Development full at Stirling Marathon

ELORA – Stirling Marathon has accomplished development of the 50,000 square-foot addition it added to its manufacturing plant in Elora and expects to have it totally operational throughout the yr.

And when that occurs, the family-owned enterprise, which manufactures fridges, freezers, stoves and different home equipment, might be prepared to rent.

Vp Phil Greenway mentioned in an interview the corporate expects to rent 50 extra staff over the following 4 or 5 years, including to its 20-some present staff.

“It is going to be a fridge manufacturing facility to start out, totally automated,” Greenway mentioned. 

“Over time we’ll add to that, making totally different merchandise in Elora.”

With the shell of the constructing full, Greenway mentioned officers at the moment are concentrating on putting in gear and equipment wanted to construct high-end fridges on the web site.

Stirling Marathon opened in 2016 in Guelph with Greenway’s father Doug Greenway and grandfather Phil Greenway on the helm.  They each had labored for Danby Home equipment for many years and began their very own enterprise, Greenway Residence Merchandise, in 2001.

They bought that enterprise in 2013, began Stirling Marathon in 2016, and acquired the property in Elora in 2019.

The corporate designs, manufactures, and sells home equipment beneath the Marathon, Stirling and Epic manufacturers.

Most of its home equipment are manufactured in China, imported right here and distributed to retailers throughout the nation.

However throughout COVID-19 the corporate bumped into provide chain points and determined it will be smart to do some manufacturing right here and have extra management over that finish of the enterprise.

“There isn’t a different residential equipment manufacturing facility in Canada – and that’s loopy,” Greenway mentioned.

Through the preliminary lockdowns of the pandemic, freezer gross sales went by way of the roof, he mentioned.

“It was the craziest factor I’ve ever seen. I don’t know what individuals have been doing with all these freezers.”

Since then, gross sales of 24-inch-wide electrical ranges and fridges have been scorching sellers – he assumes as a result of individuals have been renovating.

Stirling Marathon acquired $1.5 million from the province in 2022 by way of its regional growth program. 

Additionally in 2022, Centre Wellington council agreed to defer growth prices to assist the corporate with money circulation. It can pay the event prices, however over time with an agreed-upon cost schedule.

Though the mission price about $10 million, Greenway mentioned the funding from the province and the help from the township made it doable.

“We’re grateful for that funding. We couldn’t have accomplished it with out the assist,” Greenway mentioned. “Elora has actually been so nice.”

Greenway mentioned when the gear is put in and the corporate is able to rent, will probably be posted on the corporate’s web site. 

The corporate can also be contemplating holding a job honest, but it surely’s too early, at this stage, to say for positive.