A Teeswater-based concrete company that operated from just three locations a few years ago is continuing a major expansion across southwestern Ontario.
Teeswater Concrete is now seeking provincial approval for another ready-mix concrete plant in Strathroy, a move that could give the company an eighth permanent location.
The company currently lists seven plants in Teeswater, Clinton, Tiverton, Hanover, Brussels, Brunner, and Arthur.
That footprint has grown quickly.
Teeswater Concrete opened its Hanover operation and acquired Kraemer Concrete's Brussels and Brunner locations in 2023. More recently, a new Arthur plant has moved through municipal and provincial approvals and is now listed among the company's locations.
The company traces its roots to 1977, when it began with one ready-mix plant on a family farm outside Teeswater and two Mack trucks, primarily supplying concrete for agricultural projects.
Its latest proposed expansion is at 115, 125, 135, and 145 Lafaive Road in Strathroy.
An application posted to the Environmental Registry of Ontario seeks approval for a ready-mix plant that would include dust collection equipment, aggregate and water heating equipment and other machinery associated with concrete production.
The provincial consultation period remains open until September 12.
Municipal planning documents describe an approximately eight-hectare development in Strathroy's Molnar Industrial Park that would include a concrete batching building, offices, truck repair facilities and outdoor storage.
The Strathroy proposal follows another recent expansion in Arthur.
Teeswater Concrete pursued planning approval for a new operation in the north end of the community, with the project requiring servicing, road, stormwater and site-development work.
The province issued an Environmental Compliance Approval for stormwater infrastructure associated with the Arthur site in May.
While the company has been expanding into new communities, it has also been planning a significant redevelopment in Teeswater itself.
Planning approvals secured last year would allow Teeswater Concrete to move its existing concrete manufacturing operation and headquarters from its Bruce County Road 6 property to a larger industrial site on the north side of Teeswater.
The proposed property covers approximately 8.1 hectares.
Documents presented during the planning process said the company's existing Teeswater property offered limited room for expansion and presented challenges for truck access.
The proposed new location would offer highway frontage, improved truck access and access to three-phase electrical power.
At the time, planning documents indicated Teeswater Concrete employed about 40 people and that the proposed relocation and expansion could create another 10 jobs.
The company's business has also grown beyond the agricultural work that formed much of its early customer base.
Teeswater Concrete now supplies residential, commercial and infrastructure projects and promotes specialized concrete services for the nuclear and renewable energy sectors.
Its project portfolio includes work connected to Bruce Power, while the company has also received provincial approval to operate a mobile concrete batching plant at project sites elsewhere in Ontario.
Teeswater Concrete continues to list its original Bruce County Road 6 location as its head office.
The company has not yet added Strathroy to the seven permanent locations listed on its website.
