Made in Waterloo Region

[MacBerry]

Before we turn the page away from locally-made weapons of death, do people know that there's a company in Kitchener that manufactures crossbows?  Just in case you were looking for one!

Excalibur Crossbow on Shirley Dr in Kitchener.   http://excaliburcrossbow.org/

Under the heading:          "I didn't know that!"

[panamaniac]

Not everybody needs a crossbow, I suppose, but how about socks?  SIMCAN of Cambridge makes "comfort" socks that last forever and don't sag.  I wear them myself, not because I'm diabetic but because I have enormous calves (too much sharing?).  They are widely available and I can heartily recommend them.

http://www.simcan.net/

[KingandWeber]

I really like the idea of this thread. It would be nice to have an ongoing list at some point. Here's a few KW-manufactured items off the top of my head:

Barbarian Sports Wear, Inc. - rugby/sports jerseys
Kraus Carpets - carpets
Onward Manufacturing Co. - Broil King barbecues
McCordick Glove and Safety - safety equipment
Toyota (Corolla, Lexus RX350, RX450h)
Christie - projectors

[BuildingScout]

Google - Chrome OS

[panamaniac]

I really like the idea of this thread. It would be nice to have an ongoing list at some point. Here's a few KW-manufactured items off the top of my head:

Barbarian Sports Wear, Inc. - rugby/sports jerseys
Kraus Carpets - carpets
Onward Manufacturing Co. - Broil King barbecues
McCordick Glove and Safety - safety equipment
Toyota (Corolla, Lexus RX350, RX450h)
Christie - projectors

I think Kraus flooring ( http://www.krausflooring.com/  may be one of the last carpet manufacturers in Canada.

Barbarian Sports Wear ( http://www.barbarian.com/index.cfm?app=content&a=home ) is an interesting one - They not only make the clothing in Kitchener, but use only North American thread, woven into fabric in North America.  After going bankrupt in 2013, Barbarian was purchased by the founder of Salus Marine Wear of Waterlool (which merits a post of its own).

In addition to McCordick Glove and Safety of Cambridge ( http://www.mccordick.com/home.htm ), the Region is also home to Ontario Glove and Safety of Kitchener ( http://www.ontarioglove.com/Store/en/home.aspx ), which has been in business for more than a century and which recently bought out Huck Glove of Kitchener.

[jamincan]

I had no idea Salus was a Waterloo company. They have some excellent life jackets.

[panamaniac]

I had no idea Salus was a Waterloo company. They have some excellent life jackets.

Salus Marine of Waterloo ( http://www.salusmarine.com/  ) produces a range of life jackets, personal flotation devices, and protective suits and jackets. 

[tomh009]

In Cambridge there is ATS, Com Dev and Mafna. Further north, Aeryon, Northern Digital, Raytheon, Clearpath, Trylon. And how about Piller's and Dare?

Lots of software companies around but there "manufactured" is much harder to define.

[panamaniac]

Now that we no longer eat products carrying the Schneiders label (we don't, do we?) it's good to keep in mind that Pillers Fine Foods of Waterloo is a local company. http://www.pillers.com/

[panamaniac]

In addition to Dare Foods ( http://www.darefoods.com/ca_en ), Kitchener is also home to Colonial Cookies ( http://www.colonialcookies.ca/ ). I'm not sure about Dare, but Colonial does a lot of private label product - you could be eating Kitchener-made cookies and crackers right now and not even realize they're local!

[DHLawrence]

Not a corporate example, but Mennonite Furniture and Gifts sells wood furniture and knickknacks made by Mennonite farmers throughout the region (possibly into Wellington and Hamilton too).

[panamaniac]

Not a corporate example, but Mennonite Furniture and Gifts sells wood furniture and knickknacks made by Mennonite farmers throughout the region (possibly into Wellington and Hamilton too).

http://mennonitefurniture.on.ca/

[KevinL]

If anyone needs foam in a specific shape for cushions, pillows, etc., Custom Foam Systems on Trillium in Kitchener has a walk-in retail outlet.

[mpd618]

Cambridge Towel is apparently the largest towel manufacturer in North America.

[panamaniac]

Cambridge Towel is apparently the largest towel manufacturer in North America.

I make a point of buying only Cambridge towels.  They are good quality and widely available.  The towel-making folks in Turkey and Brazil are probably very nice, but they are not my neighbours.