Construction is now halfway complete on a hot-dip galvanizing steel plant in North Bay.

Plant owners Norgalv Limited announced that construction of its 35,000-square foot facility at the Airport Industrial Business Park reached the milestone on August 14.

"I can honestly say that the decision to locate in North Bay was made easy due to the hard work, drive and assistance from all levels of government," said managing director Andre van Soelen. “Mining remains a big part of the Northern Ontario economy and, therefore, integral in Norgalv’s strategy; however, hot dip galvanizing is required in many other sectors ranging from telecommunications, road infrastructure, agricultural, petroleum and power generation.”

Once complete, the $21-million plant will service Northern Ontario's mining supply and service industry, and employ 45 people.

The project is being funded by all three levels of government. The federal government is contributing $1.5 million through a repayable grant. The province is contributing $5 million, and the City of North Bay is providing a tax rebate and more than $70,000 in grants to cover municipal fees through its Growth Community Improvement Plan.

"We are proud to support the expansion of Norgalv, which will create jobs in North Bay and contribute to our economic recovery from the COVID-19 outbreak," said Vic Fedeli, MPP for North Bay. "Now more than ever, our government recognizes the importance of showcasing Northern Ontario as a great place to invest to attract business and remain competitive."

Once established, Norgalv will be the only steel galvanizing company in Northern Ontario. Galvanizing adds a protective zinc coating to metal to protect it from rusting. The new plant will strengthen the steel value chain as producers and machine shops will now have a local and more cost-effective source for galvanizing.

"As our economy reopens, manufacturing companies like Norgalv are doing their part and working hard to create good-paying jobs in the north," said Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines. "Strengthening the local steel industry in North Bay is an important part of our government's plan to create more jobs and attract new and expanded investment so our northern communities can grow and thrive."

Construction of the plant began in the fall of 2019, and work is expected to be complete by the end of this year. Designed by industry-leading specialists from Austria and Germany, the facility will incorporate high environmental standards, as well as the latest automation and software optimization systems, making it one of the most advanced galvanizing plants in Canada.

It will use proprietary systems ensure acid usage is optimized, less clean water is required and emissions are filtered during the galvanizing process. The system will also be fully programmable to help optimize processing time and improve the quality of the final galvanized coating.

“On behalf of the City of North Bay, I would like to thank Norgalv Limited for their confidence and investment in our community. This plant will create new employment, support local business, and create new business opportunities in our city,” said Mayor Al McDonald.