Ont.-based vinyl fabric manufacturer Morbern launches $15.7 million expansion

Ontario-based vinyl upholstery maker Morbern Inc. is adding 12,500 square feet of extra floor space and installing a new high-speed coating line at its Cornwall, Ont. plant.

The company, which makes decorative vinyl fabric for customers across a wide range of industries, including healthcare and automotive, will invest $15.7 million in the project. The funds will cover new equipment for the coating line, various site upgrades, and a new building.

“This will allow us to continue our expansion into our various markets,” said Morbern CEO Mark Bloomfield. “It will allow us to offer better products than our existing technology allows. As well, this line will allow us to better compete, including with competitors from countries throughout the world.”

In a statement, Morbern said it will finance the majority of the multimillion-dollar expansion with a loan from the Business Development Bank of Canada. The Ontario government, meanwhile, will support the project with a $1.5 million investment.

The project is expected to create 36 new jobs in the eastern Ontario city by the time work is completed in the fall of 2019.

Founded in 1964, Morbern supplies vinyl upholstery for the automotive, heavy truck, and general seating markets throughout the NAFTA region.  Morbern employs roughly 400 people worldwide, 250 of which are in Cornwall.