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Past Winners and Profiles

AWARD OF MERIT – PPI Modular Structures (Manf.) & ProPharma Selling Services Since 1981, Brampton based PPI Modular Structures (formerly known as Provincial Partitions) has been supplying Canada and the U.S. with a wide variety of modular space solutions. PPI’s current growth and success is a far cry from its modest beginnings 24 years ago. At that time, the Frankland family conducted business from within a small 1,200 square foot single industrial unit in Mississauga. The original goal was to serve the southern Ontario region marketing its demountable interior wall product called “System 40”. This unique office system involved the use of 40-inch module panels to construct office partitions and was the basis of PPI’s original focus, hence the name “Provincial Partitions”.

In 1995, PPI president, Todd Frankland decided to relocate to Brampton, and it is here that the company’s sales increased dramatically – by 400 percent! Much of this increase was due to the fact that PPI had expanded its product line. In 1999 they started manufacturing prefabricated buildings of varied customizable shapes and sizes, and started producing welded mezzanine structures and storage platforms. PPI products cover numerous sectors, including industrial, commercial, and institutional. It was through this expansion of their product line in 2001, that prompted the name change to “PPI Modular Structures”. It was felt the old name was limiting the perception of what PPI was capable of.

Today, PPI has evolved into a 25 million dollar annual business operation at its current 60,000 square foot Brampton plant. They have a CWB Certified welding shop on premises and their ISO Quality Management System is firmly in place (ISO 9001:2000). All trades are conducted under one roof, so there is a measurable difference in quality control and solutions can be addressed much more efficiently. PPI will continue to set their sights high and maintain a competitive edge by standing firm in their goal to becoming the best company in the modular space solutions industry in Canada and the United States, bar none.

Brampton Outstanding Business Achievement Awards 2004

DISTRIBTUION – Schenker Canada

The history of Schenker dates back to 1872 when Gottfried Schenker established the company in Vienna, Austria. His concept of consolidated transportation services led to the foundation of 33 branches in 13 countries over the course of his lifetime. In 1947, Schenker expanded its operations to Canada, the United States, South Africa and Australia.

Today, Schenker’s global presence in integrated logistics and freight forwarding links companies and markets worldwide. On a global basis, 36,000 employees at 1,100 locations throughout the world achieving revenues of roughly $10 billion ($Cdn.) per year support our expertise in:

•ground transportation, air and sea freight
•warehousing and distribution
•customs and brokerage
•technology-based integration applications and logistics consulting
•logistics for fairs and events including the Olympic Games

Schenker is a proud contributor to both regional and international causes. Regionally, the company sponsors amateur sporting teams and Big Brother and Big Sister programs. In 2002, Schenker co-sponsored the building of the Brampton Fire Department’s practice tower that was subsequently used for the 2002 Brampton Combat Challenge.

Brampton Ontario –Value Based Warehousing Solution

Operated by Schenker, the 200 Chrysler Drive, Brampton warehouse facility services Unilever Canada. Built in 2001, the facility has capacity for 24,000 pallet locations. The facility is designed for high velocity case pick and full pallet movement. Over 700 food products are currently handled.

The facility features:

• 288,000 square feet of total floor space with ultra-modern product picking and conveyor systems
• 75 highly trained employees
• 30 dock height bays servicing distribution throughout Canada and the U.S.
• A Unilever employee store integrated with Unilever’s payroll process
• The operation’s technology backbone is Schenker’s proprietary Warehouse Management System controlling all warehouse picking and product movement functions

MANUFACTURING – Taro of Canada

HIGH TECH. – Aircraft Appliances

BUSINESS SERVICES - Trow

AWARD OF MERIT – Lawrences

Brampton Outstanding Business Achievement Awards 2003

DISTRIBTUION - M-O Freight Works

Established in 1962, M-O® (Maritime-Ontario Freight Lines Ltd.) is a fully integrated transportation company. Its operations include multi-modal services, including intermodal, trucking services and parcel service. M-O® services are performed through its extensive network of 21 locations across Canada.

Serving an active client base of more than 5,000, M-O® has a solid reputation. M-O’s willingness to pioneer innovative solutions are demonstrated through their progressive services :

General Freight
Over-the-road and intermodal full load and LTL (less than truckload) of general freight between:

Western Canada
Ontario
Quebec
Eastern Canada

This division features M-O®’s unique logistics FreightWORKS® loading system. Benefits to shippers include safe handling of their product as each pallet occupies its own space in the trailer without touching any other freight; achieves more pallets per load which results in less cost per pallet and provides excellent consolidation opportunities for high volume shippers. FreightWORKS is available to Western Canada, Eastern Canada, Ontario and Quebec.

