A longtime Barrie business has its eyes set on the future — and that means a move out of the city it has called home for two decades.
TNR Industrial Doors, which is part of Hörmann Group Canada, has been manufacturing custom-built, high-performance industrial doors at its Fairview Road facility since 2003, said president Marcus von Reden.
He said it was a combination of the positive reputation of the local business community and quality-of-life opportunities for employees that kept the company in the city all these years.
“The local supply chain is very established and entrenched," von Reden said. "Barrie ... and Simcoe County is very attractive to be a manufacturer for the continent. There are (also) advantages for staff to work here rather than (have) the stressful issues of commuting to the city.”
The company, which employs 118 people across Canada, including 86 in Barrie, says it has made the bittersweet decision to leave Barrie.
It is set to officially break ground on a new property in Oro-Medonte Township on Friday.
Von Reden the decision was made as they look into the future and the move will allow them to better accommodate growth opportunities.
“Long term, we will both be able to improve our processes, create efficiencies by being able to lay it out the way we like to produce and manufacture, in conjunction with just being in need of more space due to growth,” said von Reden.
Over the last 20 years, the company has grown and changed substantially, he added, and a lot of that has to do with its employees.
“We are blessed with the growth which comes with hard work, dedication and a very strong team culture," said von Reden. "We also make sure we hire for the right fit and skill set. Without the people, we wouldn’t be anywhere close to where we are today.”
Von Reden says he believes the company's future is bright as they aim to “grow, grow, grow” and continue to increase market share.
Through that, he noted, the company will be able to invest in employees and their careers, invest in the community as well as in efficiencies within the manufacturing process.
Von Reden also said the company is extremely grateful to the city of Barrie and its residents for being such a good host all these years.
“Naturally, one of my eyes is crying and one is smiling as we are moving," he said. "We know everybody here and we have well-established relationships … and that we are a few kilometres away now in a neighbouring township doesn’t mean we won’t have interaction with the city. Many of our employees will come from Barrie, as a high percentage of our staff have decided to come to Oro-Medonte with us.”
The official groundbreaking festivities are scheduled to take place Oct. 27 from 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at 15-25 Winstar Rd., near Highway 11 and Line 4 in Oro-Medonte.
Von Reden says he's excited to get that first shovel in the ground.
“It’s a pretty good feeling and a testament to my team that all the hard work is literally materializing," he said. "Now it’s time to execute and make sure that we stay on the timeline."
The goal is to be up and running in the new facility by early 2025.
