Sle-Co Plastics purchase of former A. Schulman Canada plant
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Gleed was pleased to assist Sle-Co in their purchase of 400 South Edgeware, St. Thomas.
By Ian McCallum, St. Thomas Times-Journal
Tuesday, January 14, 2014 9:29:29 EST AM
ST. THOMAS -
The city’s ties to the automotive industry were strengthened Monday with the announcement Sle-Co Plastics of London has purchased the former A. Schulman Canada plant.
The parts supplier is one of the province’s leading firms in plastic injection molding and assembly, with customers across North America in both the automotive and electronics markets.
Schulman’s flagship Canadian plant was sold to private interests several years ago, however plans for the South Edgeware Rd. facility never materialized and it was put back on the market late last year.
Considered a gateway property, the 155,000 sq. ft. building sits on 16 acres with two rail spurs and 18 silos for raw materials.
Approximately half of the plant is ready for immediate warehousing use and light manufacturing by Sle-Co, while the production area, labs and offices will undergo significant renovations and improvements over the coming year.
No estimate of job creation was included in the announcement.
“This is an excellent start to the new year as fresh life is breathed into a property that has always been an important one in the city,†noted Mayor Heather Jackson at Monday’s city council meeting.
“Having been through the facility on numerous occasions, it was apparent that there was so much potential for it to be used for a plastics operation,†added Dennis Broome, president of the St. Thomas Economic Development Corp.
Founded in 1988, Sle-Co currently operates out of several locations including their head office on Creamery Rd. in London, where over 25 of the firms 50 molding machines are located.
Company president Jeff Sleegers confirmed the current programs and business operations at the London facilities will continue.
“With a reputation for high-quality products, innovation, flexibility and excellent customer service, Sle-Co Plastics is an excellent addition to the St. Thomas industrial community,†noted Sean Dyke, EDC manager, in a media release.