to save lives with innovative heart catheters.
Cornwall is also home to several industry-leading manufacturers supplying essential products as part of global supply chains:
• Laframboise Group delivers engineering, procurement, and construction services for the petrochemical, mining, and food and beverage industries.
• Laminacorr Industries produces corrugated plastic products used in reusable packaging for automotive, agriculture, and seafood, as well as signage and displays.
• Morbern is a family-owned manufacturer of vinyl upholstery fabrics for the healthcare, hospitality, automotive, marine, and transportation markets with four offices around the world.
• Hood Packaging supplies industrial and consumer packaging for agriculture, building materials, chemicals, food, and more.
• Axalta Coating Systems manufactures liquid and powder coatings at its Cornwall facility, including finishes for kitchen cabinets and other industrial uses.
• IPG produces a wide range of pressure-sensitive tapes for industrial, construction, and retail applications sold under the Cantech and Tuck brands.
An opportunity for your manufacturing operation?
For local and community leaders, Cornwall’s recent momentum reflects a long-term transformation that began with diversity and is continuing with innovation.
“Businesses both large and small are discovering Cornwall and seeing its potential,” says Bob Peters, manager of Cornwall Economic Development. “The Cornwall Business Park in particular is becoming a hub for manufacturing and distribution, with affordable serviced land available for new and expanding businesses.”
To inquire about integrating a Cornwall manufacturer into your supply chain, or for a complete list of Cornwall manufacturers, you can contact Peters at ChooseCornwall.ca
Employment opportunities
Some of the jobs and careers available in Cornwall’s logistics and manufacturing sectors include:
• Product development specialist
• Millwright
• Mechanical engineer
• Electrician
• Human resources specialist
• AZ truck driver
• Mechanic
• Quality control officer
• Team leader, operations
View recent job postings from Cornwall area employers on the Choose Cornwall Job Board. Check back regularly, as new postings are added daily.
Olymel
Walmart Michelin
Food and Agri-Tech
Eastern Ontario’s deep agricultural roots provide abundant fuel for the region’s food and beverage manufacturing industries. According to Ontario East Economic Development Commission, there are over 375 companies employing more than 11,500 people in this sector, with combined annual sales of over $48 billion. • by paula roy recently reached a production milestone of processing one million kilograms of meat in one week.
Olymel
Cornwall
Founded: 1991
Key executive: Martin Asselin (plant manager)
Olymel is one of Canada’s fastest-growing, diversified agri-food businesses with annual sales of about $4.5 billion. Olymel employs over 12,000 Canadians at its locations in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick. The company’s Cornwall facility, in operation for over 25 years, seasons, smokes and packages bacon for grocery stores, restaurants, hotels, and institutional clients. The facility also produces patés. It is the largest Canadian exporter of pork products, with over 60% of its total sales coming from international clients. The company primary brands are Olymel, Pinty’s, La Fernandière, Lafleur and Flamingo and Nagano. Fun fact: Olymel’s Cornwall plant
Burnbrae Farms
Lyn, Brockville, Monkland
Founded: 1891
Key executive: Margaret Hudson (president and CEO)
As the country’s largest family-owned and operated egg business, Burnbrae provides Canadians with sustainable, nutritious eggs and egg products. With farms, grading stations and processing operations across the country, Burnbrae operates three Eastern Ontario locations, supplying fresh and processed eggs to grocery stores, restaurants and food service operations. The philanthropically-minded company has propelled the business forward through innovation, introducing to
the market such products as specialty shell eggs, liquid egg products, and prepared eggs including EGG Bakes! and EGG Bites! (crustless quiche) and ready-to-eat EGGS2go! Fun facts: As a sixth-generation, majority female-owned business, the multi awardwinning Burnbrae is proud to be certified as a Women's Business Enterprise (WBE).
Lactalis
Winchester, Ingleside Founded: 1933
Key executive: Martin Santerre (SVP manufacturing)
Lactalis Canada is part of the global Lactalis Group, the world's largest dairy company, and is a leader in the Canadian dairy sector with many wellknown brands including Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond (launched in 1933), P’tit Québec, Balderson (launched in 1881), Astro, siggi’s, IÖGO,
Olympic, Lactantia, Beatrice, and Président plus many more. Their Winchester plant produces Balderson and Black Diamond cheese, Lactantia butter and various other dairy products while Ingleside primarily makes Cracker Barrel cheese and Kraft Parmesan. Fun facts: The Winchester facility is the largest cheesemaking plant in Canada. It processes about 1.6 million kilograms of milk each day, sourced from hundreds of dairy farms in Eastern Ontario.
