Southwestern Ontario Development Fund: $500k in Expansion Grants

Rulmeca Canada Limited (Rulmeca) of Wallaceburg, Ontario, is the world’s largest manufacturer of rollers, idlers, and motorized pulleys for heavy duty conveyors within quarries, mines, mills, and bulk terminals. The company has over 1,200 employees, 10 manufacturing facilities, and eight sales offices worldwide.

Rulmeca is the recipient of $499,550 in manufacturing grants from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF).

Ontario business grants from SWODF are supporting a 22,000-square-foot expansion at the company’s Mason Street manufacturing facility. The Southwestern Ontario Development Fund offers funding for business development and the expansion of SMEs located in the Southwestern Ontario region, with a focus on attracting new investments, creating jobs, and facilitating new business initiatives.

SWODF Awards Rulmeca $500k in Ontario Business Grants

Rulmeca supplies many customers and projects in North and South America in the resource-extraction industry such as Suncor, Imperial, and Shell. The company has more than 50 years’ experience in manufacturing and has advanced to the forefront of idler technology, design, and construction.

To support a facility expansion and equipment upgrade, the company has received $500k in Ontario government funding from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund.

Rulmeca has recently completed a facility expansion at their plant in Wallaceburg, Ontario. The expansion is part of a strategic growth plan to better service customers in North America. Ontario business grants from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund is allowing the company to hire additional workers in anticipation of workforce growth to over 100 employees as the company moves towards adding additional shifts.

Ontario government funding also permits Rulmeca to bring in new advanced manufacturing equipment, including an assembly press, robotic welding cell, and paint line system. New equipment will support increased ability to weld all variations of current designs, including the ability to weld roll types which the previous equipment could not support. These advancements will increase operations efficiency, lower labour costs, and bolster market competitiveness.

About the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund

The Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF) is an Ontario government funding program designed to support capital investment projects that enable high-growth-potential companies to boost their competitiveness and create new jobs within the province.

To qualify, companies should operate a high-priority sector such as advanced manufacturing, life sciences, ICT, and tourism. Initiatives eligible for funding involve the purchase of advanced equipment, large-scale facility expansions, and innovative technologies.

By applying for the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund, businesses may leverage up to 10-15% of project expenses to a maximum $1.5M in business grants.

To access SWODF business expansion funding, companies must develop a competitive application that details the project’s purpose, budget, timelines, and expected outcomes. The Ontario government funding program is open year-round and is currently accepting submissions.

Starting an expansion project?  Download the Key Tips: Expanding Production slide deck for the best methods to ensure projects stay on time, on budget, and reduce impact on company cash flow.