Zochem, Brampton celebrating golden anniversaries

BRAMPTON, Ontario—There is a thriving industrial corridor between Montreal and Toronto, and it is where Zochem L.L.C. has spent its last 91 years.

Established just outside of Montreal in 1933, the zinc oxide production firm built its current state-of-the-art facility just outside Toronto in 1974.

Doing the math, that means the 80-person company that has been named one of Rubber News' Best Places to Work for two years running is celebrating its golden anniversary in Brampton this year.

"As Zochem and Brampton both celebrate their 50th anniversaries, the partnership between the company and the city stands as a testament to mutual growth, innovation and community spirit," the company stated in a June 19 release.

Brampton's 50th anniversary as a city makes the celebration doubly significant. Brampton itself was established Jan. 1, 1974, with a population of about 88,800 people.

The new city was redrawn from the original Brampton, to include half of Chinguacousy Township (including Bramalea), most of Toronto's Gore Township and a small portion of Mississauga.

"Zochem's decision to relocate to Brampton was strategic," the company said. "Situated in the heart of the Toronto-Waterloo Innovation Corridor, Brampton offers unparalleled connectivity."

In fact, Brampton has been rated No. 1 for connectivity among mid-sized North American cities by FDI Intelligence's American Cities of the Future 2019/20 report.

Seven major highways and Canadian National's largest intermodal railway terminal in Canada run through the city.

The entire area is connected to the St. Lawrence Seaway through the Port of Toronto, offering layers of transportation, distribution, storage and containerization services for both international and domestic markets.

"In Brampton, Zochem has not only been a respected local employer but has also become an environmental leader, contributing to a cleaner and safer environment," the company stated.

And the company's employees pride themselves on community outreach, participating in numerous charitable events and initiatives.

The company, which also has a production facility in Dickson, Tenn., abides by the "4Cs" as its mission, including continuity, communication, consultation and certainty.

"Success can be defined in many ways, including financial performance, market share growth, customer satisfaction, employee retention and satisfaction, and ongoing innovation," Seth Johnson, global director of sales and marketing, told Rubber News earlier this year. "Our continued investment in our North American facilities and sustainability efforts have led to positive contributions to both plants.

"Ultimately, we want to achieve a balance between these factors while staying true to Zochem's values and long-term goals. Our leadership strongly believes that by providing partners with continuity, communication, consultation and certainty, we'll continue to grow."

Zochem is one of the largest producers of zinc oxide in North America, manufacturing it via the French process for a variety of rubber and non-rubber applications.

Zochem posts just under $300 million in sales per year between its two manufacturing sites, producing about 100,000 metric tons of zinc oxide per year (60 percent from Ontario and 40 percent from Tennessee).

The company services the pharmaceutical, nutrition, chemical, tire and automotive industries, among others.