'Weighs 1.7 million pounds with 2,200 tonnes of force': Massive stamping press arrives in Port Stanley

A massive cargo shipment shut down the harbour in Port Stanley, Ont. for a planned 12 hours Wednesday.

A more than 100-foot barge was bringing in a state-of-the-art tool and die stamping press in three sections.

“It’s massive,” said Etienne Borm, the CEO of ETBO Tool and Die in Calton, south of Aylmer. “It’s 1.7 million pounds to bring in. It can generate a workforce of 4.4 million pounds (2,200 tonnes) and has a cost of $7 million.”

ETBO is a 57-year-old family-owned tool and die manufacturer and auto parts producer.

The factory builds tooling to make car parts, then ships them out to various automotive producers.

The equipment brings the technology required to support new businesses like PowerCo.

Etienne Borm (right), CEO of ETBO Tool and Die, reviews a car part with employee Jerry Wiebe on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Brent Lale/CTV News London)

“We're going to use that for large format battery coolers, as well as our foray into hydrogen, the fuel cell market,” said Borm.

The press made its way to Canada from Taiwan on a ship, through the Panama Canal with stops in Asia, New York, Halifax, Montreal, and Hamilton.

“Purchasing it was the easy part from Taiwan, but getting all the parts lined up, I’ve got to take my hat off to the fantastic people making this happen,” said Borm.

Mammoet Transportation, a leader in heavy lifting, was handling the unloading of the cargo.

The foundation has been poured at ETBO Tool and Die in Calton, Ont. for the massive stamping press being delivered to support their EV initiatives. (Brent Lale/CTV News London)

For weeks, ETBO has been working with the municipalities of Central Elgin and Bayham, as well as Elgin County on the logistics of this delivery.

“We did some dredging last year, and I think that makes it so that we're able to do something like take a boat and equipment that's come all the way from Taiwan,” said Andrew Sloan, Central Elgin mayor. “It's exciting for the community to see this happen and to help be part of the economic development of the region.”

Bayham Mayor and Elgin County Deputy Warden Ed Ketchabaw said coordinating the logistics of this delivery is a testament to cooperation between municipalities.

“This is something that you just don't bring over rail,” said Ketchabaw.

A barge unloads a large shipment which consists of three components of a stamping press in Port Stanley, Ont. on Dec. 18, 2024. The press was purchased by ETBO Tool and Die in Calton, Ont. (Brent Lale/CTV News London)

“You don't bring it over a road. You've got to bring it in by sea and by the lake to get it here.”

Ketchabaw also referred to ETBO as a “hidden jewel” in the municipality of Bayham, as it employs residents from all over the region.

“This piece of equipment that are moving in is going to set them up for the future,” said Ketchabaw. “For participating in the not only the EV industry, but also, whatever else comes along. This is great for the region, and it's fantastic from an employment perspective.”

A $7 million tool and die stamping press was delivered in pieces to Port Stanley, Ont. via barge on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. This is what the custom-made product will look like when completed (Source: Etienne Borm)

The cargo moved off the barge will be stored in the Municipal East Pier Parking Lot until Jan. 14, 2025, when it will be delivered to ETBO.

“Each one of these loads will take the full day to get from Port Stanley, the 32km to our place,” said Borm. “That will happen over about a week-and-a-half period. There's all sorts of things still to figure out, bridge calculations, trying to find bridges that are strong enough to help facilitate the weights of these loads.”

Back at ETBO, the foundation for this press has been poured, and Borm said it will be assembled in the coming months, with hopes to have it in operation by June.