New company comes to Wallaceburg — UPDATED

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East River Solutions employees Todd Stevens and Steven Van Damme show off a CNC lathe during the firm's open house Thursday afternoon. East River was founded by local entrepreneurs with experience in the metal working sector.
East River Solutions employees Todd Stevens and Steven Van Damme show off a CNC lathe during the firm’s open house Thursday afternoon. East River was founded by local entrepreneurs with experience in the metal working sector.

The reinvention of the metal working industry in Wallaceburg continued today with the announcement that East River Solutions has opened a 4,000 square-foot shop on Gillard Street.

The firm, which specializes in 3-D turning and machining, was formed in July of last year and contacted Chatham-Kent’s economic development department for help in securing a location.

Otto Kjeldsen, one of the owners, said the firm has five employees and expects that number to double by the end of next year. He said the company has plans to expand its building, which sits on a three-acre site.

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The firm has customers in Canada and the United States and services the automotive, military and energy sectors. Kjeldsen, former owner of Aar-Kel Moulds and Jeff Helbin of Helbin Machine, have decades of metalworking experience.

“At one time, Wallaceburg had the highest concentration of tool and die work per capita in Canada,” Kjeldsen said. “The future isn’t in large firms, but in small ones which can produce quality work through talent and innovation.”

“The Municipality of Chatham-Kent and, in particular, the community of Wallaceburg, are proud to partner with forward-thinking businesses like East River Solutions Ltd.,” Mayor Randy Hope said in a release. “This investment by East River Solutions strengthens the community and is a fantastic addition to the growing precision machining supply shain cluster in the community.”

2 COMMENTS

  1. Mr. Maynard, as noted by Stuart McFadden during the press conference, Apple started with six people in a garage…locally in similar circumstances RM Classics started with a couple of people. For the ten people that will be gainfully employed by this company and there families, yes, we can be proud that they chose CK rather than 10 other places in S.W.Ontario.

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