In the latest episode of the Growing Strathroy-Caradoc podcast, Jan Lembregts, the President and CEO of Norbec, a leading manufacturer of walk-in coolers and prefabricated insulated metal walls, shares insights on why Norbec chose Strathroy for their newest 156,000 square foot facility. The episode covers the decision-making process, rapid construction timeline, and importance of the Strathroy plant to Norbec's future growth. Additionally, Jan highlights the positive reception from the local community and the successful recruitment of a skilled workforce.
Listen now, or read on for a few highlights.
Norbec recently opened a 156,000 square foot facility in Strathroy—their third plant in Canada and their first in Ontario. The decision came after a comprehensive site selection process that considered over a hundred locations.
Strathroy scored well on critical factors like proximity to customers, transportation logistics, availability of qualified labour, taxes, and energy costs. But Lembregts noted that choosing an industrial site is partly an emotional decision, just like buying a house. Strathroy’s warm and welcoming people sealed the deal.
Remarkably, construction of Norbec's facility wrapped up in just 14 months, a testament to efficient planning and collaboration. Jan Lembregts attributes this success to a small, competent team and the supportive local government, both of which facilitated swift progress through construction and regulatory challenges.
The plant is state-of-the-art—equipped with advanced automation and innovative features like AI for quality control—and was built to be the backbone of Norbec’s next three to five years of growth. The plant will initially employ 70 people, including engineers and production workers. With potential for future growth in the Ontario and Midwest markets, further expansions might deliver more employment opportunities.
New episodes of the Growing Strathroy-Caradoc podcast will be released in the new year. Follow us on your favourite podcast platform to be notified when episodes drop.
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