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Location DB > Canada > Ontario > Kitchener > Budd Automotive
 Name
Budd Automotive
 Viewing Options
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 Database Info
created by vapula on 9/7/2009 5:52 AM
last modified by phrenzee on 5/7/2017 2:29 PM
 Viewability
Publically Viewable Publically Viewable
This location has been labeled as Demolished, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
 Overview
 Description
HUGE factory, with office buildings attached. used to build car frames i believe.

*Built frames for cars for GM Chrysler and Ford*
 Basic Information
Type: Building
Status: Demolished
Accessibility: Easy
Recommendation: drop everything - must see
 Physical Information
Address
Homer Watson and Bleams
Kitchener, Ontario
Canada
Owner:
  • See a map of this location
  •  Hazards
  • rust
  • unsafe flooring
  • air quality
  • catwalks are very slippery
  •  Interesting Features
    LOTS! tonnes of machines still left, and the place is massive!
     Security Measures
  • fences
  • 24 hour guard
  •  Historical Dates
    Built: 1965
    Closed: 2009
     Required Equipment
  • gloves
  • long pants / sleeves
  •  Recommended Equipment

     History
    1965- Canada-United States Automotive Agreement, better known as the Auto Pact, is signed, which requires that for every car sold here, one had to be made here. It also requires that every Canadian-made car have 60 per cent Canadian content in parts and labour. New Budd plant for Kitchener kept a secret in the media until Toronto paper breaks the story. Budd buys 120 acres from Kitchener for $300,000. Workforce estimate goes from 400 to 750.

    1966 - Construction of plant begins; Budd says workforce to increase to 1,000 workers.

    1967 - Plant starts production.

    1968 - Budd’s 750 workers agree to a three-year pact, which delivers a 40-per-cent wage increase that brings production workers’ hourly wage to $4.45 an hour. The workers strike for two months over the summer.

    1969 - Budd plant posts a profit of $2.5 million, despite lower frame sales.

    1970 - Company announces $40 million expansion and says workforce to increase to 1,500.

    1971 - Company earns $1.5 million, thanks to brisk sales. Directors say the newly expanded plant is beginning to realize its potential. Employment reaches 2,000 workers.

    1972 - Budd shifts tool and die work to Philadelphia to help a work shortage there, but local plant’s profit hits $6.9 million as frame sales surge.

    1973 - Plant profits hit $8.4 million. Nearly 2,000 workers stage wildcat strike after company refuses them breaks from the stifling heat during a July heat wave.

    1974 - Steel shortages and auto sales slump cut company profit to $4.8 million. Budd lands AMC as a customer, and makes frames for the Pacer. A reduced workforce of 1,700 ratifies three-year deal, giving them parity with U.S. workers. A wildcat strike in August almost results in court action.

    1975 - Budd loses GM contract to Dana Corp. of Pa., which prompts Kitchener Mayor Edith MacIntosh to go to Ottawa seeking government aid for the ailing auto sector. Profit sinks to $2 million as 850 workers are laid off.

    1976 - The plant lands a new frame contract with GM, pledges to return staff to full complement.

    1977 - Union signs three-year deal, ending a short strike. Production workers pay rises to $8.67. Plant employment rises to 2,700. Profit hits $8.3 million.

    1978 - Rumours of a Budd Co. takeover circulate. Thyssen confirmed as the buyer in April. Loss of a Ford contract threatens 1,000 jobs.

    1979 - $9.9 million profit for Budd Canada, as plant reaches peak of more than 3,000 workers, with some estimates suggesting a workforce of 3,300. The company sees 68 illegal work stoppages between 1978-79, but management and union pledge to turn the page. Hugh Sloan appointed Budd Canada president.

    1980 - Plant operates at less than 50 per cent capacity as more than 1,100 worker laid off. Budd Canada president Hugh Sloan calls it an “outright depression” in the automotive industry. Plant, UAW, strike three-year collective agreement. Worker numbers fall to 685.

    1981 - Budd management says UAW refusal to adjust its collective agreement is reason for a lost GM contract. Workforce grows to 1,400 workers, but 821 layoffs given to workers in November. Profit sinks to $3 million.

    1982 - Company suspends dividends as recession continues. Company employs about 850-1,000 workers and invests $20 million to automate the plant. It lands two new contracts but loses $8.9 million.

    1983 - Company loses $2.2 million as Sloan describes state of auto industry as being in a “a recession of monumental proportions.” Company sells off Brampton engineering division.

    1984 - Company returns to profitability of $11.25 million, expands plant. Labour relations improved as company nominated for national labour standards award.

    1985 - Workers ratify new three-year deal without a strike for first time since 1971. Profits rise to record $26.7 million. News of a Toyota plant in Cambridge seen as good news. Hugh Sloan resigns.

    1986 - Plant wins new contract with Ford as employment reaches 1,750. Profits hit $27.8 million.

    1987 - New labour deal reached between Budd, CAW months before old contract expires. Profits hit $26 million.

    1988 - Profits sink to $19.5 million.

    1989 - Hundreds of layoffs in anticipation of a slowdown. Free Trade replaces Auto Pact. Profits hit $27.6 million.

    1990 - Profits fall to $18.5 million, due to high Canadian dollar, struggles in the domestic auto industry.

