Ontario's 10 Top-Valued Project Kickoffs in Fourth Quarter Bolstered by Auto Parts, Wind Power Demand

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Industrial Info's project database shows Ontario looking forward to $1.16 billion in projects that are set to begin construction during fourth-quarter 2015, although half of that amount is attributed to the highly anticipated expansion of an auto parts plant. More than 90% of the total can be found in four industries: Industrial Manufacturing, Food & Beverage, Power, and Metals & Minerals.

Click on the image at right for a graph detailing planned fourth-quarter 2015 project kickoffs in Ontario by industry.

The Industrial Manufacturing Industry is in the lead with $575 million in projects set to begin construction in the fourth quarter, although all but a handful are related to maintenance shutdowns valued at $1.5 million or less. The bulk of the spending is related to a single capital project: Linamar Corporation's (TSX:LNR) (Guelph, Ontario) $506.8 million expansion of a manufacturing plant for engine parts in Guelph. Earlier this year, the federal and Ontario governments each provided more than $50 million toward the project's total value. The finished facility is expected to produce lighter, more efficient automotive transmissions, engines, drive lines and power train parts. For details on this expansion project, see Industrial Info's project report.

The Food & Beverage Industry is in a somewhat distant second place with $178 million in projects set to begin construction from October through December, the largest of which is Loblaw Companies Limited's (TSX:L) (Brampton, Ontario) $50 million construction of a distribution center in Cornwall. The facility, to be built on a 121-acre site, is expected to wrap up toward the end of 2016. Loblaw is the largest food retailer in Canada. For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.

The Power Industry is follows closely with $173 million in projected kickoffs, including Gilead Power Corporation's (Lindsay, Ontario) $45 million construction of Ostrander Point Wind Energy Park in Picton. The 22.5-megawatt (MW) facility will include nine General Electric (NYSE:GE) xl wind-turbine generators, each with a capacity of 2.5 MW. AMEC Foster Wheeler plc (NYSE:AMFW) (London, England) is performing engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services. For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.

The Metals & Minerals Industry is looking at $135 million in projects set to begin construction next quarter, including Essar Global Limited's (Mumbai, India) $50 million overhaul of a steel mill in Sault Sainte Marie. The company plans to rebuild and restart the 3,000-ton-per-day No. 6 blast furnace, which has been idled since 2008, at the 4 million-ton-per-year mill. For details on this project, see Industrial Info's project report.

The remaining six highest-value projects set to kick off in Ontario in the fourth quarter are:

• $55 Million: ArcelorMittal's Galvanizing Line Upgrade in Hamilton, Ontario
  For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.
• $50 Million: Dare Foods Limited's Cookie and Cracker Plant in Cambridge, Ontario
  For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.
• $40 Million: Capstone Infrastructure Corporation's Ganaraska Wind Park in Clarington, Ontario
  For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.
• $36 Million: Prowind Canada Incorporated's Gunn's Hill Windfarm in Woodstock, Ontario
  For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.
• $35 Million: Pond Biofuels Incorporated's Algae-to-Biofuel Pilot Plant in Saint Marys, Ontario
  For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.
• $25.6 Million: Ontario Power Generation Incorporated's Sir Adam Beck I Hydro Station in Niagara Falls, Ontario
  For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.

Of the $1.16 billion in total investment value for projects expected to kick off in Ontario in the fourth quarter, about $822 million is attached to projects currently in the engineering stages. About $212 million worth are in the planning stages, where plenty of factors still could increase, decrease or totally eliminate the expected spending, while about $128 million worth already are in the early construction stages.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.