Welcome to the epicentre of manufacturing innovation in Canada: the Toronto-Waterloo Corridor.
Stretching between the Greater Toronto Area and Waterloo Region in Ontario, the Corridor is celebrated not only for its robust tech community, but also for its significant advanced manufacturing industry.
In fact, manufacturing is an integral piece of the Corridor’s identity and contributes significantly to its impressive $370B+ economy.
Join us as we explore four key reasons for the Toronto-Waterloo Corridor’s significant manufacturing capacity, including its strategic location, the strength of its talent, the global brands who’ve laid roots here and the collaborative subsectors that fuel its continued growth and global influence.
Your golden ticket to international markets
The Toronto-Waterloo Corridor spans 105 km/65 miles and is connected by highway 401, one of the busiest highways in the world.
The Corridor is a key conduit for the manufacturing supply chain. It runs through major economic centres that are home to 13,000+ manufacturing companies and two international airports with shipping capacity: Toronto Pearson and Region of Waterloo. The US isn’t far away – with five Canadian- US border crossings within a short drive.
Cambridge, one of Waterloo Region’s three cities, is a key stop in the Corridor. With three 401 interchanges, Cambridge is home to major manufacturing giants from various sectors, including Beckhoff Automation, Honeywell Aerospace and Dare Foods.
Despite competition from other North American regions, the Corridor remains highly competitive, with advantages such as labour, operating costs and employment growth. Canada’s status as a tariff-free zone for industrial manufacturers further enhances the Corridor’s appeal.
Fueled by top-notch talent
The industry’s strong presence is undeniable, with more than 450,000 people employed in manufacturing-related roles along the Corridor. In Waterloo alone, manufacturing accounts for 17% of all jobs.
The Corridor is home to 16 post-secondary institutions and more than 473,000 students, including top-ranking engineering schools like the University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo, and numerous leading skilled trades schools including Conestoga College, George Brown College, Sheridan College and more.
Both Toronto and Waterloo have an incredibly strong and growing presence of young talent in their 20s and 30s. In fact, in CBRE’s Scoring Tech Talent report 2023, Waterloo and Toronto were among the top three regions with the highest growth in Gen Z population and among the top five for highest growth in millennial population in North America.
" Advanced manufacturing is the way of the future, so why not locate right next to the ecosystem that is best positioned to help you scale and grow your business? "
Simon Drexler
General Manager, Automation Products, ATS Corporation
Where big brands land and expand
The Toronto-Waterloo Corridor is a magnet for leading companies in critical manufacturing subsectors. Notable players in the automotive, robotics and automation, aerospace and food and beverage industries have made significant investments, highlighting the Corridor’s role as a hub for innovation and progress.
Automotive
The Corridor boasts a thriving automotive manufacturing sector, led by industry giants like GM, Ford and Toyota, whose $1.4B investment in Waterloo Region has paved the way for major hybrid vehicle production in this region. Significant supply chain investments, such as Magna’s $470M battery assembly plant and Dana’s $60M expansion in EV manufacturing capacity, highlight the Corridor’s appeal in this sector, attracting further attention from global leaders and innovative startups alike.
Robotics and Automation
Advancements in robotics and automation are reshaping traditional manufacturing, with the Corridor being home to Canada’s largest cluster of such companies. Clearpath Robotics, ATS Corporation, Promise Robotics and others are driving this transformation, establishing the Toronto-Waterloo Corridor as a global hub for cutting-edge manufacturing technologies.
Aerospace
Recent initiatives, such as the establishment of an aerospace accelerator through a partnership between the Region of Waterloo, Accelerator Centre and NavBlue, coupled with strategic proximity to international airports and major companies like Heroux-Devtek, Shimco and MDA, reinforce the Corridor as a competitive hub for aerospace manufacturing.
Food and Beverage
The food and beverage manufacturing industry also thrives in the Corridor, made stronger by major players such as Nestle, Proctor & Gamble, Mars, Coca-Cola Canada, PepsiCo, Piller’s and Waterloo Brewing, alongside a skilled workforce exceeding 67,000 individuals.
With a manufacturing legacy stretching back over 150 years, Waterloo’s innovative spirit continues to drive success throughout the Toronto-Waterloo Corridor. Discover more about Waterloo’s manufacturing landscape in our new video:
The edge in innovation and research
The Corridor offers an abundance of opportunities for collaboration among businesses, government and post-secondary institutions. For instance, did you know that Canada’s National Quantum Strategy is led from Waterloo?
Renowned hubs, research centres and organizations such as Conestoga College’s Smart Centre, Sheridan’s Centre for Intelligent Manufacturing, Catalyst 137, Communitech, MaRS Discovery District and the Ontario Centre of Innovation are continuing to use their strategic locations to push the bar higher.
Plus, R&D tax credit programs allow companies to save up to 65% on their R&D expenses. This incredible support for research and development initiatives enhances the region’s appeal to international manufacturers exploring expansion opportunities.
We’re manufacturing the future
From automotive giants to cutting-edge robotics firms, and everything in between, the Toronto-Waterloo Corridor’s diverse manufacturing ecosystem is setting the stage for continued success.
Learn more about business expansion in the Toronto-Waterloo Corridor.