    1991- Profits plummet to $1.6 million, due to recession. An April strike becomes violent when company attempts to drive trucks into the plant. Heated standoff as train attempts to enter plant. Strike ends after 16 days, with plant closure agreement.

    1992 - Profits improve to $3.6 million.

    1993 - $2.7-million profit marks 10th straight profitable year. Workers reject contract extension, which calls for two-year wage freeze.

    1994 - Costs to retool factory eat into financials, as company posts $8.8 million loss, despite surging sales. A new contract is signed in January and a new deal with Mercedes is struck.

    1995 - $3.3 million profit is credited in part to the weak loonie.

    1996 - Budd Canada renamed Thyssen Budd Canada. Profit rises to $6.4 million. 2,000 people line up for 50 production line jobs at Budd in June.

    1997 - $6.7 million profit as workforce remains steady at 1,400. Workers ratify new deal that company says will put it in position to land GM deal to make 360 light truck platform.

    1998 - ThyssenKrupp formed out of merger. Budd undergoes $4-million expansion and posts $7.4-million profit.

    1999 - Plant posts $8.6-million profit and plans to spend $100-million to upgrade plant to hydroforming technology. Workforce grows to 1,700.

    2000 - Profit of $2.1 million as workforce grows to 1,900. The investment in new equipment said to be $150-million, as company warns of huge loss.

    2001 - Plant posts loss of $94.2 million. Workforce grows to 2,000, because of GM contract for SUV frames.

    2002 - Loss of $68.8-million. Company trims staff by 100 as it tries to return to profitability.

    2003 - ThyssenKrupp Budd still losing money, cuts jobs due to new efficiency improvements.

    2004 - Company posts $14.1-million loss. German parent warns of more job losses, due to contracts ending and SUVs falling out of favour.

    2005 - Workforce shrinks to 1,300, as GM SUV sales drop 16 per cent.

    2006 - Plant changes name to Kitchener Frame after Martinrea International buys 12 plants from ThyssenKrupp. Active workforce reduced to 950 workers.

    2007 - Auto industry strikes in the U.S., combined with continuing SUV sales slump and high dollar, force more layoffs as active workforce shrinks to 750.

    2008 - In February, Martinrea says it intends to close Kitchener Frame by April, since it has no further contracts following the GM deal. A pact is reach to extend production to 2010, but GM’s closure of its SUV plant in Ohio, which Kitchener Frame supplies, kills all hopes. Most remaining workers let go before Dec. 23. Last frame completed on Dec. 2.

    --------------------
    2017 - Not totally demolished - There are still two buildings remaining. They are wide open. Security usually on site.
     Media Coverage
    http://www.thereco...he-property-begins
     Future Plans
    Demolition. They have plans to turn it into a new multi-million dollar industrial and commercial development.
     Stories


    Add your own story
     Photo Galleries
    Click to view gallery
    Vapula and Manzil's first penetration
    Mon, Sep 7th, 2009
    posted by vapula
    10 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Vapula and MissAngst's trip!
    Mon, Sep 14th, 2009
    posted by vapula
    25 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    P & V's epic explore
    Sun, Sep 20th, 2009
    posted by phrenzee
    18 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Midnight Entry
    Wed, Aug 18th, 2010
    posted by PARKDALE_LOCAL
    18 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Gutted site explore
    Thu, Aug 19th, 2010
    posted by K-Rud
    18 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    K Frame Perimeter
    Mon, Sep 13th, 2010
    posted by HellzBlaze
    25 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Return Visit
    Sun, Nov 14th, 2010
    posted by phrenzee
    6 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Down comes Budd
    Wed, Aug 29th, 2012
    posted by L'Ali
    19 pictures


    Add your own photos

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     Panoramas

    floor pano
    Mon, Sep 14th, 2009
    posted by vapula


    pano from catwalk
    Mon, Sep 14th, 2009
    posted by vapula


    Post Apocalyptic Playground
    Sat, Jun 2nd, 2012
    posted by RiddimRyder


    orange area pano
    Sat, Sep 26th, 2009
    posted by vapula


    Mid-demolition April, 2012
    Thu, Apr 26th, 2012
    posted by phrenzee


    cut shop
    Wed, Sep 23rd, 2009
    posted by vapula
     Web Links
    http://www.flickr....d_kitchener_frame/
     Contribute

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     Moderator Rating
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     Validation
    This location's validation is current. It was last validated by Explorer Zero on 5/7/2017 6:38 PM.

     Latest Changes
  • on May 7 17 at 18:38, Explorer Zero validated this location
  • on May 7 17 at 14:29, phrenzee changed the following: History
  • on Feb 12 13 at 14:44, Opheliaism validated this location
  • on Feb 11 13 at 23:53, phrenzee changed the following: Status
  • on Sep 12 12 at 13:00, Opheliaism validated this location
  • on Aug 29 12 at 3:13, L'Ali added some pictures to a gallery
  • on Aug 29 12 at 3:05, L'Ali updated gallery picture _DSC5741ed_838
  • on Aug 29 12 at 3:02, L'Ali added some pictures to a gallery
  • on Aug 29 12 at 2:51, L'Ali created a new gallery
  • on Jun 5 12 at 17:51, Opheliaism validated this location
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