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Company of the Year (51+ Employees): Gin-Cor

“Success comes from surrounding yourself with good people,” Stang said. “Drawing on the expertise of mentors, such as seasoned experts in the business community, including our customers, friends and family, is crucial for positive reinforcement.”

From a small, welding and fabrication shop founded in 1978, Gin-Cor Industries has grown to become Mattawa’s largest employer and one of the most trusted names in truck manufacturing.

That’s not by accident.

The company’s success comes from prioritizing the core values of continuous improvement, health and safety, customer focus, accountability, integrity, quality and respect. And Gin-Cor has flourished.

In 2012, the company added 18,000 square feet to its manufacturing facility, increasing its ability to handle 12 different trucks to go with the existing five manufacturing bays.

Three years later, Gin-Cor acquired Durabody Industries, which designs and constructs custom truck bodies and trailers known for their durability. The company added to its portfolio once again in 2016 with the acquisition of J.C. Trailers Design & Fabrication, the leading supplier of trailers and trailer equipment to the Canadian market.

“Both of these acquisitions met our desired profile due to the nature and fit of our business,” said Luc Stang, company president and CEO. “They are both custom fabricators dedicated to precision work that make up some of the strongest products in the market today.”

Together, Gin-Cor and its subsidiaries have locations in Mattawa, Carleton Place, Kingston, Dryden, Gloucester, Bond Head, Kingston, and Keswick.

With the growth in demand for Gin-Cor trucks has come a need for more skilled people, who Stang said are at the core of the business’s achievements.

“Success comes from surrounding yourself with good people,” Stang said. “Drawing on the expertise of mentors, such as seasoned experts in the business community, including our customers, friends and family, is crucial for positive reinforcement.”

Gin-Cor now employs close to 200 people — a jump from 60 just three years ago — and employees are valued for their contributions.

“Behind every dump body, service body, snow plow, sander or crane installation stands a group of dedicated tradespeople and technicians who have made it their mission to build the very best,” the company says.

The company maintains a comprehensive benefits package, and a family-like atmosphere is encouraged amongst the workforce. In 2015, it held its first ever children’s Christmas party, while proceeds from the sale of a family-themed company calendar will go toward postsecondary education plans for the children of staff members.

Gin-Cor also believes in supporting the communities in which it operates, and has donated tens of thousands of dollars to charitable causes that support initiatives primarily in the health-care and innovation sectors.

For its achievements, Gin-Cor has been duly recognized.

It has appeared on the Profit 500 list of Fastest Growing Companies for three consecutive years. It has been recognized as Business of the Year twice by the North Bay & District Chamber of Commerce. Stang was recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year in 2012 by Northern Ontario Business.