He opens a factory in Plattsburgh just in time to counter Trump

A major Quebec manufacturer of water games is preparing to open a factory in Plattsburgh, which will allow it to circumvent the customs tariffs that Donald Trump promises to impose on Canadian products.

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“It will make us more resilient to change. These are political changes over which we have no control. Remaining purely an exporter today represents a risk,” says Journal Stephen Hamelin, CEO of Vortex Aquatic Structures.

Vortex, which Mr. Hamelin founded in Montreal in 1995, is one of the largest water play area companies in the world.

Addiction in the United States

Nearly 70% of Vortex’s revenue comes from the United States, which made the company particularly vulnerable to the threat from Mr. Trump. Disney, several hotels and countless municipalities are among its clients.

Vortex has acquired an existing building in Plattsburgh and plans to begin production there by spring. The project represents an investment of more than $7 million.

The company had been working on this expansion for a little over a year, but stepped on the accelerator seeing that “protectionism” was gaining popularity in the United States.

“We put more effort into it because it became an issue, but it was still part of our long-term strategy,” relates Stephen Hamelin.

Concerns in Montreal

Vortex expects to create 30 to 40 jobs in Plattsburgh within two to three years. Its CEO admits that the announcement caused concern among its approximately 175 Quebec employees.

“It shouldn’t affect current employees,” he said. It will rather affect the hirings that we would have made here.

Mr. Hamelin assures that there is no question of moving the majority of production to New York State. “No, that’s not the objective,” he insists. This is why proximity to Montreal is important.”

But according to him, the new facilities will allow Vortex to largely escape possible tariffs from Washington. “There will be added value in Plattsburgh and we will deliver the products from there [aux clients américains]», Explains the manager.

Interest in Plattsburgh

Vortex is not the only Quebec company interested in Plattsburgh.

Molly Ryan, economic development director in Clinton County, where Plattsburgh is located, is seeing an increase in the number of requests for information coming from Quebec.

“But if it is linked to tariffs, it was not mentioned to me,” she maintains diplomatically.

Remember that in November, Micro Bird, a joint venture between Girardin and Blue Bird, announced the takeover of the Nova Bus plant in Plattsburgh, a US$30 million project which is expected to create more than 300 jobs.

Vortex in brief

• Fondation: 1995
• Business volume: more than 500 projects per year
• Employees: 220
• Factories: Quebec, Netherlands, Plattsburgh