Tempel Canada to build CAD $132 million Burlington plant

Tempel Canada will invest CAD $132 million in a new manufacturing facility in Burlington, with Ontario providing CAD $5 million through its Regional Development Program.

According to the provincial government, the 250,000-square-foot plant is expected to sustain more than 200 existing jobs and create nearly 100 new ones. Tempel Canada, a subsidiary of Worthington Steel, makes transformer core products used in power conversion and distribution.

The investment comes as electricity networks and industrial users across North America face rising demand for transformers and related equipment. Growth in artificial intelligence, data infrastructure and overall energy use has also increased demand for grid equipment and components.

The new Burlington site will more than double Tempel's footprint in Canada. It will include equipment, real-time data diagnostics and robotics to produce transformer cores and precision electrical steel laminations.

Those products are used by companies that depend on electrical infrastructure, including businesses tied to power systems and manufacturing. The expansion places Burlington within a supply chain that has grown more important as governments and industry seek domestic sources of critical industrial goods.

Ontario is providing the funding through the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness stream of the Regional Development Program. The stream was introduced to support manufacturers investing in equipment, advanced technologies and skilled workers.

Provincial officials linked the project to broader efforts to expand Ontario's electricity network. They said electricity demand is rising rapidly and noted that 13 major transmission projects have received priority designation since 2022, representing CAD $6.6 billion in investment and more than 1,600 kilometres of new transmission lines.

Energy demand

The Tempel project highlights how manufacturing investment is increasingly tied to energy policy and grid expansion. Transformer cores and electrical steel laminations are key components in transformers, which are needed to move electricity through transmission and distribution networks.

That is significant in Ontario, where officials are expanding generation and transmission while encouraging more local sourcing. As part of that strategy, the province has also introduced the Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit to encourage manufacturers to invest locally.

Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, said the project reflects Ontario's appeal to investors. "In the face of global economic uncertainty, Tempel Canada's expansion serves as a testament to Ontario's reputation as a stable and competitive jurisdiction for investment and growth, which has helped us attract $235 billion in new investments since 2018," Fedeli said.

He added that the investment also supports the province's supply chain ambitions. "Through the Regional Development Program, our government is proud to support this forward-looking project which will not only create high-value jobs for our local workers but further position the province as a critical link across North America's manufacturing supply chain," he said.

For Tempel's parent group, the Burlington expansion adds manufacturing space in a market where utilities and industrial buyers are seeking to secure supply. The company said the new plant underscores its long-term plans for customers and its workforce in the region.

Ivan Meltzer, President of Tempel Steel, described the facility as part of a broader commitment to the sector. "This facility reflects our long-term commitment to our customers, our employees and the future of electrical infrastructure across North America," Meltzer said.

He also referred to the provincial contribution to the project. "We appreciate Ontario's partnership and support through the AMIC program, which helped accelerate this investment in Burlington. We're excited to build on the strong foundation our team has created here and continue growing alongside our customers and the community for years to come," he said.

Programme support

Ontario launched the Regional Development Program in 2019 to support business and municipal investment. According to the government, the programme has helped attract more than CAD $2.8 billion in new investment and create more than 6,000 jobs across the province.

Within that programme, the AMIC stream has accounted for more than CAD $55 million in announced support for more than 55 companies and organisations. Provincial figures show it has leveraged CAD $700 million in industry investment and created more than 1,300 jobs.

Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines, connected the Tempel investment directly to the province's electricity build-out and sourcing strategy. "As we lead Canada's largest expansion of electricity generation and transmission in decades, Ontario is on a mission to buy more products stamped with 'Made-in-Canada'. Tempel Canada's investment will strengthen our domestic supply chains, ensuring Ontario has the critical equipment needed to deliver reliable and affordable electricity for families and businesses. Together, we are creating good-paying jobs, attracting investment and building a more self-reliant economy," Lecce said.

Effie Triantafilopoulos, MPP for Oakville North-Burlington, also framed the Burlington project as part of Ontario's industrial strategy. "Our government is proud to support Tempel Canada's $132 million investment in Burlington with $5 million through the Regional Development Program. This investment strengthens Ontario's advanced manufacturing sector, supports more than 300 jobs, reinforces our province's critical energy supply chains and helps ensure Ontario has the skilled workforce and industrial capacity needed to power our growing economy. By partnering with innovative manufacturers like Tempel Canada, we are protecting Ontario's economic future, creating opportunities for workers and families, and building a stronger, more competitive province," Triantafilopoulos said.