Carleton Mushroom Farm
Osgoode
Founded: 1984
Key executives: Mike Medeiros and Fernando Jr. Medeiros (co-owners)
Carleton Mushroom Farm is a second generation, state-of-the-art operation that has undergone careful expansion and implemented process improvements to increase productivity. They now harvest 300,000 pounds of top-quality mushrooms per month (15 million pounds per year), thanks to cutting-edge cultivation technology and skilled hand harvesting methods. The farm is the leading supplier of fresh, organic mushrooms to restaurants and stores including Costco, Foodland,
OLYMEL
BURNBRAE FARMS
Farm Boy, Loblaws, Metro and Giant Tiger across Ontario, Western Quebec and Eastern Canada. They grow white, cremini (baby portobello), shiitake, oyster and portobello mushrooms, all of which are harvested and distributed to customers within 48 hours. Fun facts: Mushrooms are the only plant-based food that naturally contains Vitamin D; exposing them to sunlight before consuming increases the amount.
Fieldless Farms
Cornwall
Founded: 2019
Key executive: Jon Lomow (cofounder, president)
Fieldless Farms grows a variety of produce indoors, year-round via a process called Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), powered by renewable energy. The advanced technology they have selected and implemented allows them to maintain an ideal climate for optimum growth and harvesting, which in turn helps to reduce Canadians’ reliance on imported food. Facility expansions, production enhancements and the forging of key retail
partnerships have led to significant sales increases. The company’s current product offerings include two popular lettuce mixes, spinach, kale, basil and shredded lion’s mane mushrooms. New products in development, with launch expected 2026, include Cinnamon Cap mushrooms, dry salad seasonings and tinned mushrooms. Fun fact: in an industry first, all products come in cardboard-based packaging, now that Fieldless Farms have reduced their use of plastic by 90%.
Glengarry Fine Cheese / The Udder Way Artisan Cheese Company
Lancaster
Founded: 2008
Key executives: Margaret Peters-Morris and Tor Krueger (co-owners)
Glengarry Fine Cheese, operating out of founder Peters-Morris’ ancestral farm, specializes in crafting fine cheese, ripened in Europeandesigned aging rooms which are currently being expanded. In 2024, The Udder Way Artisan Cheese Company, founded in 2015, strategically merged with Glengarry Fine Cheese. Joining forces is now allowing the two internationally award-winning companies
to maximize production capacity at their CFIA-certified facility and increase countrywide distribution. Glengarry uses local cow’s milk – both conventional and organic –to produce its lineup which includes Lankaaster Goudastyle cheese, Creamy Celtic Blue, traditional clothbound cheddar and more. The Udder Way uses local, organic A2 cow’s milk; some of their products include alpinestyle hard cheeses, flavoured cheddars, French-style soft bloomy rind cheeses, cheese curds and gelato. Fun fact: the company also sells cheese making supplies.
Lanthier Bakery is now one of the leading brioche-style bread makers in North America, after merging with the French company La Fournée Dorée in 2016. Lanthier remains a familyrun business and is one of the largest independent commercial bakeries in eastern Canada, employing over a hundred people at its Alexandria location and hundreds more in Quebec. Lanthier’s baked goods are sold throughout North America and the bakery continues to adhere to its longstanding values of tradition, quality and flavour. Now, its specialization on the niche brioche line is proving extremely successful. The bakery also makes private label products for other companies. Look for the La Fournée brand at your favourite store. Fun fact: Lanthier uses only fresh yeast for optimal flavour and texture.
FIELDLESS FARMS
GLENGARRY FINE CHEESE
CARLETON MUSHROOM FARM
Health and Medical
Test
kit. Defribrillator
pads. Clear! Local healthcare manufacturers help to keep us healthy and well, whether they're combatting cancer or contributing to a better night's sleep. • by phil gaudreau
BluMetric
Founded in 1976
Under 200 employees
Based in Ottawa
Key executive: Scott MacFabe, CEO
If you live in a major city, you might take for granted that you turn the tap on and fresh, drinkable water comes out. But if you're in a more remote location, or if you're stationed overseas for military or humanitarian work, or maybe in a distant mining operation, that's not always the case.
BluMetric works with governments, militaries, NGOs, and companies to ensure access to safe drinking water while protecting the environment. From their Carp-area facility, they manufacture missionready, Canadian-made, proven, and highly effective water purification and wastewater treatment solutions, including self-contained water treatment units. Across the company, they manufacture and install both off-the-shelf and custom solutions to help with water purification, wastewater treatment, reverse osmosis
over 60,000 products across industries like safety and industrial, transportation and electronics, health care, and consumer products.
BRAEBON Medical Corporation
determine the severity of sleep apnea and snoring and provide diagnostic medical information to professionals to determine the best course of action.
Celestra Health
Globally, you might know the 3M name from products like Post-it® notes, Scotch® tape, Nexcare™ bandages, and Scotch-Brite® kitchen products. 3M is a global company that produces 3M
processes, and shipboard oily water separation.
