A London manufacturing company is adding 14 new employees after receiving a $611,000 grant from the province.
Ramsden Industries, a 70-year-old custom aluminum casting facility, will put the funds towards its $6.1-million expansion.
London North Centre MPP Deb Matthews announced the financial support provided through the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund on Monday. She stressed how selective the Ontario government is when doling out funds to businesses.
"We have an ongoing process where we review applications for the southwestern Ontario development fund, so a number of other companies are able to access the fund,” says Matthews. “But I have to say, they go through quite a rigorous process. Only the very best applicants get chosen."
To test a company’s merit, Matthews says they consider a variety of facts which directly contribute to the profitability of the investment.
"They need to demonstrate benefit to the province and southwestern Ontario. We look at things like: Will they add new jobs? Will they stabilize an existing workforce? We look at exports, because that's an important part of our economic plans, to drive exports,” says Matthews.
Ramsden, a company who contracts to transportation, industrial, and automotive sectors, will now be able to secure 54 current positions while adding an additional 14.
The funds will also help the company purchase state of the art casting and finishing equipment to increase automation and improve manufacturing flow by connecting two adjacent facilities in order to accommodate new contracts.
Company President Bob Ramsden says safety is their top priority.
"We've got two robotic cells that are going in as part of the project, and we will probably be commissioning more as well,” says Ramsden. “Safety in this business is obviously a concern, but the robotic equipment will eliminate some of that safety risk."
Their updated equipment has also caught some attention of new clients, who are now turning to Ramsden for higher-quality contracts.
"It's been a huge benefit to us. Some of the work that we are now attracting because of the equipment we didn't even plan on when we made the application,” says Ramsden. “We've gained additional business because of our abilities, and the equipment that we've purchased through the program."
Ramsden currently casts more than 4-million lbs of aluminum each year. The multi-million dollar expansion is expected to be completed by September 2019.
**This story was written by Samuel Gallant. Samuel is a student in the Fanshawe College broadcast journalism program. He is performing a summer internship with Blackburn News.**