M-O® offers heated, refrigerated and temperature control services for your LTL (less-than-truckload) and TL (truckload) shipments.

M-O Parcel Division
This division was launched in 1988 to service the GTA for M-O®’s parcel delivery contract on behalf of Canada Post Corporation. This division delivers between 15,000 to 17,000 parcels on an average day.

Paper Xpress Inc.
Formed in April 2002, Paper Xpress Inc. provides a powerful network of home delivery service to Peel and Halton residents. Originally initiated through the acquisition of The Toronto Star contract, this division is rapidly expanding its customer base. Currently M-O®’s Paper Xpress Inc. division performs 56,000 home deliveries daily Monday to Friday and over 86,000 home deliveries on Saturdays.

LogisticWORKS®
This flexible division provides services outside of the realm of domestic services offered through M-O®. LogisticWORKS® Inc. expertly handles transborder, international, and specialty move shipments, as well as warehousing requirements.

Everyone at M-O® is proud to part of Brampton and honoured to receive the Brampton Outstanding Business Achievement Award for Distribution category.

MANUFACTURING - Brampton Brick

HIGH TECH. - WaudWare

RETAIL TRADE - Solda Pools

When you think of swimming pools in the Toronto area, chances are you’ll think “Solda”. A family operation, the Solda brothers have been designing and building pools since the 1970’s when Bortolo Solda founded the company. Over the years, his sons, Frank, Peter and John Solda have come on board and ensured that it continues to function as a family-owned and operated business.

While initially, building pools was their sole enterprise, they have since broadened their scope and now specialize in providing all services necessary for the completion of a pool and its surroundings. From simple to intricate designs and pool construction with careful attention to every detail, Solda Pools now provides landscape design and planting, carpentry, fencing and electric and gas installation. Their design/build pools have garnered more awards than any other pool builder in Canada, and they continue to rank in the highest percentile of their genre internationally.

As a family-owned and operated business and under the direct supervision of Frank, Peter and John, quality control is assured in all stages of their projects. This attention to quality and detail is continued through their after-sales service through the retail store and warranty department because at Solda Pools, customer support and satisfaction is an on-going process.

The Solda brothers believe that in any successful organization, the most valuable asset is it employees. Because of the high labour intensity of this business, Solda Pools has an ongoing commitment to provide training for its staff in the areas of safety and technical advances in the pool industry including environmental innovations. This translates into better product and guaranteed satisfaction for their customers.

Solda Pools is a member of the National Spa and Pool Institute of Canada and Landscape Ontario, and were honoured with more NSPI awards this year than any other pool company in Canada. And while they are proud of these awards, their most coveted accomplishment remains the referrals from their satisfied customers.

Solda Pools is, indeed, a testimonial to a family business that grew and prospered.

BUSINESS SERVICES - Unigistix

AWARD OF MERIT – Cool Beer Brewing Co.

After a year of construction, the new COOL Brewery began selling COOL Lager in 1997. From the beginning, quality was the cornerstone of their business. COOL Beer is made with an all-natural brewing process, using only the freshest, purest ingredients. It has no chemicals, preservatives or additives.

The recipe was created by three industry giants: Jack Massey, Steve Smith and Orrin Besko. And it was based on a time-honoured recipe that had won numerous medals in global competitions for brewing excellence. With 25 years of experience, Jack Massey had worked for O’Keefe and Algonquin and earned a reputation as one of the world’s premiere brewmasters. While Orrin Besko was a pioneer in the micro-brewing industry after spending 30 illustrious years at Molson Breweries.

Bob Crecouzos has been CEO since day one. Under his leadership, skyrocketing sales have forced us to expand operations numerous times. Obviously, the public wants a high-quality beer – at a reasonable price. From a deficit the first year, COOL sales have grown from $1.8 million in 2000 to $2.5 million in 2001 to over $2.8 million in 2002.

Bob attributes this success to teamwork. The beer business should be fun. And it is - when people work together and the business grows!

COOL Brewery’s focus remains on our customers. Their sales staff communicates with them regularly and their office handles all complaints and/or compliments on a daily basis.

Another key ingredient has been new products. In October, 1999, COOL Beer launched their dark hemp beer, Millenium BUZZ. In 2001, they introduced COOL Beer in bottles.