3M
Founded in 1902
61,500 employees
Manufacturing in Brockville
Key executive: Rich Muir, Plant Director
Whether you're protecting yourself from an airborne illness or keeping dust and debris out of your airways during a messy job, an N-95 mask is a standard issue piece of protective equipment. And millions of them are made right here in Eastern Ontario.
Since 2021, the Brockville plant has produced more than 200 million N95 respirators for 3M. Prior to the pandemic, the facility was already manufacturing medical equipment, so the switch to N-95s was a natural fit.
Founded in 1998 30+ employees
Based in Ottawa
Key executives: Don Bradley and Dr. Richard Bonato, CoFounders
From humble beginnings in 1998, BRAEBON has grown from a Kanata basement to a business that exports to 70 countries, and from two guys and a cat to a team of over 30. Their founders, Don Bradley and Dr. Richard Bonato, have designed, built, and sold diagnostic medical devices for the global sleep disorders medicine market.
BRAEBON created the MediByte family of recorders, which measure blood oxygen levels and numerous other parameters in the comfort of your own home. This information is used to
Founded in 2021 10+ employees
Based in Ottawa
Key executive: Bruce Ford, CEO
Monitoring a patient with multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease is important, but time and resource consuming. Celestra Health manufactures a device to help make the job a little easier and more precise. Their wearable insoles are designed to provide clinicians with data on patient health between visits and serve as an early warning system for disease progression. They’ve even created AI-powered software to help rapidly interpret the data and create personalized recommendations thereby allowing for intervention before irreversible neurological damage occurs. Most importantly, the device captures data in the patient’s home, giving their medical team insight into their regular walking environment.
Cardinal Health
Founded in 1971
57,700 employees
Manufacturing in Gananoque
Key executive: Jim Graham, Director of Site Operations
Cardinal Health's facility in Gananoque produces over a billion medical devices annually, including medical electrodes and defibrillator pads. The American company's Canadian operations are focused on simplifying the supply chain to create more sustainable and resilient Canadian healthcare through trusted products, services, and solutions. They work with everyone from large hospitals to small clinics, as well as distributors and retailers. In fact, Cardinal Health Canada works with 95 percent of Canadian hospitals, and their delivery network boasts 40,000 touch points nationwide. Beyond their operations in Gananoque, Cardinal Health offers products to support surgery, compression, nutritional delivery, advanced wound care, general medical supplies, and their Presource® Procedure Packs which help make patient care more efficient.
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
Founded in 1944
3,200 employees
Based in Deep River
Key executive: Jack Craig Jr., President and CEO
While you might think of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
as a research facility, that research produces lots of cool stuff. For instance: they're supporting the development of small modular reactors, a new type of nuclear reactor that is smaller and easier to assemble and ship to wherever it is needed. They're also producing medical isotopes, which help doctors deliver targeted radiation doses to tumors, minimizing damage to healthy cells. And there is ongoing research into hydrogen technologies for future fuel cell applications.
All of CNL’s work is aimed at restoring and protecting our environment, creating clean energy for today and tomorrow, and contributing to the health of Canadians.
As for that research? CNL has produced two Nobel laureates.
Forage Hyperfoods
Founded in 2020
Approximately 50 employees
Based in Carleton Place
Key executives: Chanel and Jonathan Murray, Founders
The phrase superfood gets thrown around a lot but, in this case, we're talking about hyperfoods - mushrooms, to be specific. Forage Hyperfoods is on a mission to offer the highest-quality, most bioavailable functional mushroom products out there,
paired with a transparent and sustainable supply chain. Functional mushrooms are a group of mushrooms known for their potential health benefits. They contain bioactive compounds that can support various aspects of well-being, including immune function, cognitive health, energy levels, and stress management.
Forage Hyperfoods sustainably wild-harvests and cultivates a selection of Canadian mushrooms, and produces a series of tinctures at their facility in Carleton Place.
Lake & Main Skin Health
Founded in 2023
Under 10 employees
Based in Westport Key executives: Alyson Charrette and Lisa Taylor, Founders
At Lake & Main Skin Health, they pride themselves on crafting everything in-house with care and precision. This woman-owned business was co-founded by two lifelong friends who stepped into the world of skincare when the creator of some of their favourite products retired. They use only all-natural, non-synthetic ingredients, ensuring transparency at every step of their process. They're most proud of their collection
called The Six (so named for the families of the two co-founders as well as the six products they launched with) which includes a non-foaming cleanser, an alcohol-free toner, a moisturizing serum, and three other products to help with your skincare routine.
Novonesis
Founded in 2024
10,000 employees
Lab in Ottawa
Key executive: Dave Osmond, Head of Site
Microbes and enzymes are tiny but mighty agents of change. For billions of years, they’ve enabled transformation in all living things through microbiology.
