Uni-Fab is a custom metal fabricator that produces aluminum, steel, and stainless products and serves the machine tool market. Our capabilities include design, punch and form, bending, laser cutting, machining, welding, powder coating, assembly, and more. Our mission is to bring your ideas to life and find creative and practical manufacturing solutions to meet your needs.
Tell us about yourself?
After high school, I needed to spread my wings and explore the world. I moved to Boston to play junior hockey for the Boston Shamrocks, which led to me attending a Division 3 school, Nichols College, where I graduated with a BSBA in Marketing. From there, I moved to Tanzania to work for MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates), an organization that works to bring business solutions to impoverished areas for nine months. After my internship, a friend of mine, Sarah French, convinced me to bike across Canada with her to raise funds for MEDA’s project in Ghana that teaches women farmers to grow their own soybean farms while also connecting them to local markets. We were able to raise $323,000, which worked to the power of 10, with the government of Canada, so 2.3 million went to the project. I found in life that each opportunity led me to the next one. When I was speaking at a conference for our bike trip, which we named Bike to Grow, I was offered a role in Florida to work for Dutchcrafters Amish Furniture. I moved to Florida for three years before making the decision that I was finally ready to set some roots and move closer to home.
For me, I took the decision of wanting to work in the family business very seriously. My father founded Uni-Fab when I was only one year old, and I wanted to bring the same dedication he had for all these years. I wanted to bring something extra to the organization, so I completed my MBA in Strategic Management at Laurier University. He had never put pressure on us to join the family business, but through my years of travel and adventures, I came to realize my love and passion in life was creating teams of people to work to their highest potential.
If you could go back in time a year or two, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
Walk on the shop floor and don’t feel as if you’re interrupting someone’s day. Instead, start the conversation. The way I learn the most is through constant conversation with the staff. Their experience is our greatest insight.
What problem does your business solve?
We create metal products that allow us to do all sorts of things in our daily lives, whether it’s a carrier system, machine enclosure, baggage claim, or automated vehicle.
What is the inspiration behind your business?
My dad, Abe, has always been an entrepreneur at heart, always looking for the next opportunity. He started the business in September 1991 with just four staff members, and he has grown it to over 200 employees and a 200,000-square-foot facility.
What is your magic sauce?
Our sweet spot is taking on complicated projects that other manufacturers don’t have the capacity or expertise to manage. We challenge ourselves to constantly find ways of growing our knowledge as well as continually investing back into the company with the latest machines or technology.
What is the plan for the next 5 years? What do you want to achieve?
At Uni-Fab, we are continually looking to grow. We are working towards another expansion of our facilities in our second plant and exploring opportunities in U.S. manufacturing.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?
Our biggest challenge so far has been continuing to adapt to the market’s needs and being able to diversify our product base and continue to explore new industries. We are able to maintain our growth path and constantly create new jobs.
How can people get involved?
Please call us at 519-325-1005 or visit us at www.uni-fab.on.ca. We’d be happy to chat.