A new steel galvanizing plant is hoping to be running by November.
That's according to Norgalv's managing director Andre Van Soelen who is in charge of the 35,000 square-foot facility which is located within the City's Airport Industrial Park.
"I can honestly say that the decision to locate in North Bay was made easy due to the hard work, drive and assistance from all levels of government. It is absolutely amazing that growing the economy and creating jobs aren’t mere slogans, but goals proven with the assistance and support in getting this investment here today," stated van Soelen.
He says the company recognizes how important the mining industry is to northern Ontario as they admit it is a key part of Norgalv's business strategy.
"There is no benefit for the mining companies to spend that money on transporting the material up and down, apart from all the risks involved with transport," said van Soelen noting this will be the first Steel galvanizing plant located in northern Ontario.
But he believes the sky is truly the limit in this marketplace.
"Hot dip galvanizing is required in many other sectors ranging from telecommunications, road infrastructure, agricultural, petroleum and power generation," he said.
van Soelen was joined by all three levels of government which helped make the $21 million investment a reality.
The federal government chipped in with $1.5 million through FedNor, while a provincial investment of $5 million was made by MPP Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development Job Creation and Trade. The city of North Bay is providing a tax rebate and more than $70,000 in grants to cover municipal fees through its Growth Community Improvement Plan.
von Soelen admits the South African company had a lot of different options worldwide for plant locations, but he says only a short meeting with North Bay city officials was enough to sell him them on setting up shop in North Bay.
“North Bay sold North Bay to us in an hour, and they showed us it is a community that will go out of the way to assist us,“ said van Soelen.
Al McDonald, North Bay's mayor says Norgalv made a bold decision to set up here. He says it is all part of the plan to grow the city even during a pandemic.
“On behalf of the City of North Bay, I would like to thank Norgalv Limited for their confidence and investment in our community. This plant will create new employment, support local business, and create new business opportunities in our city,” said Mayor McDonald.
Construction of the state-of-the-art technological and environmentally-advanced hot-dip galvanizing plant began in the fall of 2019. The facility, which will service Northern Ontario's mining supply and service industry and support business opportunities throughout the province, is now about 50 per cent complete and is expected to employ approximately 45 people.
“This is a strategic new business for North Bay, an important expansion for the north, and a great investment in Ontario,” said Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli.
"This is like a hub investment that you make to bring a whole group of other companies to North Bay, and that his how I approach it," continued Fedeli.
"Norgalv’s show of confidence is further proof that the North Bay area is an attractive location for advanced manufacturers to invest and grow,” stated Anthony Rota, Nipissing-Timiskaming MP.
Designed by industry-leading specialists from Austria and Germany, the facility will be a semi-automated, single-line, hot-dipped galvanizing plant, with an 8m x 1.4m x 3.5m "kettle" and all other supplementary equipment required.