Novonesis aims to use these tiny little organisms to help farmers and food producers get more from less, and reduce energy consumption. By deploying microbes and enzymes into eight different applications, including alternative proteins and biofuels for road transport, they believe they can reduce global CO2 emissions by 4.3 billion tons by 2030 – on top of delivering healthier soil, better animal welfare, and even cleaner laundry. In Ottawa, Novonesis’ focus is on specifically using these organisms to improve crop health.
NOVONESIS
Printing and Packaging
Printing has always been rooted in the local community, and for good reason. Whether it’s meeting tight deadlines or handling highly customized projects, local shops deliver the speed and flexibility businesses rely on. • by terry tyo
Gilmore Printing Services, Inc.
Ottawa
Date Founded: 1983
Key Executive: Richard Weedmark, Executive Vice President, R. E. Gilmore Investments Corp.
Employees: 500 plus
The Gilmore organization began by meeting the reprographic needs of Ottawa’s architectural and engineering community. Today, it has evolved into the Gilmore Group and expanded its expertise to include large-scale digital production, fulfillment, and e-commerce solutions.
Gilmore Reproductions leads in large-format printing, producing posters, murals, trade show exhibits, and retail graphics. Gilmore Global specializes in digital learning technologies, including a top-rated e-reader platform and AI-driven learning tools. Meanwhile, Gilmore Doculink supports businesses shifting from print to digital communications with advanced notification, hosting, and portal services.
Lowe-Martin Group
Ottawa
Date Founded: 1908
Key Executive: Ward Griffin, President & CEO.
Employees: 300
The Lowe-Martin Group is a privately-owned corporation
headquartered in Ottawa. The company was founded by E.D. Lowe and T.H. Martin, and over the decades it has grown from a small printing firm into a full-service communication solutions provider offering sheet-fed offset printing, digital printing, e-commerce, warehousing/fulfillment, direct mail, large format and security printing. The company’s name is a literal combination of its founders’ surnames, Lowe and Martin.
Sinix Media Group
Ottawa
Founded: 2012
Key executive: Hamed Zadeh, founder and CEO
Employees: 22
Founded by a Carleton University computer science graduate, Sinix Media Group has grown into one of the
region’s most versatile firms. The company handles everything from commercial printing and promotional products to full-scale signage fabrication, including channel letters, light boxes, and LED and LCD displays, with full electrical installation and city permit services.
Zadeh says the post-pandemic shift toward locally made, quick-turnaround products continues to drive the company’s growth. For example, when Shopify hosted an international summit in Ottawa and needed a fast turnaround, Sinix manufactured and installed 15,000 square feet of branded graphics in just four days. Sustainability is a growing focus, with the company adopting processes such as water-based inks and eco-friendly materials like cardboard instead of aluminum and plastic for trade show booths.
Brymark Promotions Inc.
Ottawa
Founded: 1978
Key Executive: Warren Gencher, President Employees: 25
Brymark produces promotional products that help companies build brand awareness. With a surge in demand for locally-made goods, a cornerstone of their business is sourcing apparel from Canadian suppliers and working with their network of craftspeople who specialize in embroidery, screen printing, and heat transfer decoration. Emerging trends include more branded tech products, including magnetic wireless
charging stands and tech organizers and creating on-site pop-up stores that let customers browse and select merchandise directly. Pop-up stores at client locations offer faster turnaround, greater customization, and a more streamlined distribution process for their branded products.
Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited (CBN)
Ottawa
Founded: 1897
Key executive: Marilou Arends, CEO Employees: 1,000
Founded in 1897, CBN is one of the region’s oldest companies and for decades was one of Ottawa’s largest employers. Best known for producing Canada’s banknotes, the company also develops advanced document and identity verification systems used for passports, driver’s licences, excise stamps, lotteries, charitable gaming and other secure documents and solutions for governments and institutions worldwide. Less known is that CBN has been family-owned since 1967.
Emmerson Packaging
Belleville
Founded: 2006
Key Executive: Julio Armstrong, Operations Manager
Employees: 100
"The company punches well above its weight on the global stage," says spokesperson Bradley Weir. “It’s a huge point of pride that, though we’re a smaller organization internationally, in 2024, CBN’s new Canadian passport was recognized as the best new passport for its design and security features."
Laminacorr Industries Inc.
Cornwall
Founded: 1998
Key Executive: Guy Robichaud, Owner Employees: 60
Laminacorr is Canada’s only independent manufacturer of corrugated plastic, specializing in innovative solutions for a wide range of industries, including automotive, medical, construction, and agriculture. The company also produces FluteCorr Graphics, a versatile line of plastic boards used in everything from election lawn signs to trade-show displays. In 2019, Laminacorr expanded its capabilities and U.S. presence by acquiring Technology Container Corp. in Desoto, Texas.
Emmerson Packaging is a third-generation familyowned company with a manufacturing facility in Belleville that serves domestic and export markets.. The company specializes in creating custom packaging solutions for a variety of industries, including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods. Their Belleville site is part of a broader network including a headquarters in Amherst, Nova Scotia.They recently produced a series of biodegradable pouches for maple syrup producers, helping the sweet Canadian staple reach international markets without harming the environment.
