Sylvan Canada Ltd. Quietly Walking the Walk

Donella H. Meadows once said: “As I travel on the path toward sustainability, I keep thinking of a motto I once heard: ‘Change is not sacrifice. It is learning, staying awake, being alive, moving to new places. It requires every part of us, our irrational minds and our loving spirits.’” installing material handling systems throughout the automotive industry.

By Matthew St. Amand

Originating in 1956 as a local residential plumbing company in Michigan, Sylvan has evolved into a leading multitrade services and solutions provider for Fortune-100 and government clients throughout North America. Sylvan Canada launched in 2009 under the leadership of CEO Robert Metz and President Sean Maine. Sylvan has expanded exponentially over the past fourteen years, doing approximately a billion dollars worth of work in that time. In 2021, Sylvan added a key strategic piece to the puzzle: a state-of-the-art Conveyor Division; designing, manufacturing and

“We recognized a gap in the marketplace for custom conveyor solutions,” explains Sean Maine. “Taking ownership of this key aspect of the process further cements our leadership position in the space.”

Sylvan will be providing all the conveyor solutions for the retool of the Windsor Assembly plant this fall.

Unlike other conveyor companies, Sylvan has its own installation company that performs all mechanical rigging and piping, (including wiring, in Canada) as Sylvan Vice President, Ernie Pandolfi, outlines.

Company-wide services include pipe and sheet metal fabrication and installation, CAD/BIM, service installation/ repair, turbine installation/mainte- nance, millwright and rigging, electrical, general contracting, and complete turnkey conveyor systems. From engineering and design to project/program execution, Sylvan delivers comprehensive project management capabilities, built upon their vast experience, solid labor and industry relationships, and unbeatable record for safety. The scope of their services and complexity of their projects may have grown dramatically over the decades, but Sylvan’s success remains rooted in the fundamental principles of providing superior customer service and flawless delivery of work.

With an unmatched reputation for reliability, Sylvan is often found at the center of game-changing projects throughout North America.

“Just look at the NextStar lithium-ion battery plant being built on the Twin Oaks site,” Sean says. “It’s the largest private-sector investment in Ontario history and Sylvan has been brought on to perform all the low voltage electrical installations on the cell production facility, which will be nearly four million square feet in size.”

More than 200 acres of land has been cleared, 195,000 cubic metres of topsoil has been stripped and stockpiled, and 150,000 cubic metres of clay has been applied on-site. The campus has 10 structures totalling approx. 4.5 million square-feet, and Sylvan Canada plays a pivotal role in supporting the design, build and project optimization.

“Sylvan was picked to be a strategic partner on the battery plant from its inception,” Sean continues. “We are proud to serve along side the absolute best in the business on this incredibly important project. We look forward to leveraging our exceptional workmanship and stellar safety record on the new product launch at the Stellantis Windsor assembly plant. Since our inception, Sylvan has been part of more than fifteen product launches.”

In 2021, as the Detroit Assembly Complex – Jefferson North prepared to integrate the all new Jeep Grand Cherokee into existing production, Sylvan was brought in to design, build, and install pre-trim, chassis, engine, and final line conveyor systems necessary to handle the new and existing product. As the prime contractor, overseeing well over 200 workers and contractors, this required well-coordinated demolition of existing equipment, new concrete, wiring, piping, HVAC, fire protection, controls, and installation of new Sylvan-provided material and conveyors.

In support of its 2020 Explorer Program, Ford Motor Company required extensive facility renovations at its Chicago Assembly Plant. The challenge was to install nearly 2,000 feet of precision-welded stainless steel piping for a new Freon system. The complex piping infrastructure extended throughout the plant, including many areas that needed to remain fully operational throughout the project execution period.

With the support of over 150 skilled tradespeople, Sylvan met or exceeded all project milestones. Following the July 2018 production shutdown, Sylvan planned for the even more challenging task of completing this current contract in the Trim Shop, as well as two additional contracts in the Trim Shop and a large piping project in the Body Shop. These projects were scheduled during a four-week window in March 2019. Over 30,000 pipefitter hours were expended with no lost time to injuries.

Taking on such complex and demanding projects, “Sylvan is an employer of destination,” says Sylvan Project Executive, Eric Farron. “We want top people applying. We build things the right way with the right people. Sylvan takes its culture very seriously. We believe in having highly engaged and enthusiastic teammates, supporting each other, and caring for customers. Continuing education is also a very important element to staying at the forefront.”

This culture of caring is manifested in Sylvan’s commitment to safety. It has established the Sylvan Safety Committee to ensure that all employees are empowered to identify ways to eliminate or mitigate potential hazards. Sylvan accomplishes this through workplace training, awareness campaigns, experience/knowledge sharing, companywide standards, and incentive programs.

Rapid, unrelenting growth, an undying passion for safety, and an unparalleled record for reliability and innovation, Sylvan checks all the boxes for success. The most remarkable thing about Sylvan is that, with its stellar track record, more people haven’t heard of them.

“We go about our work quietly,” Sean says. “Our continued growth is a testament to our strong partnerships and commitment to execution.” W.E.