Vinyl fabric producer Morbern Inc. is spending C$15.7 million (US$12.1 million) to add a new coating line and make other improvements to its Cornwall, Ontario, factory.
Morbern is installing a high-speed line that casts vinyl onto fabric and expects the line to be operating by March 2017, according to Morbern President Jacques St. Denis. The line will speed up production to meet demand in auto and other industries, and will allow single-step topcoat application versus a three-step process it now uses with less modern equipment.
“The new line allows a better coating process,” explained St. Denis in a phone interview. The line's pricetag is about C$9 million (US$6.9 million). Topcoats add durability and cleanability to the vinyl layer, he added. Other markets for vinyl fabric are upholstery, healthcare, marine and transportation. Other projects in the upgrade and expansion include building a 12,500-square-foot addition, moving existing production lines into a more efficient configuration and upgrading electrical utilities.
The provincial Eastern Ontario Development Fund will provide up to C$1.5 million (US$1.2 million) in assistance.