Service Centers

Samuel Invests in Automotive Metals Processing Facility

June 5, 2018

Canada’s Samuel, Son & Co., a leading metals distributor and industrial products manufacturer, has invested $18 million in its Brantford, Ontario, automotive metals processing center. It expects to complete the expansion by the fourth quarter, ramping to full production in early 2019.

Samuel’s Brantford facility is currently a 141,000-square-foot metals processing operation equipped with blanking and press lines. The latest investment is expected to increase capacity while adding levelling and processing capabilities for advanced high-strength steel, the company said.

The automotive industry is focused on reducing vehicle weight to improve fuel efficiency and lower emissions. This has resulted in a significant increase in the use of aluminum and advanced high-strength steel, requiring the metals processing industry to invest in new processing technologies and capacity.

“Over the last three years, Samuel has invested more than $100 million to extend the capacity and capabilities we offer to automotive OEMs and Tier One suppliers across North America,” said Luis Ponte, Samuel’s Vice President of Automotive. “This latest round of investment positions Samuel as a leading automotive metals processor, while allowing us to deliver a new level of support for the many expanding global automotive programs that are based in Southwestern Ontario.”

In addition to its investment in the Brantford facility, Samuel opened a greenfield automotive operation in Columbia, Tenn., in 2015, and acquired its additive manufacturing division, Burloak Technologies, in 2017.

Founded in 1855, Samuel, Son & Co. is a family-owned and operated integrated network of metal manufacturing, processing and distribution divisions. With over 5,000 employees and more than 100 facilities, Samuel provides seamless access to metals, industrial products and related value-added services.