Envirolaser 3D
Ottawa
Date Founded: 1991
Key Executive: Corey Ilacqua, Owner Employees: 25
In its early years, the company built its reputation by supporting local organizations with 2D printing systems, service, and supplies. But as the manufacturing and design worlds shifted toward digital fabrication, Envirolaser evolved with them. Today, the company also operates as a true 3D printing service bureau—helping companies move from concept to physical prototype offering 3D printing, scanning, laser cutting, and materials expertise under one roof, giving clients a flexible and cost-efficient way to test ideas, refine designs, or produce small batches.
Notably, the company has supported the development of many Ottawa-designed products that have gone on to achieve global success.
YGK3D 3D Printing and Scanning
Kingston
Date founded: 2020
Key Executive:
Taylor Sweet, Owner
Employees: 2
YGK3D turns ideas into reality, taking projects from design to final build. Using materials like PLA, ABS, nylon, and resin, they create functional prototypes and custom parts for industries such as healthcare, automotive, and retail. High-fidelity 3D scanning ensures even the most complex projects are precise, with printers capable of producing objects up to 70 cm (27.5 inches). As the company says, “Anything is possible—if you’ve got something and need a copy, we can do that. And if you need many, it’s as easy as rinse and repeat.”
A smarter, more efficient way for businesses to site select in Eastern Ontario
Renfrew County’s new advanced GIS mapping tool puts every industrial and commercial property at your fingertips
Reenfrew County has always been known as a place where you can live well, work with purpose, and play in some of Ontario’s most spectacular landscapes. But increasingly, it’s becoming known for something else: opportunity.
With more than 600 hectares of fully serviced industrial land available at rates well below the provincial average, the cost advantages alone turn heads. Add a skilled workforce with a reputation for reliability and strong work ethic, and Renfrew County checks a lot of boxes for entrepreneurs looking to grow or expand.
A powerful resource for finding the right industrial or commercial location
To simplify the site-search process, Renfrew County recently launched a powerful new tool: An interactive, GISbased industrial and commercial lands portal
Unlike standard real estate listings or MLS feeds, the platform is built specifically for manufacturers, processors, and logistics operators. It maps large industrial and commercial parcels across the county and provides the details decision-makers need –zoning, servicing status, transportation access, parcel boundaries, and more.
It’s a practical, fast, research-ready platform for anyone planning their next move.
“The MLS is a good starting point for companies looking to expand,” says David Wybou, Renfrew County’s business development officer. “But our portal
provides far more – all the available properties, detailed demographics for each of our 17 municipalities, the City of Pembroke and Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, and access to properties that aren’t publicly advertised. Opportunities you won’t find anywhere else.
“The portal also provides direct access to the county’s economic development offices, where we offer one-on-one consultation and can supply additional key information such as proximity to rail yards, airports, and U.S. border crossings, and help companies navigate government programs,” Wybou adds. “Our goal is to do everything we can to support and attract new businesses.”
The federal government has added another compelling reason for manufacturers to act quickly. The 2025 federal budget introduced an immediate
expensing measure – essentially a 100 per cent first-year deduction – for eligible manufacturing and processing buildings. For companies looking to build new facilities or expand existing ones, this is one of the most attractive tax-deferral incentives introduced in years.
Ready to get started?
Renfrew County has been home to successful manufacturers for decades. Companies like Bar None, the Arnpriorbased design, manufacture, and supply firm renowned for high-end work with the hospitality industry across North America, have grown far beyond their local origins while keeping production rooted in the Ottawa Valley.
ETM Industries, a high-precision manufacturer serving multiple sectors, and St. Francis Herb Farm, a herbal medicine manufacturer in the Madawaska Valley, are additional examples of the depth of expertise already established here.
These long-standing success stories show what’s possible in Renfrew County – and now, with new properties on the market and one of the most advantageous tax environments in years, there has never been a better moment to join them.
Visit the county’s GIS portal at www. investrenfrewcounty.ca/IndustrialLands to begin your site search, or connect with the Economic Development Office directly. Real estate professionals are also encouraged to reach out for listings, inquiries, or collaboration opportunities.
Downtown Renfrew
Industrial opportunities
75 minutes from Kanata available now
If you’re looking for concrete examples of what’s on the market in Renfrew County, two properties stand out as especially strong candidates:
107 Baskin Dr. E., Arnprior: This former aerospace facility sits on about 25 acres adjacent to the Arnprior Airport and
includes three buildings plus a storage outbuilding, totalling roughly 166,800 sq. ft. of warehouse/manufacturingready space and more than 30,000 sq.ft. of office space. The site is directly adjacent to Highway 417, and is listed at about $8.5 million.
