Advanced Manufacturing

Niagara Falls, Canada is an ideal location for manufacturing, distribution of goods, and the provision of services for centres throughout North America. Products manufactured or warehoused in Niagara Falls can reach more than 150 million consumers in less than one day’s drive.

Niagara’s highways, waterways, railways, and airports provide quick access to supplier and customer networks. Whether it’s a timely air shipment, or a supplier delivering raw materials from across North America, Niagara’s transportation network meets the most diverse and demanding needs. Our region-wide labour force draws from a population of over 450,000 people. When new skill-sets are required, local post-secondary institutions such as Brock University and Niagara College are quick to work with industry to develop specialized training programs. 

Manufacturing is big business throughout the entire Niagara region. This sector employs over 17,000 people and it accounts for the largest portion of the region’s GDP. The manufacturing base is diverse, but the largest concentrations of employees are in transportation equipment, fabricated metal products, food and beverage, machinery, and furniture. Competitive incentives at the provincial level, paired with industry oriented incentives at the regional level have created a favourable environment for doing business that is attracting big-game players like General Electric and helping secure new investments from long-time Niagara manufacturing partners like General Motors. Niagara offers manufacturers significant cost savings benefits. Niagara’s lower utility costs create potential operational cost savings of up to 19% and overall, a typical manufacturing facility may achieve cost savings of 19-28% in Niagara over Ontario competitors and 11% cost savings over the closest US competitors.

In a comparison of the costs of operating a manufacturing business in 115 different North American cities, Niagara ranked seventh, putting it ahead of cities including Toronto, Montreal, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburgh and New York.

Areas where Niagara Falls stands out, include beverage manufacturing (with an industry workforce five times the national average); Chemical manufacturing (with an industry workforce more than double the national average); and machinery manufacturing (with an industry workforce 17 percent higher than the national average).

Key Companies

• Arterra Wines Canada
• Syensqo
• Mancuso Chemicals
• Palfinger
• Washington Mills
• Post (Foods) Consumer Brands
• CAN-ENG Furnaces International