Canadian coatings manufacturer GBIE adds new facility for automotive weatherseals

Windsor, Ontario – Canadian coatings manufacturer GBIE has announced the opening of an additional new production facility for its water-based coating materials for automotive weatherstrip sealing systems.

The 64,000-sq-ft facility will double production capacity for GBIE’s Slip-Coat branded abrasion resistance coatings, said a company statement 16 Nov.

The products, said the manufacturer, will be mainly supplied to tier 1 and tier 2 automotive OEMs in North America and Europe.

The facility in Windsor has also been predesigned to integrate further equipment as needed for an eightfold increase in production capacity.

According to GBIE, the unit houses a large R&D laboratory and has environmental features such as a rainwater capture system for use in cleaning processes.

GBIE has been developing and manufacturing smooth and textured high-performance, durable coatings for a variety of flexible substrates since 1989.

“The commissioning of our new factory is a significant chapter in the story of our family-owned business,” said Dr David Bareich, GBIE president.

The new factory will aim to address the growing demand for high-performance, sustainable coating solutions with new eco-friendly products such as water-based primers and cleaners, said Bareich.

“The new, lean facility with its dedicated R&D laboratory will support our planned technology acceleration,” he concluded.