Mitsui High-tec doubles its size with second Brantford facility

A Brantford manufacturer has doubled its size in just eight years, while shovels are already in the ground for another expansion.

Mitsui High-tec (Canada) Inc. celebrated the opening of its second production plant on Fen Ridge Court in the city’s northwest industrial area on Friday.

“We are still a young company,” Mitsui High-tec president Yasushi Harada told dignitaries in attendance. “We have come very far in a short time. I have the utmost confidence that we will continue to grow and have success in this industry.”

In 2015 the Japanese company established its initial 100,000 sq. ft. manufacturing plant in Brantford supplying auto makers across North America with 40,000 to 50,000 motor cores per month that are essential for electric vehicles.

The 100,000 sq. ft., US $25 million expansion for Plant No. 2 will see initial trials and shipments begin in July at 60,000 units per month, increasing to 120,000 per month in January 2024, according to operations manager Kurt Palmer.

“It’s a new contract for (us),” he said. “Mitsui Japan has been dealing with Toyota for 20-plus years.”

Foundations have already been poured for a 117,000 sq. ft., US $29 million Plant No. 3 expansion that will be completed by January 2024, taking the number of employees from 100 at present, to about 300.

Ryan Grimm, vice president of purchasing and supplier development at Toyota Motor North America, said the two companies have a long-term relationship that has proven to be strong.

“We are pleased to launch our first program here in North America with the introduction of our fifth-generation hybrid transaxle production that will begin in January 2024,” explained Grimm. “This growth will support vehicle programs that include the Camry, RAV4, and the Corolla Cross, all extremely important vehicles in the North American market and lineup.

“The RAV4 is built just up the road at TMMC (Toyota Motoring Manufacturing Canada) just north of here.”

Trevor Dauphinee, CEO of Invest Ontario, the province’s investment attraction agency, said there have been several significant investments announced in the automotive and battery space in Ontario.

“I would characterize it as almost generational-sized investments,” he said. “In Ontario over the last two years we’ve seen $24 billion worth of investment come into the automotive space and I think that’s a consequence of talent, location, and a willingness to partner with businesses in order to get them to come here.”

Also in attendance was Takuya Sasayama, consul-general of Japan, who said developments like this demonstrate the strong ties and economic relations between Ontario and Japan.

“The Ontario government has introduced its own policy for the automotive sector (setting) an ambitious goal of producing 400,000 hybrid and electric vehicles (in Ontario) by 2030,” he said. “Mitsui’s expansion and continued efforts will be indispensable towards this goal.”

Brantford city councilor John Sless described Mitsui High-tec as a “real success story.”

“They are in the right business at the right time,” he observed. “I think they are going to be here for a long time.”

[email protected]