Residents of Bay of Quinte will recognize the names of manufacturers here in the region – names like Kruger and Kellogg’s. These companies provide us with things we need and also contribute to the strong economy of the region. Their presence here is important, but we often don’t think about what it takes to keep manufacturing facilities functional.
That’s where Whites Mechanical & Fabrication comes in.
A Behind-the-Scenes Look at a Maintenance Shutdown
The word “shutdown” sounds like something a business wants to avoid. But in manufacturing, all it means is that regularly scheduled maintenance is happening. During a shutdown, the Whites Mechanical & Fabrication team – the size of the team depends on the nature of the work; it could be as many as 30 – comes in to fix and maintain the equipment and make sure all the necessary safety standards are in place. Of course, the sooner a manufacturer can be up and running after a shutdown, the better. Manufacturers that hire Whites Mechanical & Fabrication can count on the team being efficient.
The other reason for a shutdown would be to install a new product line. Whites Mechanical & Fabrication will take care of that, too. Or if a company has come up with a new idea for a floor plan, the Whites team will set up the floor plan and make sure it works. In both cases, Whites can, when needed, acquire equipment, coordinate loading and transport, arrange cranes, unload, set up, and ensure everything aligns with safety requirements.
Wayne White: Owner and Long-Time Resident
The owner of Whites Mechanical & Fabrication, Wayne White, grew up in Stirling not far from the Whites facility in Belleville. He has a lifelong familiarity with the Bay of Quinte region, having begun his career in 1995 by taking the Mechanical Techniques course at Loyalist College and then working in various roles around the region ever since.
Wayne became sole proprietor of Whites Mechanical & Fabrication in 2010 and now has a thriving business that provides about 70 jobs – not to mention all the subcontractors – and draws upon other businesses in the region.
Fun note: Wayne’s young son designed the company logo!
“If we can’t do it, then we have resources that can.” – Wayne White
Wayne and his company have connections all over the region, and so whatever they need, they can get. They offer a variety of other services besides shutdown and installation services. Whites Mechanical & Fabrication is a one-stop shop for industrial support. Whatever a company needs, they’ve done it: millwrighting, custom fabrication, machining, turnkey design, and high-pressure pipe installation. Whites is approved by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) for pressure vessels and piping systems. Whites is also certified in structural steel design and fabrication (CWB).
Whites works with manufacturers across a wide range of sectors, including:
- Pulp and paper
- Food processing
- Automotive
- Farming
- Aggregate
Proudly Made in Bay of Quinte: “I’m Here for a Long Time”
Whites Mechanical & Fabrication is at capacity and is on a 30% growth pattern. The company is currently looking to hire skilled workers like millwrights, fabricators, and CNC machinists. This can include apprentices – they employ nine of those at a time.
Wayne White wants to hire the best-fit people – those who share his moral compass – who will stay on with him long term, thus giving even more stability to a company that is already a long-time fixture in the region. Some of his current employees have already been with him for 6 to 11 years. Wayne works on making sure the workplace at Whites Mechanical & Fabrication is healthy and safe and is a place of trust. He values his team; he praises his employees, saying that they have great personalities and treat the customers and each other well.
Wayne is also attentive to his customers. He doesn’t ever want to forget who helped him grow. The strong connections he has built throughout the region after well over a decade of service have served him and all those around him well.
Learn more about Whites Mechanical & Fabrication and how the Quinte Economic Development Commission (QEDC) supports manufacturing in Bay of Quinte.
