Solectron, a call center outsourcing firm specializing in serving computer hardware manufacturers, selected London for its fourth facility in Ontario.

London Calling

London's location – halfway between Toronto and Detroit – puts it on the short list of many site selectors eyeing the province. So does its proximity to superhighways 401 and 402, which offer quick access to U.S. markets. Its two major centers of higher learning – 31,000-student University of Western Ontario and 57,000-student Fanshawe College, Canada's largest co-op college – provide a steady stream of educated employees.
        London's recent successes pretty much mirror those of the province as a whole, with the area's 11,000-employee auto industry and call center sector leading the way. The city is home to about 45 call centers. London's position as a major regional healthcare center also positions it for biotech investment. A leading center in the development of robotic surgery, London will see the opening of the Canadian Surgical Technologies & Advanced Robotics center at the University of Western Ontario by the end of the year.
        Solectron, a provider of customer contact services, selected London for its fourth Ontario center for a variety of reasons, including demographics, labor force worth ethic, computer literacy rate, proximity to transportation and the region's technology infrastructure, says Timothy Hawco, site manager for the new London facility. Solectron, with a client base of major computer hardware companies, is ramping up toward employment of 800 to handle an estimated 60,000 incoming calls per month.
        "London is a good fit," Hawco says. "The city has an incredible pool of resources. There's a strong belief here in continuing education and the labor force is used to shift work."
        A close-at-hand resource is Fanshawe College, located just across the street from Solectron's 85,000-sq.-ft. (7,896-sq.-m.) building. Fanshawe is helping Solectron recruit employees.
        Magee Reiter, a manufacturer of floor systems for Ford and GM vehicles, picked London because it's in the middle of Ontario's car-building region. Company officials also liken the city to Bloomsburg, Pa., home of its headquarters. The company moved into an existing 109,000-sq.-ft. (10,126-sq.-m.) building with a former life as a Nestle candy factory. Magee Reiter began production in January 2003 and employs about 65. With business thriving, plans are in the works for a major expansion next year.
        Manufacturing processes at the London plant include carpet lamination and finishing. The facility produces 245,000 units for Ford and 170,000 for GM annually, says Tim Laughlin, plant manager.
        Here's a look at some other recent projects, all locating in London's Forest City Industrial Park near Highway 401:
        Intier Automotive, a division of Magna, is building a 57,000-sq.-ft. (5,295-sq.-m.) plant. It will employ 175 and will supply interior products for the Suzuki-General Motors CAMI joint venture plant in nearby Ingersoll for its new Equinox sport utility vehi cle.
        Brose North America will employ 350 at its 172,000-sq.-ft. (15,978-sq.-m.) plant that will manufacture electronic window regulators and integrated door systems.
        German auto parks maker Thyssen Krupp Budd Systems will employ 70 to make chassis components for CAMI at its new 40,000-sq.-ft. (3,716-sq.-m.) plant.