Government of Canada invests in Kitchener-based company’s move to cleaner manufacturing in electric vehicle industry
News release
Kuntz Electroplating Inc. to receive $3 million to create jobs and strengthen its manufacturing capabilities in the automotive and Electric Vehicle (EV) industry
July 10, 2023 – Kitchener, Ontario
Ontario’s manufacturing sector employs thousands of workers and is a significant contributor to Canada’s economy. As the demand for greener alternatives continues to increase, Ontario’s manufacturers have immense potential to harness their expertise and new technologies to support the rapidly growing Electric Vehicle (EV) market. The Government of Canada is investing in people so they can reach their full potential and develop new possibilities, so everyone can succeed.
Today, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), joined by Valerie Bradford, Member of Parliament for Kitchener South–Hespeler, and Tim Louis, Member of Parliament for Kitchener–Conestoga, announced a $3-million Government of Canada investment for Kuntz Electroplating Inc. (KEI) to strengthen its manufacturing capabilities, create 45 new jobs in the automotive and EV industry and support the growing green economy.
KEI is one of Kitchener’s longest-running family-owned businesses and is one of North America’s leading manufacturers of electroplated and powder-coated exterior components for the automotive and motorcycle industries. This investment will help KEI to modify its existing production lines and add new equipment to meet growing demand from the EV market for its services.
This project will help KEI enter the clean technology sector and fulfill larger volume orders and serve new clients by offering more environmentally sustainable solutions, including in the EV sector. With this investment, KEI will strengthen the manufacturing sector in Kitchener and position itself for long-term growth. Today’s investment is supporting innovation and modernization of our manufacturing sector, which will help contribute to a greener future for Canadians.
While in the Kitchener–Waterloo area, Minister Tassi also met with Her Worship Jan Liggett, Mayor of Cambridge, Her Worship Susan Foxton, Mayor of North Dumfries, and Her Worship Dorothy McCabe, Mayor of the City of Waterloo, as well as other local stakeholders to discuss regional opportunities for economic growth.
Quotes
“Supporting family businesses like Kuntz Electroplating Inc. will help create good local jobs and develop new manufacturing capabilities to support Canada’s growing EV and manufacturing sector. Our Government is focused on elevating local communities by investing in the people that have the potential to turn possibilities into reality. We will continue to work together to deliver more for Canadians and grow an economy that works for everyone.”
– The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
“Today’s announcement is not only great news for the Kitchener-Waterloo region, as it will create good local jobs and strengthen a celebrated family-run business, but it is also a great step in supporting a greener future for southern Ontario.”
– Valerie Bradford, Member of Parliament for Kitchener South – Hespeler
"This federal investment will help meet the challenge of environmentally sustainable growth, empowered by the expertise and innovation that Waterloo Region is known for.”
– Tim Louis, Member of Parliament for Kitchener – Conestoga
“This FedDev Ontario funding is a crucial investment, not just for creating jobs in Kitchener, but also as an investment in our country’s low-carbon economy. The EV industry is expanding quickly across Canada and Kuntz Electroplating will now have the capability to expand their operations to provide environmentally sustainable solutions, modernize Kitchener’s manufacturing sector and help support Kitchener’s transition to a greener future.”
– His Worship Berry Vrbanovic, Mayor of the City of Kitchener
“We are very appreciative of the support KEI is receiving from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario through the Jobs and Growth Fund. This support will help us add new products, access new markets, and continue to be globally competitive from our Kitchener location through investment in state-of-the-art technologies for the North American electric vehicle market.”
– Jeff Regehr, Vice President - Finance, Kuntz Electroplating Inc.
Quick facts
-
Established in 1948 and incorporated in 1990, Kuntz Electroplating Inc. is a family-owned business that is now under third-generation management. It operates out of a 340,000-square-foot facility in Kitchener with 290 full-time employees.
-
Kuntz Electroplating Inc. was recently awarded a large contract from the Canadian branch of a multinational automotive parts manufacturer to powder coat EV battery components for one of the world’s largest automakers and also secured contracts from Harley Davidson Motor Co.
-
Since November 2015, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has invested over $717.4 million in 340 manufacturing projects, creating over 9,100 jobs and maintaining nearly 9,000 jobs.
-
Since 2015, FedDev Ontario has invested more than $41.5 million in 12 EV-related projects, creating and maintaining more than 400 jobs.
Associated links
Contacts
Edward Hutchinson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Edward.Hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca
Media Relations
FedDev Ontario
feddevontariomediarelations-relationsmedias@feddevontario.gc.ca
Stay connected
Website: www.FedDevOntario.gc.ca
Subscribe to FedDev Ontario's Southern Ontario Spotlight newsletter, featuring economic development news and updates from across the region.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn for more information on how we are growing businesses, cultivating partnerships and building strong communities in southern Ontario.
Page details
- Date modified: