Provincial government supports Windsor show

Ontario’s Ministry of Economic Development & Trade has given a boost to this year’s tooling show in Windsor, Ont. The Minister, Sandra Pupatello, has approved a $100,000 grant to help the Canadian Association of Mold Makers, the show’s organiser, bring in up to 50 buyers from non-traditional customers. These buyers will also tour local mould shops and meet their owners, and be offered a series of seminars.

“The mouldmaking sector provides the high-quality equipment and services that our manufacturing and automotive sectors depend on,” Pupatello said. “This investment promotes the continued strength of our mold manufacturers, connecting them with new customers and developing new markets.”

Added CAMM president Dan Moynahan, “This funding allows Ontario’s mold manufacturing sector to showcase our talent, resources, skills and innovation to the world. The ‘reverse trade show’ will demonstrate that we can provide the high quality products that buyers demand in today’s global economy.”

The Windsor area employs up to 14,000 people in its tool and die industry, including those in support sectors. But with the shrinkage of automotive manufacturing in and around the city, and its impact on moldmaking, that number itself is probably reduced.

“There’s a potential danger of this industry disappearing entirely from Windsor,” says Cy McGrath, general manager of Progressive Components Canada, who is also chairman of the Canadian Machine Tool, Die & Mold Federation (CMTDMF). “We need to go beyond this dependence on automotive – people are realising that.

“They’re also coming to realise that outside of the automotive business, not many people in the world know Windsor as a centre for moldmaking at all, and we have to change that if we’re going to survive. That means finding new industries to serve in new markets, whether it’s medical, aerospace, or whoever can use the technical know-how here.”

The two-day trade show will be held on November 18 and 19 at the Caesar’s Windsor Casino (formerly the Windsor Casino).

www.camm.ca