Schauenburg Industries Ltd.
Schauenburg Industries on a Roll
Heather Campbell
Schauenburg Industries Ltd. has tripled its growth in the last three years and stands poised to continue the trend.
“We simply made some changes when it was the right time,” says Don Croteau, managing director.
When Croteau was recruited by the German-owned manufacturer to take the lead of the 40 year old company, there was tremendous potential for expansion and growth. The company is strategically located in North Bay to service customers across the north.
Schauenburg Industries Ltd., a member of Schauenburg Group of Companies, provides mining, tunneling, forestry and other industries with engineered ventilation solutions.In 2006 Schauenburg Group also acquired another northern Ontario company, the Sudbury-based Jannatec Radio Technologies, a manufacturer of radio cap lamps and collision avoidance systems.
Although the North Bay operation supplies fan silencers, dust collectors, industrial tarps and curtains, the bulk of their service is supplying mining companies with fiberglass phenolic ducting. They are the only manufacturer in Canada for this product.
The fiberglass ventilation combines a filament winding process and phenolic resin for maximum strength. This unique ducting product is acid mine water resistant and rot proof making for a long service life. The ducting is also available in round or oval shapes. The oval shape has a smooth inner surface that ensures lowest friction and a high volume of air.
Croteau wanted to tackle a few areas when he took the lead. The first was to make some changes to the production process in order to become more competitive. Taking advantage of the AIME Initiative North that provides funding for training through the
North Bay Economic Development Office and the Yves Landry Foundation, the company received $30,000 to make some changes.
Employees participated in training programs that allowed them to operate new equipment they purchased and better serve their customers’ needs.
“We went from 10 employees to 25 in a few short years,” Croteau explained. “We also added 4,900 square feet in warehouse space.”
Several employees have been with the company since the company’s inception in 1969, including one employee who recently was recognized for 40 years of service to the company and still has a few more years before retirement.
“Putting together an excellent team has been critical to our continued growth. Working with LMI (Leadership Management International) is providing the ability to draw on the contributions of all employees to bring efficiencies to the operation,” said Croteau.
The company was ISO 9001 certified two years ago and has opened the door for new customers. Croteau has his sights on expanding his client base further outside of Ontario and Quebec and into other parts of Canada.
In addition to what was going on inside the facility, Croteau wanted to address the community and industry awareness of Schauenburg Industries.
“After 40 years in North Bay not many people knew about our facility on Bond Street. We started by clearing the land of trees around the facility and putting up a big sign,” said Croteau.
With the positive outlook and activity in the mining sector, Schauenburg Industries is positioned to meet the demand.
Source: http://www.schauenburg.ca/documents/news/Schauenburg-Industries-on-a-roll.pdf