127 International Dr., Pembroke (TransCan Corporate Park): With more than 50 acres of fully serviced industrial land, TransCan Corporate Park offers a prime location at the intersection of highways 17 and 41. The site provides excellent visibility and regional connectivity, modern infrastructure,
and flexible parcel sizes suited for a wide range of commercial, industrial, warehousing, or manufacturing uses permitted under the M2 Economic Enterprise Zone, and includes a 28-acre Ontario Certified Site.
Together, these two sites showcase the kind of sizeable, ready-to-go industrial real estate available today: large built-out facilities or heavy-industrial warehouses, ample land for expansion or storage yards, and highway-linked logistics – making them prime candidates for manufacturers seeking to relocate or expand operations in Eastern Ontario.
TransCan Corporate Park
Deep River
Bonnechere River, Eganville
Downtown Arnprior
Tech and Communications
A look at Eastern Ontario manufacturers without whom technology and communications companies simply would not compute. Whether you want to measure, communicate, or make work happen, you can find an Eastern Ontario manufacturer. • by phil
gaudreau
InDro Robotics
Founded in 2014
30+ employees
Manufacturing in Ottawa
Key executive: Philip Reece, Founder
Mapping, surveying, spraying, and delivering – is there anything drones can’t do these days? InDro Robotics incubates, develops, and tests drone technologies and their team has worked in eight countries, flying over 4,500 kilometres and completing more than 500 mission hours with their drones.
InDro manufactures autonomous ground robots like the Sentinel inspection robot and the Wayfinder delivery robot, as well as robot development platforms such as the InDro Commander which helps you create your own functional robot. In Ottawa, InDro’s Forge operation performs 3D metal
printing, CNC machining, and electronics fabrication that supports the prototyping and development of parts for their various drone models.
inPho
Founded in 2013
40+ employees
Based in Ottawa
Key executives: Joe Costello and Jim Hjartarson, Founders
The team at inPho has been involved in deploying over five billion kilometres of fibre-optic cable. Now, they’re applying their many years of insights to help data centres
communicate more effectively. Their electro-absorption modulated lasers (EMLs) are designed to transmit optical data up to 200 billion times per second, making them ideal for sharing information quickly with computers that may be supporting an AI application. The company says their device is energy efficient and ensures clear communication between the sender and receiver.
One of the factors that distinguishes their devices is the integration of both electronic and photonic means of communication, which increases the speed of communication and overall reliability.
Jabil Canada Corporation
Founded in 1966
80 employees
Manufacturing in Ottawa
Key executive: Cyril McKelvie, VP of Optical Business
When you want an answer to your question, you don’t want to wait around for a response – especially if you’re asking a computer. Jabil manufactures advanced photonics packaging solutions, which use optical technologies to rapidly transmit data in an energy efficient way. These chips are crucial to support AI platforms as well as cloud computing, ensuring users can search, retrieve, and access data efficiently.
Jabil works across ten
different sectors ranging from telecommunications to building and infrastructure, and its Ottawa location is one of more than 100 such sites across 25 different countries.
Instantel
Founded in 1982
126 employees
Key executive: Allan Hawes, President and General Manager, Canada at Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
Construction site managers need to know whether their activities might damage nearby buildings or upset the neighbours. Instantel is a leader in developing monitoring equipment used on construction sites to track vibration, noise, and issues like air overpressure.
Coupled with their handheld
INDRO ROBOTICS
JABIL CANADA
INPHO
Micromate device as well as sensors like geophones and microphones, Instantel gives you all the tools you need to monitor, record, and report on your data. They also offer a cloud-based solution to store and manage your data remotely.
Instantel was the first to build a monitor with webbased event reporting which automatically transfers its data back to a computer.
Ross Video
Founded in 1974
1,500 employees
Manufacturing in Iroquois
Key executive: David Ross, CEO
If you’ve been to a sports game or concert at a stadium or watched a game on television, chances are you’ve benefitted from Ross Video’s handiwork. The company makes equipment that supports producers of live shows at major event venues as well as major broadcast networks like NBC Universal, CBS, and Sportsnet.
You’ll even find their equipment in the world’s most technologically advanced sports and entertainment venue, SoFi Stadium, where Ross worked to bring to life a vision that included a 120-yard long infinity video board, along with many other video
screens and the hardware and software to manage it all.
NuPure
Founded in 1996
10 employees
Based in Ottawa
Key Executive: Ricardo Leon Jimenez, Production Manager
Gases are involved in nearly every stage of semiconductor creation - including depositing thin films with gases like silane and ammonia, etching precise patterns with gases like sulfur hexafluoride or chlorine, and modifying electrical properties with gases like diborane or phosphine. Gases are also used in the cleaning process, and any impurities could ruin the work.
NuPure manufactures gas purification and filtration devices in their Ottawa facility, which are then sold and distributed throughout the world. Their wall-mounted Omni Point-of-Use system, working with their UltraPure™ PF series purifier, can reduce impurities in a given gas to less than one part per billion.
