IKO, a family-owned residential and commercial roofing, waterproofing and insulation company with locations throughout North America, has broken ground on its new insulation manufacturing plant in Brantford.
According to a company news release, the new 67,000-square-foot facility represents more than $45 million in investment and further advances IKO’s manufacturing capabilities across North America.
This will be IKO’s first plant producing extruded polystyrene (XPS). The facility is also designed to minimize waste, with production scrap and waste recycled back into the manufacturing process.
IKO currently operates polyISO insulation manufacturing facilities in Ontario, Alberta and Maryland.
The new build will be located at 50 Sharp Rd., right behind IKO’s two existing sister plants in Brantford – Roofmart Exterior Building Supply and SunGro Horticulture, both on Powerline Road. Once operational, the facility is expected to employ approximately 40 people in the Brantford area and will support customers across Canada and the northeastern United States.
“As a company founded in Canada, it is especially meaningful for us to continue investing in Canadian manufacturing and communities,” said Yekutiel Koschitzky, XPS general manager and product innovation manager at IKO North America.
“This new facility reflects IKO’s long-term vision for growth, innovation and operational strength across North America. Brantford is an ideal location for this investment due to its strong manufacturing workforce, strategic access to key transportation routes and proximity to important customer markets. We are proud to contribute to the region’s economic development while creating high-quality manufacturing jobs.”
The Brantford plant builds on the company’s recent strategic investments across North America, including the grand opening of a fiberglass manufacturing facility and glass mat plant in Chester County, S.C., as well as the upcoming opening of a new plant in Clay Hill, Fla.
The Brantford XPS facility is expected to support growing demand for insulation products and further position IKO as a comprehensive building products manufacturer serving both residential and commercial markets.
Construction is currently underway and “this operation should be up and running in the second half of next year,” said Guy Tremblay, vice-president, operations, IKO North America.
For the build, construction work was awarded through a competitive bidding process and the various trades been selected from local contractors and suppliers in Brantford and Brant County as well as companies from across Ontario and Canada. Bidding is still underway for certain portions of the project.
IKO, established in 1951, operates more than 35 manufacturing plants throughout North America and Europe.
