Thorndale official opening a great success

October 12, 2017 was a very special day for Algonquin Bridge and the AIL Group of Companies, as we celebrated the official opening of our new Thorndale, Ontario facility with an Open House event.

Our new facility was in great shape for visitors with coffee and refreshments on arrival. As it happened, there were several bridge fabrication projects underway in the shop including a vehicular girder bridge destined for Northern Alberta and a pedestrian/trail truss bridge going to Quebec. Plus, we had a section of a Modular Panel Bridge erected in the yard. These made for excellent demonstrations during the tours.

The event was very well attended and, after a few speeches, Mike Wilson, CEO, The AIL Group of Companies, cut the ribbon with assistance from: Jeff Yurek, Ontario MPP, Elgin-Middlesex-London; Kelly Elliot, Ward 1 Councillor, Thames Centre; and Dale Gaston, President, Algonquin Bridge.

Also in attendance were Graham Wilkinson, one of Algonquin Bridge’s original founders and Eric Snelgrove, a long-time associate of the company.

Following a hearty lunch, the guests broke into smaller groups for plant tours led by members of the Algonquin team and supported by our bridge fabricators. As it happened, there were two large projects underway in the shop– a vehicular girder bridge destined for Northern Alberta and a pedestrian/trail truss bridge going to Quebec. Plus, we had a section of a Modular Panel Bridge erected in the yard. These all made excellent demonstration subjects for the tours.

About the new facility

Able to produce a 250m² continuous structure, the new plant has been carefully planned for maximum end-to-end, flow-though efficiency with two 25-ton overhead cranes and several cellular work stations. Two floors of adjoining office space are home to our executive, sales, engineering and production management teams. The facility is situated on a large site with plenty of room for future expansion.

The new Algonquin plant is another example of our ongoing commitment to innovation and growth. The Thorndale location was selected for its proximity to the large talent pool in the London area (with its universities and technical colleges) and it is also near the Highway 401 for easy Canada-wide shipping.