Raytec Systems
Founded in 2005
80+ employees
Manufacturing in Ottawa
Key executive: Mike Jamieson, CEO
J-SQUARED TECHNOLOGIES
Does investing in your business’ security sound like a bright idea? The experts at Raytec Systems can help. Their Vario2 Security Lighting is designed to improve the performance of any closed-circuit TV system in darkness. This system uses infra-red illuminators to offer clear imagery while remaining invisible to the human eye, which will ensure you can surveil potential burglars, vandals, or other intruders discretely. Raytec also offers floodlights under its SPARTAN line in case you prefer the direct approach.
In addition to the security sector, Raytec’s lighting solutions service transportation and industrial clients, as well as hazardous spaces.
J-Squared Technologies Inc.
Founded in 1990
119 employees
Based in Ottawa
Key executive: Jeff Gibson, Founder
Are you a bit too rough on your work laptop? If so, take a look at J-Squared’s Octagon Systems® offerings. J-Squared manufactures rugged, high performance computer hardware ranging from servers to small form factor computers, and from displays to networking solutions. Their equipment is designed to be used in the field in industries like energy and resources, transportation and rail, and military.
Octagon’s high brightness, sunlight-readable LCD monitors and high brightness daylight-viewable touch screen monitors are ideal for use in any high-ambient light setting, and built for use in environmental extremes of temperature, humidity, and ruggedness.
Specialized Stainless Solutions Inc.
Founded in 2003
Five employees
Based in Ottawa
Key executive: Michael Wagner, President
Washing a keg the oldfashioned way can take up to 30 minutes – and who has time for that? However, it’s an essential step in ensuring safety and optimal taste.
Specialized Stainless Solutions Inc. has a better way: a semi-automated keg washer. Their device can wash a keg in as little as five minutes with a pre-programmed wash cycle and intuitive touch screen controls. All you have to do is insert the dirty keg, tap a few buttons, and walk away.
The company manufactures models that can wash one, two, or even four kegs at once for larger brewers. Cheers!
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“ In terms of what it means to Ontario East, it’s a game-changing project for the future. The impact on Eastern Ontario’s economy will be massive.”
‑ T. J. FLYNN
Eastern Ontario eyed for major nuclear project by province
Powering growth and opportunity, Eastern Ontario has a major role to play in Ontario’s energy and economic future
Imagine a time in the not-so-distant future where half the cars on the road are electric, AI guides everything from factories to healthcare, and where every device, home, and business runs on reliable, clean electricity.
In this high-tech, energy-hungry world, Ontario faces a critical question: how can we stay competitive on the global stage while powering our economy sustainably?
While Eastern Ontario already contributes to the province’s energy sector with wellestablished nuclear supply chain facilities in several communities, including Renfrew County, Peterborough, and Port Hope, the area is well-positioned to play a defining role in supporting future growth.
That’s because Wesleyville, located in Port Hope within Northumberland County has been identified by the province as a potential site for Ontario Power Generation (OPG)’s new large nuclear power project. Should it come to fruition, the massive project will drive growth and employment, attract investment, and secure the region’s role in a low-carbon economy for generations.
A potentially ‘massive’ impact on the local economy
In addition to being zoned for power generation, the 1,300-acre site at Wesleyville has ready access to transmission lines, railways, roads, and it is located next to Lake Ontario, which can provide the necessary cooling water for a nuclear reactor.
“It’s a game-changing project for the future,” says T.J. Flynn, Northumberland County’s manufacturing attraction officer and president of the Ontario East Economic Development Commission. “There’s talk of
starting construction in 2033, which seems far away, but when it comes to building the infrastructure, including housing and serviced industrial land for supply chain companies needed to deliver such a project, that’s right around the corner. And the impact on eastern Ontario’s economy will be massive.”
The Conference Board of Canada says the project could contribute $235 billion to Ontario’s GDP over an estimated 95-year project life, including design, construction, operation, and maintenance. It would also support 10,500 new jobs across Ontario, including 1,700 in the Port Hope region, representing an approximately 15 to 20 per cent boost to overall employment levels in the area. When the Darlington Generating Station in Bowmanville was built more than 30 years ago, hundreds of skilled workers from surrounding regions travelled to the area to work on construction and operations.
Given the project’s scale and rising demand around the provincial electrical grid, planners are already mapping available options.
“With energy demand in Ontario set to increase by 75 per cent by 2050, we’re doing the early engagement and development work now that will ensure the province has options to meet that growing demand,” said Stephen Lecce, the province’s minister of energy and electrification, when the potential project was announced earlier this year.
“I’m excited to be continuing these conversations with Indigenous and municipal leaders to explore options for new nuclear generation at the Wesleyville site, including new good-paying jobs and other associated benefits.”
