Growing Parry Sound firm gains national recognition.

• Author: Bickford, Paul
• Position: Kropf Industrial Inc. - Manufacturing Report

Growing Parry Sound firm gains national recognition

A Parry Sound company has made a national magazine's list of the 50 fastest growing companies in Canada.

Kropf Industrial Inc., a machine and welding shop, came in 45th in the second-annual ranking by Small Business in its June edition.

The company's claim to fame is manufacturing a hydraulic trailer for transporting boats.

"We found a real niche in the market," Kropf explained.

The company builds about 28 of the hydraulic lifts a year, each selling for an average price of $18,000.

It has been selling approximately the same number of trailers for four years.

The trailers have a load capacity ranging from five to 40 tons and can pick up a boat right from the water.

The Parry Sound company is not the only one building such equipment, but Kropf noted his product has certain advantages.

"Ours is quick and easy to use. That's the biggest feature."

Kropf Industrial Inc. has been in business since 1979, but has been selling the trailers for five years.

Small Business uses annual sales over a five-year period in preparing its top 50 list.

Kropf Industrial saw its revenue rise from $311,000 in 1984 to $1.4 million last year. Its 1989 profit was $90,000.

However, Kropf is modest about his company's ranking.

"It's pretty unofficial," he said, noting that the magazine sends out a questionnaire on which the rankings are based and there could be a thousand companies which didn't respond.

Despite that, Kropf said there could be positive aspects about the ranking.

Some suppliers have already mentioned that they have seen the company's name listed, he noted. "I suppose it does something for your credibility."

Kropf also thinks the ranking might come in handy in the future if the company wishes to expand and needs financial support from the banks.

The firm's financial growth has also been matched by an increase in the numbers of employees from seven in 1984 to 21 at present.

In 1989 its totalled $300,000, with the United States being the largest export...