Collingwood manufacturer celebrates 50 years
One of Collingwood’s longest-tenured manufacturers has reached a major milestone.
Pilkington Glass is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, having opened in July, 1968.
“To be a manufacturer of automotive parts in southern Ontario for a 50-year span, is an incredible accomplishment,” said plant manager Brian Hammond.
The company produces windshields for the automotive sector and is the only plant of its kind left in Canada.
Plant manager Brian Hammond said the automotive business has seen a lot of ups and downs, especially around 2008-2009.
He said the plant not only survived but is now thriving in the automotive sector. Hammond said they enhanced safety measures and efficiencies in the plant and took on some specialty glass jobs and aftermarket business.
The facility produces about two million windshields per year, making glass for Honda, Toyota, GM, Chrysler and Nissan.
They also added a new lamination line, upgraded their bending technology and a new packaging line.
“The Collingwood facility never gave up on maintaining its presence in the auto business and now as we stand, we’re the only automotive glass supplier in Canada,” Hammond said. “It’s nice to see the company is still willing to invest in the plant in Canada.”
The plant employs about 250 people and Gary Sacerty is the longest serving.
Sacerty started shortly after the plant hung out its shingles, September, 1968.
“I don’t know where it went,” he said.
He said he started at the bottom.
“I was out in the front lawn picking weeds,” he recalls.
However, he has gone on to hold a number of jobs in the plant including operating the tempering furnace, driving a forklift and now works in the tooling department.
“I love my job, what I do. It’s a challenge every day,” he said. “I like my job and I’m not planning on leaving as long as my health holds out.”
The company is holding an open house on July 12 until 4 p.m., and is hosting a series of events with employees for the rest of the year to celebrate the milestone.