Fencing manufacturer retooling with new products.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: SPECIAL REPORT: THUNDER BAY - Company overview

A Thunder Bay fencing company has retooled to pursue a cross-Canada market with new automated and more decorative products geared to the commercial and residential market.

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With the region's manufacturing base taking a beating in forestry, it was time for Northwest Fencing to change gears. They're relying on a new product mix and an ambitious campaign to broaden their markets into Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

"We have our sights set on all of Canada," says company president Brent Sylvester.

The company has spent an estimated $500,000 in the last two years on new equipment, research and development and to renovate the front-end of their Alloy Drive location.

They've started producing patio and backyard accessories with decorative, ornamental fencing using vinyl and composite material.

This summer, the company moved in a CNC digital router and a high-speed weaving loom to make chain link mesh.

Northwest already makes automated gates for commercial uses where security is important. It's become a big part of Sylvester's business.

They've developed an All-Terrain Floating Fence used in the Far North for security around fuel depots and generating stations. It works well on permafrost since there's no need for posts and can be a customized fit.

Historically, the company relied on foreign suppliers abroad to provide materials. Some problems that plague automated gates are matching all the different components to make a gate work safely and intelligently.

Sylvester invited Digital Engineering, a Thunder Bay industrial process controls company, to collaborate on a home-grown system that pulls all the operation and peripheral items into one unit.

Some prototypes have been installed locally strictly for product development.

The new high-tech product will headline a new division called Ingenuity Fence and Gate.

He calls it a "super-intelligent gate" that can self-diagnose problems and can phone home by cell or e-mail when problems arise.

"For example, a gate can be installed in Arizona and we can get online with the gate, monitor and troubleshoot problems for the customer."

The...