Job shop profile: Pure Ingenuity

A few years ago, Ontario’s manufacturing industry underwent a Darwinian purge as it struggled through the Great Recession.

Shops closed, workers went west for bigger salaries, and oil sands revenues spiked our dollar, making the cost of our goods less attractive to U.S. buyers. It truly was a time when only the strong would survive. Case in point – Pure Ingenuity in Kingston, Ontario.

The 13,000 square foot facility in Kingston’s west end is owned and run by company President Richard Ward, and serves as an example of how shops can persevere in an adverse economy.

Ideally situated between Ontario’s golden horseshoe, Quebec, and the manufacturing base in New York state, the shop primarily fabricates stainless steel equipment for the food and beverage and pharmaceutical industries, but does a variety of other custom jobs. It employs five engineers (Ward included), about 15 shop workers and office staff to cater to these regions and beyond.

By focusing on custom work for clients and “adding value through engineering,” as Ward puts it, the customer-oriented approach has allowed them to carve out a niche in the market.

“I really like dealing with the customers. I like going to the factories, seeing what their points of pain are, trying to figure out solutions.” Ward says. “Supervising design, and seeing the finished thing go in, seeing it run and be successful, that’s very gratifying.”

Ward admits the state of the economy has been challenging for the business, but as the economy rebounds so too has the business and they are now considering moving to a larger facility.

“We’re trying to grow, trying to find new partners, not only in Ontario but in the U.S. as well,” Ward says.

The growth is a positive sign that the industry in general may be shaking off the problems of the last few years. And while the high Canadian dollar impedes sales to some degree, there is a silver lining in that shops like Pure Ingenuity can now buy equipment from the U.S. at a much better rate, and keep their tooling costs down.

Notably, they’ve added a TRUMPF 1030 laser, a welding positioner, and a Bluco modular fixturing table, which Ward calls “an awesome piece of equipment.” With this new equipment, and a concerted effort to add more automation he sees an opportunity to increase production and continue improving the business.

“I’m pretty optimistic about the future. I think the U.S. economy is going to recover and start to roll along, and I think we’re headed for some good times.”

www.pureingenuity.com