On the production side, they installed an automated keg washer that sterilizes kegs as well as washing them. A new refrigeration system maintains optimum temperature control. While a new mash mixer has improved brew house yields, enabling multiple brews and increasing brewing capacity.

COOL Beer is an avid supporter of the business community and the officials of Brampton. We will continue to promote Brampton and aid in its growth.

Brampton Outstanding Business Achievement Awards 2002

DISTRIBTUION – L.V. Lomas

MANUFACTURING - Italpasta

HIGH TECH. – Medical Waste Management

BUSINESS SERVICES – Gamma- Dynacare

AWARD OF MERIT – Acroturn Industries Inc.

AWARD OF MERIT – Valle Foam Industries Inc.

Brampton Outstanding Business Achievement Awards 2000

EXPORTING – ABB Body-in-White

MANUFACTURING – SKD Automotive Group

HIGH TECH. – Yfactor Inc.

RETAIL TRADE - Zellers

BUSINESS SERVICES – Holland Christian Homes

AWARD OF MERIT – G.E. Shnier

AWARD OF MERIT – Peel Industrial Supplies

AWARD OF MERIT – Jake’s Boathouse

Brampton Outstanding Business Achievement Awards 1999

EXPORTING – Future Design

Future Design Inc. has been supplying the blown film industry with state of the art equipment and engineering solutions since 1979. This continuous history of service and support makes them the oldest producer of blown film equipment in Canada. Their equipment has been instrumental in supplying flexible packaging, such as garbage bags, medical packaging, carry sacs, etc., by utilizing the technological advances in thin gauge, and high speed resins that have now become commonplace. While they remain active in many areas of the blown film equipment sector, they have brought their main focus to bear on Bubble Management Systems (BMS). This includes all film line components between the die and the winder. Future Design also supplies Corona treating equipment, and has several new developments that will come to fruition before the year 2000.

Their flagship product is their line of “Saturn Air Rings”. These are considered to be the very best air rings in the world, with over 4,000 units having been shipped worldwide, over the past 20 years. Their patent pending “Bubble Glide” guiding system assures the bubble takes a straight path from the die to collapsing. Once they get to the collapsing stage, their patent pending “Escort Conveyor Collapsing System” produces a flat result, with none of the unwanted effects of conventional collapsing.

Future Design’s custom manufactured machinery and equipment is exported worldwide with 20% of their products remaining in Canada. Of the 80% exported, the United States is the largest customer. The European market runs a close second and a smaller percentage is shipped to various other global regions, with South America leading in this smaller group.

Future Design Inc. has a database in excess of 2,500 customers, with a 45% growth over the last 5 years in their export sales. Future Design Inc. anticipates continued growth with the high level of service provided by their dedicated and long-standing staff.

MANUFACTURING – Copperweld Canada

HIGH TECH. – Atlantis Aerospace

RETAIL TRADE - Fortinos

BUSINESS SERVICES – Totalline Transport

AWARD OF MERIT – Yfactor Inc.

AWARD OF MERIT – Peel Industrial Supplies

AWARD OF MERIT – Humber Nurseries

Brampton Outstanding Business Achievement Awards 1998

EXPORTING – DaimlerChrysler

Chrysler’s Bramalea Assembly Plant is the gem of the Chrysler Corporation, winning the 1998 award for Best Plant within Chrysler Corporation for the fourth consecutive year. This now 2.95 million square foot facility was acquired by Chrysler from AMC in 1987 and sits on 270.6 acres of land. Its 4,800 employees produce an impressive 1,377 units per day, on three shifts, and produced its one-millionth car in January of 1997.

Bramalea Assembly is the only plant producing the new Intrepid, Concord, LHS and 300M for Chrysler’s North American markets, with the 300M also being exported to its overseas markets.

Chrysler’s Bramalea Assembly Plant will produce an estimated 341,000 cars for the 1999 Model Year. Of that production, only 5-6% will stay in Canada, with the balance being shipped to the United States and offshore. Approximately 291,555 cars will be shipped to port-of-entries in Lewiston, Fort Erie, Detroit and Windsor and from there they will be distributed to various parts of the United States. 32,395 cars, or 10% of Chrysler Bramalea’s 1998 export production will be sent to Maryland and then shipped to off-shore locations around the world.

