Icons of the industry: AMI Attachments recently held a tour of its manufacturing facility for construction industry veterans from southern Ontario
AMI Attachments recently invited icons of the construction industry to tour its headquarters and manufacturing facility in Hawkesville, Ontario.
The tour included 100-year-old Russel Cox, who founded Guelph-based Cox Construction in 1947, 94-year-old Bev Dekay, who founded London-based Dekay Construction 71 years ago, and 93-year-old Don Benson who worked in heavy equipment marketing in southern Ontario for about 50 years before retiring.
Together, the three industry veterans represent more than 200 years of experience in the construction and heavy equipment industry.
“It was just natural to make this happen. We’re just really glad to have these gentlemen here,” said Bernie Howorth, Vice President of Market Development for AMI Attachments.
The idea for the tour was planted during the Toromont Cat Operator Challenge earlier this summer.
During the competition, Howorth ran into Russel Cox and his son Regan as well as Bev Dekay’s son John.
“I’ve known these gentlemen from all my years in the business as a dealer and then as a manufacturer,” Howorth said. “So, I suggested maybe it would be nice to have them come and tour our factory, which they were very open to.”
The Dekays suggested their mutual friend Don Benson also join the facility tour.
“I know Don quite well as a former competitor and as an icon of our industry, and we’re glad to have him join us as well,” Howorth explained.
AMI Attachments (Agway Manufacturing Inc.) was founded in 2001 by Steve Frey.
The first attachment he built was a bucket for a Case 580 backhoe for a farmer in the region.
For its 20th anniversary, AMI was able to find that bucket and trade a new attachment to retrieve the piece of company history.
“It was bucket number one and it’s up in the boardroom,” Howorth said.
RELATED: How AMI cut its teeth in the attachment business
Since building that first backhoe bucket, AMI has grown into an international provider of attachments for excavators, backhoes, wheel loaders and other heavy construction equipment.
The company now employs about 180 people at its 100,000 square foot headquarters and manufacturing facility in Hawkesville.
The Ontario-based manufacturer was also the first dual SSAB member worldwide to earn certification in both Hardox In My Body and My Inner Strenx programs.
“It must be very rewarding,” Russel Cox said, noting the tour was quite interesting.
While on site, the industry veterans were able to see the manufacturing process, from welding to painting, as well as see new developments in fabrication and attachment design.
“It was absolutely amazing to see the production and the innovation,” Bev Dekay said.
“There has been a ton of changes,” Benson added, commenting on the fabrication process.
From left: Abe Neufeld (AMI), Chris Mitchell (AMI), Don Benson, Tom Dekay, Bev Dekay, John Dekay, Russel Cox, Regan Cox and Bernie Howorth.