Attracting investment and employment opportunities
Eastern Ontario is experiencing one of the fastest population growth rates in the province. According to Ontario’s Long-Term Report on the Economy 2024, the region’s population is projected to increase by 39 per cent over the next two decades – from 2 million in 2023 to 2.8 million by 2043.
To help support this growth, the Ontario East Economic Development Commission (Ontario East) will work closely with member communities and all levels of government to support a mandate to develop, implement, and administer programs that attract new investment and create jobs across diverse communities from east of the GTA to the Quebec border.
The organization focuses on attracting investment in key sectors such as advanced manufacturing, including nuclear and aerospace, food and beverage processing, and logistics and transportation, with a future focus to include defense and security. Additionally, the organization offers professional development and networking opportunities to enhance the region’s competitiveness and economic growth.
Looking to invest in the region?
With a lower cost of living and given its strategic location, the region is ideal for businesses looking to grow. Ontario East provides free advisory services, site selection guidance, and access to affordable industrial and commercial properties throughout the region through its online available properties tool, ZoomProspector
For more information, visit ontarioeast.ca.
Who wants you and what they'll pay
STUFF takes you on a tour of which manufacturing and construction jobs are in demand and what they pay
Eastern Ontario is a hub for construction and manufacturing jobs, so if you're interested in such a career, there are ample opportunities close to home. Thanks to the Eastern Ontario Training Board, the charts that follow answer questions such as, "which ones will pay the best?" and "which ones are most in demand at the moment?" Among the highest-paying jobs we list in the construction sector are civil engineers, who make $128,000 a year, while in manufacturing, it's professional engineers who make top dollar at $170,000 a year. There are highskilled jobs and low-skilled ones that are in demand in both sectors. Read on to see where you might fit in.
Occupations by job number
20 highest-employment occupations in the construction industry
20 highest-employment occupations in the manufacturing industry
Occupations by projected growth
Projected
Electricians (except industrial and power system)
Construction managers
Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
Heavy equipment operators
Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
Concrete finishers
Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
Residential and commercial installers and servicers
Construction trades helpers and labourers
Sheet metal workers
Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
Carpenters
Tilesetters
Floor covering installers
Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
Crane operators
Inronworkers
Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers
Civil engineers
Interior designers and interior decorators
Projected 20 fastest-growing jobs in the manufacturing industry (between 2025 and 2028)
Shippers and receivers
Supervisors, motor vehicle assembling
Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing
Supervisors, other products manufacturing and assembly
Tool and die makers
Plastics processing machine operators
Supervisors, electronics and electrical products manufacturing
Electrical mechanics
Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
Supervisors, mineral and metal processing
Machining tool operators
Labourers in rubber and plastic products manufacturing
The Bay of Quinte Region is home to a large cluster of manufacturing and food-processing facilities including many well-known multi-national corporations. Strategically located, the region is known as a prime Canadian logistics and manufacturing hub, that provides fast access to major Canadian and international markets.
With a regional population of almost 225,000, this dynamic region provides excellent career opportunities and an exceptional quality of life.
Discover Bay of Quinte manufacturers’ capabilities and high-quality products at QuinteDevelopment.com — Industry Works Here.
Occupations by wage
Choose Renfrew County as your next location for business development and growth.
Home to more than 20 industrial and commercial parks, our region offers a range of serviced land and facilities to support manufacturing, logistics, retail and other commercial activities.
Occupations by growth rate
20
jobs in the construction industry (between
and
20 fastest-growing jobs in the manufacturing industry (between 2022 and 2024)
Occupations by demand
20 most in-demand jobs in the construction industry by online job postings
Construction trades helpers and labourers
Carpenters
Construction managers
Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists
Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers
Heavy equipment operators
Residential and commercial installers and servicers
Public works maintenance equipment operators and related workers
Civil engineering technologists and technicians
Construction estimators
Plumbers
Roofers and shinglers
Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services
Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
Drafting technologists and technicians
Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians
Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
FUN FACTS
Per the Statistics Canada 2021 Census:
An aging population - age of the workforce as of 2021
33% of the construction workforce was aged 50 and older
42% of the manufacturing workforce was aged 50 and older
Most common occupation group as of 2021
39% of the construction workforce is employed in the trades, transport and equipment operation and related occupation group (Group 7)
68% of people working in manufacturing are employed in occupations in manufacturing and utilities (Group 9)
20 most in-demand jobs in the manufacturing industry by online job postings
Sales and account representatives — wholesale trade (non-technical)
Material handlers
Shippers and receivers
Facility operation and maintenance managers
Other labourers in processing, manufacturing and utilities
Occupational health and safety specialists
Other products assemblers, finishers and inspectors
Manufacturing managers
Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
Drafting technologists and technicians
Chemical technologists and technicians
Production and transportation logistics coordinators
Electrical and electronics engineers
Technical sales specialists - wholesale trade
Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians
Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing
Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing
