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Shimco opens new facility, boosts manufacturing capability

Shimco has completed its move from Markham, Ont. to a new 25,000 square foot state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Cambridge, Ont. with increased capacity and advancements in manufacturing processes.


October 17, 2016  By Shimco

The new facility has received full AS9100C recertification, as well as updated customer approvals from its current aerospace customers including Asco, Bell Helicopter, Bombardier, Embraer, UTAS Goodrich, Héroux-Devtek, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Messier-Bugatti-Dowty, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, RTI, Sonaca, SPPCA, UTC Aerospace Systems and Wesco Aircraft.

Advanced lean manufacturing principles were incorporated at the new location with a paperless production floor, an electronic Kanban system, and new labour-saving equipment. The most significant upgrade in production efficiency resulted from the purchase and implementation of two Mazak 4000 HCN horizontal machining centres and a Mazak Palletech system, forming a flexible manufacturing system (FMS). The FMS can run 32 jobs at once with only one operator, or in a “lights out” mode with no operator in attendance, resulting in considerable reductions in cost and production time.

A 30,000 square foot expansion at the same location is in development to support in-house processing, commercialization of Shimco’s licensed Keronite PEO coating application, and to establish a Centre of Excellence with local research institutions.

Peter Voss, president and CEO of Shimco, comments, “Over the last five years, Shimco has made substantial advancements in technology, throughput, efficiency and financial resources. Our customers throughout the world have recognized our commitment to becoming a significant part of the integrated supply chain, and this move to a custom-built, state-of-the-art facility shows our commitment is long-term. We now have the capacity to continue our rapid growth over the coming years, in both conventional processes and in advanced technology platforms, in a region well known for its advanced manufacturing companies and strong labour talent.”

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