The advanced-technology of Bramalea Assembly Plant utilizes a wide range of proven manufacturing processes and systems designed to assure true world-class quality standards. The following are just a few advances at the Chrysler Bramalea Assembly Plant:

The plant has an on-site Satellite Stamping Facility adjacent to the new body shop. The 230,000 square foot Stamping Plant is equipped with five automatic transfer presses and a blanking line capable of turning out 32,000 stampings per day on two shifts. Included are 72 outer body panel stampings, doors, hoods, deck lids, roofs and quarter panels.
Every vehicle built at Bramalea is individually road-tested on an Evaluation Track and four-post “shaker.” The entire evaluation track was redesigned for the 1998 model year program and several new events, turns and a sounding wall were added. The number of engineers was doubled and an office was added close to the Evaluation Track. The four-post shaker is used to determine the cause of any issue found on the evaluation track so that immediate corrective action can be taken.
The new PUR Foam-In-Place process suppresses and reduces passenger compartment noise levels and seal selected areas, preventing dust and moisture intrusion. The Polyurethane foam expands into selected vehicle body cavities.

Over the years, Chrysler Canada Ltd. has leveraged the tremendous advantages of teamwork and partnerships, with their Dealers, labour partners, suppliers and nearly 16,000 employees whom, when added together, form a truly unique Canadian extended enterprise. At Chrysler they say, “We’re not just building cars and trucks… we’re building Canada.”

MANUFACTURING – PPI Modular Structures

PROVINCIAL PARTITIONS Inc. was founded in 1981 by the Frankland Family. The company’s modest beginning started in a single 1200 sq. ft. industrial unit. The goal at the time was to service the Southern Ontario region with an innovative Demountable Interior Wall system appropriately called System 40. Today the company occupies a 60,000 sq. ft. building, providing various Modular Space Solutions for clients all over the world.

Todd Frankland, president of PPI is proud of the company’s accomplishments. The company has succeeded by providing innovation products and special needs for each individual client. PPI keeps one step ahead of the competition by constantly improving its existing product lines, as well as introducing new ones.

In 1995, PPI relocated its’ head office and manufacturing to a plant in Brampton. The 60,000 sq. ft. building and eight acre fenced in yard has not only given PPI the space to manufacture Exterior Pre-Assembled Buildings and Portable Structures, it has also allowed PPI the chance to keep up with increased volume; and the highway systems in and out of Brampton are ideal for exporting these products. The company employs over 100 people and is enjoying sales internationally. What started as a modest ½ million dollars in sales per year back in 1981, has now grown to over 20 million dollars in sales today.

PROVINCIAL PARTITIONS Inc. is committed to Excellence in Design, Manufacturing, Installation, Sales and Service. Providing Modular Space Solutions consisting of the following products:

Office Partitions & Interiors
Modular Inplant Offices
Mezzanine Structures / Storage Platforms
Guardhouses & Kiosks
Wire Partitions
Chemical Containment & Storage Buildings
Portable Classrooms
Interior & Exterior Prefabricated Buildings
Operable Folding Walls
Mobile Offices & Trailers

“I would like to thank the dedicated people who work at Provincial Partitions, because of you, We Can Build Anything, Anywhere.” Todd Frankland president.

HIGH TECH. – MD Robotics

Over 30 years ago Spar evolved from the Special Products and Applied Research (SPAR) division of DeHavilland Aircraft to become one of Canada’s best known and highly regarded technology leaders. Headquartered in Toronto, Spar Aerospace is a Canadian publicly traded company with operations located in Canada, the United States and Europe. The company employs approximately 2,100 employees specializing in two lines of business – space and aviation services.

The Spar space robotics business, part of Spar Space Systems, is located in Brampton, and has one of the largest concentrations of specialized engineers in Canada. Approximately 75% of the 465 employees at Brampton are engineers, scientists and technical support staff.

Spar’s expertise in space robotics is recognized as leading edge. Best known for the Space Shuttle Remote Manipulator or Canadarm, Spar Space Systems developed and built the first Canadarm under contract to the National Research Council of Canada, Canada’s contribution to NASA’s space shuttle program. Subsequently, NASA ordered four additional units to augment its fleet. In May 1998, Canadarm celebrated its 50th flawless mission and has earned an enviable international reputation for excellence and achievement that was reinforced during the dramatic rescue of the Hubble Space Telescope.

Building on the heritage of Canadarm and our expertise in robotics, Spar is developing the robotics for Canada’s contribution to the International Space Station. Spar is the prime contractor to the Canadian Space Agency and is leading a Canada-wide industrial team in the building of the Mobile Servicing System, a sophisticated robotic system critical to the assembly, maintenance and servicing of the International Space System.

Since entering into the space business in the 1960’s, Spar has accomplished a number of pioneering technologies in aerospace history. Our reputation for excellence moved Spar to the forefront of Canadian high technology and helped Canada to become the third country to enter into space.

