After receiving a minor variance approval from the City of Stratford, SKARB Inc. has announced the construction of a 30,000 square foot industrial manufacturing warehouse.
The facility will produce prefabricated wall systems designed to accelerate construction across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. The project is also anticipated to generate 20 to 30 skilled jobs in the local manufacturing and construction trades, supporting the community’s economic growth.
“This is an important step in bringing modern manufacturing into the construction industry,” said David Cambria, CEO at SKARB. “By building components in a controlled facility, we can improve quality, reduce delays, and help get new housing and infrastructure built faster and more sustainably.”
He added the Waterloo-based company has always thought the prefabricated industry is a strong one and wish the push at all levels of government for affordable housing, the time is right to provide efficient and more environmentally friendly and cost-effective home building. Cambria explained Stratford was an easy choice.
“Proximity is always important since we are in Waterloo and I live in London. Some of our partners have always had a soft spot for Stratford. They’ve worked there in the past, they like the people, they like the area, and we want to bring something back to the community and bring new jobs into the city.”
Cambria said the company’s wall systems enable buildings to be assembled faster and more efficiently while reducing waste and on-site labour. Made from fibre cement, a sustainable alternative to drywall, they require less finishing and offer superior resistance to moisture, fire, and pests.
Once fully operational, the facility will be capable of producing a 10-foot section of interior wall every minute, continuously on the production line. Each panel will include built-in electrical wiring, plumbing setups, and insulation.
“We are proud to support SKARB’s new manufacturing facility, which brings cutting-edge construction technology and new skilled jobs to Stratford,” said Joani Gerber, CEO at investStratford. “This project will strengthen our local economy, expand manufacturing capacity, and support faster delivery of building projects across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.”
The city approved a minor variance to reduce the required setback for a parking area from an arterial road at its June 18 meeting. The next step in the planning process is site plan approval, which will review the detailed design and layout before construction can begin.
The operation is expected to be fully operational by late 2025 at will be located at 9 Humber Street.
