Ontario Construction Report staff writer
SKARB Inc. has cleared a key hurdle in its plan to build a 30,000-sq. ft. modular wall manufacturing facility in Stratford.
The City of Stratford’s committee of adjustment approved a minor variance on June 18, reducing the required parking setback from an arterial road at the proposed site at 9 Humber St. The decision allows SKARB to move forward to the next phase—site plan approval—which will address the detailed design and layout before construction begins.
If all goes as planned, the facility is expected to be fully operational by late 2025.
“This is an important step in bringing modern manufacturing into the construction industry,” said SKARB CEO David Cambria. “By building components in a controlled facility, we can improve quality, reduce delays and help get new housing and infrastructure built faster and more sustainably.”
The plant will manufacture prefabricated wall systems using fibre cement, a durable and sustainable alternative to drywall. The systems are designed for residential, commercial and industrial construction, helping speed up builds while minimizing on-site labour and material waste.
Cambria said each wall panel will come with pre-installed electrical wiring, plumbing, and insulation, and will be digitally time-stamped and barcoded. “Inspectors will be able to see internal components in detail, making the approval process more efficient,” he said.
The high-tech operation is expected to produce a 10-foot section of interior wall every minute on its continuous production line.
SKARB’s system is particularly attractive for remote and northern projects, including builds in cottage country and northern Ontario, where labour and material access are limited. “We can fabricate a secondary building in two to three weeks, with minimal disruption to the natural environment,” Cambria said.
The project is also expected to create 20 to 30 skilled manufacturing and construction jobs. SKARB plans to host a job fair to recruit workers from Stratford and the surrounding area.
“We’ll need people skilled in automated production processes and millwork,” Cambria said. “This is just the beginning for us.”
Local officials welcomed the project as a boost for the region’s economy and innovation in the construction sector.
“We are proud to support SKARB’s new manufacturing facility, which brings cutting-edge construction technology and new skilled jobs to Stratford,” said Joani Gerber, CEO of investStratford. “This project will strengthen our local economy, expand manufacturing capacity, and support faster delivery of building projects.”