Major accomplishments include:

Stem antennas on Aloutte I – Canada’s first scientific satellite
Spacecraft structures for Canada’s Anik A, B, C & D satellites – the world’s first geosynchronous communication satellite systems
Prime contractor on Anik E series of satellites
Solar arrays on Canada’s Radarsat I - the most advanced radar satellite ever built for earth observation

With a heritage of over 30 years of achievements, Spar is the world’s leader in space robotics committed to offering hi-tech, sophisticated robotic solutions for the new millennium.

RETAIL TRADE – Canadian Tire

Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited is the leading hardgoods retailer in Canada, with 429 associate stores serving communities nationwide. Canadian Tire’s vision is “to be the best at what our customers value most.” Its mission is to be the first choice for Canadians in automotive, sports and leisure and home products, providing Total Customer Value through customer-driven service, focused assortments and competitive operations.

In 1922, two brothers, A.J. and J.W. Billes, used their accumulated savings of $1,800 to purchase Hamilton Tire and Rubber, a small garage, in Toronto, with a few automotive parts and some tires. Within weeks of opening, however, a bridge which routed traffic past the Hamilton Street garage was closed for repairs. To attract business, the brothers adapted the garage for overnight parking and spent alternate nights sleeping on the premises.

A.J. and J.W. Billes were both terrific entrepreneurs, introducing many innovative ideas over the years. They stocked their store with a homemade brand of antifreeze, an improved car heater, and an automatic starter. In 1927 they ventured into direct marketing and mail order, and expanded with their first catalogue in 1928. In 1931, the company introduced an unconditional tire guarantee, a first in Canada, and their house brand products of Motomaster and Mastercraft. In 1937, they placed roller skates on their store clerks to speed up service on their now very large stock floor. Gas Bars were introduced, and Cash Bonus Coupons and the Canadian Tire “Money” now so familiar to Canadians, were subsequently offered as a bonus incentive first to Gas Bar customers in 1958, and then extended to store purchases in 1961.

In 1973 Canadian Tire built a 65 million cubic foot distribution facility in Brampton to meet their increasing customer demands. The Brampton Distribution Centre is a computer-controlled, hi-rise storage and retrieval complex and was one of the first of its type in Canada. In 1991, they added another facility, the A.J. Billes Distribution Centre, of 1.2 million square feet, featuring probably the world’s largest double-deep automated storage and retrieval system.

Employing more than 34,000 Canadians, Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited and its Associate Dealers are a well-recognized Canadian establishment. With a strong enterprise, a clear vision, excellent employees and management, and an outstanding dealer network, Canadian Tire is poised for future success, firmly routed in its history of serving Canadians for over 75 years.

BUSINESS SERVICES – Armor Personnel

Armor was established in 1971, when founder Lou Duggan decided to capitalize on an opportunity to improve the business of staffing. Simple principles as flexible staffing, outsourcing, outstanding service and anticipating change in the way we do business wasn’t the professional mindset of the early 1970’s. Duggan knew they eventually would be!

In 1971, in a 400 square foot office with two employees, Armor began. Today Armor occupies offices in Brampton, Mississauga, Vaughan and Orangeville. It employs more than 50 core staff and is literally responsible for the employment of thousands of people each year.

Establishing a reputation in the Brampton business community was one of Armor’s primary focuses. Its involvement in various community organizations has earned it a reputation for commitment, integrity and honesty.

In 1996 Armor initiated a pilot project called WorkFirst with the Region of Peel to assist people on social assistance in getting back into the work force. Different from the well-publicized Workfare program, WorkFirst prioritizes skill development and matching the current skill sets of citizens with the needs of the employing community. This has been a truly successful initiative at all levels: worker, government and industry. It remains the only public/private program of its kind in Ontario.

In 1997 Armor was awarded Supplier of the Year from First Brands (Canada Corporation) as well as Armor’s founder was recipient of the Brampton Board of Trade businessperson of the Year Award.

In 1998, Armor proudly announced that they now operate as an ISO 9002 Quality System company and attributes its success to customer service and reliability, as stated in Armor’s Quality Statement.

Armor realizes that in order to maintain a competitive edge as they move into the next millennium, companies will need to hire, manage and reward the people that make, service, sell and market their products. Effective organizations will outsource entire non-core departments and Armor will be there to handle the employment and management processes for them.

AWARD OF MERIT – Contract Testing Inc.

AWARD OF MERIT – Cornerstone Landscaping