Existing Businesses and Concentrations in Brantford·Brant

A total of 87 businesses in Brantford·Brant are part of the primary and fabricated metal products sectors. There are 9 businesses engaged in primary metal fabrication, including 5 foundries, 3 steel product manufacturers, and 1 non-ferrous metal processor.These nine businesses employ a reported 366 persons, or about 0.5% of Brantford·Brant’s labour force. About 2 or 3 primary metal manufacturing businesses would be predicted in Brantford·Brant on the basis of population alone. The steel product manufacturing and foundry segments are highly concentrated in Brantford·Brant.

Another 78 establishments identify themselves as members of the fabricated metal product manufacturing sector. These establishments may conduct activity in one or more segments.A total of about 3,228 persons are reportedly employed in fabricated metal product manufacturing, representing almost 5% of Brantford·Brant’s labour force.About 55 fabricated metal product manufacturing businesses would be predicted in Brantford·Brant on the basis of population, and as such the sector is concentrated in the area. Spring and wire product manufacturing, forging and stamping, and structural product manufacturing are highly concentrated.

Summary of Perspectives on Primary and Fabricated Metal Manufacturing Segments

Primary Metal Manufacturing Segments

• Iron and Steel Mills and Ferro-Alloy Manufacturing:Businesses are unlikely to invest because of missing location requirements.
• Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel:Businesses may invest because of strong location attributes, but local competition appears extensive.
• Alumina and Aluminum Production:Businesses are unlikely to invest because of missing location requirements.
• Aluminum Processing:Businesses may invest, but no businesses are yet established locally in this segment and these businesses are export-intensive.
• Non-Ferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production:Businesses are unlikely to invest because of missing location requirements.
• Non-Ferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Processing:Businesses may invest, but only one business is established locally and these businesses are export-intensive.
• Foundries:Businesses may invest because of strong location attributes, but local competition appears extensive and the outlook for the sector is not strong.

Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing Segments

• Forging and Stamping:Brantford·Brant appears to be a good location and the sectoral outlook is bullish, but there are already many operations.
• Machine Shops and Turned Product Manufacturing:Brantford·Brant appears to be a strong location, but (limited) reports from business suggest the area is saturated.
• Coating and Allied Activities:The industry is expanding, Brantford·Brant offers a good location, and reports suggest additional facilities would be welcome.
• Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing:Brantford·Brant is expected to be a good location for fabricated metal product manufacturers based on existing concentrations across the entire sector. The potential for attracting other businesses is assessed below based on existing concentrations within each segment.
• Cutlery and hand tool manufacturing is slightly under-represented based on population, and a small number of additional businesses could be expected.
• Plate work and fabricated structural product manufacturing is already highly concentrated, and markets may not exist to serve additional businesses.
• Ornamental and architectural product manufacturing is slightly under-represented, and a number of additional businesses could be expected.
• Boiler manufacturing is already moderately concentrated, and markets may not exist to serve additional businesses.
• Metal can, box, and container manufacturing is already moderately concentrated, and markets may not exist to serve additional businesses.
• Hardware manufacturing is represented as expected based on population, and a small number of additional businesses could therefore be expected.
• Spring and wire product manufacturing is already highly concentrated, and additional businesses may not be supported by the market.
• Turned screw, nut, and bolt manufacturing is represented as expected based on population, and a small number of additional businesses could be expected.

Brantford·Brant's Advantages

• Over 3,500 people are employed in the primary and fabricated metals industry in Brantford·Brant within 87 businesses
• Superior access to Ontario and US markets
• High percentage of skilled trades
• Ready access to larger labour market
• Cost competitive business conditions as compared to select Ontario jurisdictions
• Transportation options that include superior access to 400 series highways, two international airports, international border crossing at Niagara Falls and inter-modal facilities in western GTA
• Local market presence includes Samuel Metal Blanking Inc., Dana Canada Inc., Nichirin Inc.

Ontario Market – Key Facts

The primary and fabricated metal products industry includes two major sectors:

• primary metal manufacturing; and
• fabricated metal product manufacturing

The primary metal manufacturing sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in smelting and refining ferrous and non-ferrous metals from ore, pig iron, or scrap metal in blast or electric furnaces. Metal alloys are made with the introduction of other metals. Major segments of the primary metal manufacturing sector include: [i] iron and steel mills; [ii] steel product manufacturing; [iii] aluminum production and processing; [iv] non-ferrous metal production and processing; and [v] foundries.

The fabricated metal product manufacturing sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in forging, stamping, forming, turning, and joining processes to produce ferrous and non-ferrous metal products. Major segments of the fabricated metal product manufacturing sector include: [i] forging and stamping; [ii] cutlery and hand tool manufacturing; [iii] architectural and structural metals manufacturing; [iv] boiler, tank and shipping container manufacturing; [v] hardware manufacturing; [vi] spring and wire product manufacturing; [vii] machine shops, turned product, and screw, nut and bolt manufacturing; [viii] coating, engraving, heat treating and allied activities; and [ix] other fabricated metal product manufacturing.

Vehicle manufacturing represents the largest segment of the Primary and Fabricated Metals sector in Ontario. Ontario is the most important vehicle-producing jurisdiction in North America. Seven of the world's largest vehicle manufacturers operate 14 plants in Ontario.

Ontario is a world leader in:

• Injection and blow molding
• Hydroforming
• Ferrous and non-ferrous casting
• Powder metal coating and fabrication
• Assembly and sub-assembly
• Systems and component integration
• Stamping

Source: Ontario Investment Service (www.investinontario.com)

Download a Brochure on Ontario's Automotive Industry in PDF format.

• World leader in all aspects of vehicle parts manufacturing as well as assembly and sub assembly
• Several of the larger customers of Ontario's Tool Die and Mould (TDM) industry have already moved off-shore; e.g. automobile manufacturers Hyundai and Volkswagen; toy manufacturers, consumer products small tool and appliance industries
• TDM manufacturers are being pressured to reduce lead times and use new, sophisticated software packages reduce human error and curtail the need for prototypes and testing – thus adding to cost pressures
• There is a growing shortage of skilled workers in the Ontario TDM industry
• TDM in Ontario are experiencing a rising cost base, particularly labour related costs
• Most Canadian TDM producers specialize in particular types of products or sectors – in south- western Ontario the focus is automotive and building products while in the Toronto area the focus is automotive, packaging, consumer products and building products