Canada Stampings

The history-filled boardroom of Canada Stampings Ltd. gives visitors a clear sense of the Southwestern Ontario manufacturing firm’s extensive heritage. The metal stamping company’s past, present, and future are inextricably tied to the community of Woodstock, Ontario—and to all of Canada. It is not every day, for instance, that one sees a beribboned seal denoting Queen Victoria’s approval gracing a company boardroom. Unearthed from a forgotten corner of a previous owner’s attic, the document affirms the incorporation, in 1898, of “The Castor and Metal Stamping Company of Woodstock Limited.”

Over a century ago, Canada Stampings made components for the local horse carriage and buggy industry, before evolving to make castor wheels. Like many manufacturers during the war First World War, the company rose to the country’s defence; parts for London’s Mosquito Fighter Bomber plane were manufactured in Canada Stamping’s facility.

Located on the main street of Woodstock in the 1950s, Canada Stampings both influenced and was influenced by the wave of heavy industrialization that washed over the city at that time. In 1965, the Hewitt family purchased the business. Dave Hewitt, the firm’s former president, joined the business in 1994, before taking over from his father in 1997. Canada Stampings saw massive growth under Dave Hewitt’s leadership. The company’s facilities are a far cry from the dirty, dimly lit shop floor traditionally associated with the stamping business; on the contrary, the facility is light, airy, with high ceilings and metal platforms overlooking the shop floor below.

In 2015, local company VAST Industrial Corp. acquired Canada Stampings LTD. Based in London, ON, VAST Industrial Corp. is a strategic management company focused on innovation and adding value.

Canada Stampings’ annual sales reach upward of $25 million CAD. Ninety percent of these sales are to the automotive industry. The company is a tier two automotive supplier, meaning it sells to the suppliers of large automakers. Exports comprise 70 percent of the firm’s business, most of which are to the United States, as well as Mexico, Germany, Turkey, Poland and China.

With so many customers in the United States, there is push for the company to move south, but the company is proud of the Southwestern Ontario roots and their long Canadian heritage.

In an increasingly competitive market, Canada Stampings attributes much of their success to staying technologically innovative and providing a high-quality service. The low Canada/United States exchange rate also helps, allowing them to quote the difference as an advantage to prospective customers. However, the company’s greatest advantage, is the productivity and quality of its Canadian labour force. “We’re competitive because of our people.”

Meanwhile, the lines of giant metal presses at Canada Stampings methodically rise and fall to a steady beat; they have done so for decades, and will likely continue for many more—a testament to the enduring strength of Canadian manufacturing.