Automation is helping Champ Metal Fabrication’s continued growth in the face of skilled labor shortages  

Champ Metal Fabrication (Champ) is a prominent contract metal manufacturing company founded in 1967. Over the decades, it has evolved significantly, adapting to the changing needs of the industry. Kevin Medwick, President of the company, outlines this evolution: “We started making dishwashers for bars initially. We then moved into the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) space, predominantly in the transportation sector and we now produce a lot for rail, buses, and similar applications. Additionally, we service the construction industry, the agricultural sector, and a wide range of other metal manufacturing needs. 

“What we really sell to our customers is efficiency and productivity. The more value we add, the more competitive we become in terms of pricing, ultimately benefiting our clients’ businesses,” Kevin continues. He elaborates on Champ’s comprehensive approach: “Where other companies might just focus on one service, we cut, bend, weld, clean, paint and assemble the parts, and then we deliver them just-in-time to be integrated with their equipment and factory.  

“We stand apart by working very closely with clients to ensure that the terms and conditions are in place so that we can build the largest back quantity possible. This strategy helps eliminate setup charges for the customer and emphasizes just-in-time delivery, making sure they have what they need, when they need it, without incurring the premium costs that many other companies charge.” 

Throughout its history, Champ has continuously evolved with technological advancements to provide its customers with the best possible service. This commitment to innovation is a tradition that continues to this day. Kevin elaborates: “We are continuously investing in the latest advancements in technology. For example, in April, we will be integrating a fully automated laser cutting system into our factory. We have also just completed the installation of a fully automated press brake in our US facility. These upgrades not only reduce lead times, bringing them to zero in the case of the press brake, but also decrease the number of operators required, from five to just one for the laser cutter, thereby significantly increasing overall productivity.” 

Kevin goes on to explain how long-standing relationships help Champ maintain quality across its supply chain: “Most of our metal suppliers have been with us for the entire 60 years we’ve been in operation. It’s all relationship based. We ensure that when we’re working with a new or existing customer, we are growing with them, understanding their needs so that our suppliers also understand our needs, thereby preventing any disruption in the supply chain.” 

This relationship-focused approach extends to internal dynamics as well. “The company does an amazing job making sure everyone in the organization is feels valued and is treated how we expect to be treated,” Kevin explains. “Serving as a testament to this, over 30 percent of our employees have been with the company for over ten years, which is quite remarkable in an environment like ours. Looking after people is about understanding what they need. Today, flexibility and empathy are essential.” 

Technological advancements and evolutions remain a key priority for the company. Kevin outlines the approach to investing in research and development processes: “Innovation is really concentrated on automating processes to improve speed and delivery. The laser welders, for example, required significant research to implement into our US facility. Firstly, we had to learn how to operate them ourselves. Secondly, we needed to ensure our customers’ engineering departments accepted it as a viable welding technique. Beyond that, our focus is on automating as many processes as possible because it’s becoming increasingly challenging to find skilled labor.” 

Ambitious targets 

These technological advancements benefit customers directly, as Kevin explains: “As a contract manufacturer, our goal is to ensure we have the techniques that our customers need. We don’t have any of our own products; we focus solely on our clients’ requirements. We would gladly double or triple the size of our US facility tomorrow if we could find the right people. Our customers face the same challenges. Providing solutions that enable businesses to grow without necessarily increasing their workforce is a significant advantage, particularly for our partners in the US, where immigration laws make it more difficult to bring new talent into the industry compared to Canada.” 

Looking to the future, Kevin outlines the company’s ambitions for the coming years: “The remainder of this year will be about analysis and assessment. We have doubled the size of our business over the last three years, so we’ll be evaluating where to make further investments and identifying areas for improvement. We will also continue to serve our existing customers as they expand, ensuring we can meet their evolving demands. 

“Our five-year plan is to replicate what we achieved in the first three years – to double the size of the business once again. Achieving this will require proactive outreach as well as connecting with the right customers. We genuinely believe we can hit these ambitious targets. We have the capacity in both plants to meet demand, and we have invested in our equipment and infrastructure to ensure that they can continue to meet our needs for the years to come. Our focus now is on making the right connections with the right clientele.” 

Through its commitment to innovation, customer relationships, and strategic growth, Champ Metal Fabrication is poised to continue its legacy of excellence in the metal manufacturing industry.   

www.champindustries.ca 
www.champmetalfabrication.ca