Founded in 1946, CGT is a leading provider of coated fabrics and films; formulating, calendaring, printing, embossing and laminating thermoplastic sheeting to produce a wide variety of products from instrument panels, soft touch panels and seating material for the North American automotive sector, through to pool and pond liners, decking materials and roofing membranes for the industrial marketplace.

One of Cambridge’s oldest operating manufacturers, Canadian General-Tower (CGT) has spent its entire history adapting to change in order to survive, grow and thrive. The company has continually improved on its environmental practices relating to manufacturing and also on the creation of “greener” product offerings. Now in 2011, the company’s experience with roofing products and technology present CGT with further opportunities to offer its customers superior products that incorporate additional environmental benefits. 



Constant innovation coupled with a willingness to adapt to changing market conditions has been the key to CGT’s success and longevity. The company prioritizes research and development, employing its own research team in-house and actively partners with leading universities to remain on the cutting edge. 

In recent years, much of CGT’s R&D efforts have been directed toward green initiatives. In conjunction with the Ontario BioAuto Council, CGT created Vehreo, a green material manufactured from recycled pop bottles and vinyl for automotive interior use that incorporates biological ingredients including soybean oil, castor bean oil, corn and soy proteins.

In 1980, very early days in terms of Green manufacturing initiatives, CGT began producing thermoplastic ‘cool roof’ material for the industrial market. The three-ply lightweight and impervious roofing material, again made partially of recycled materials has a black underside, an inner polyester layer for strength, and is topped with a reflective white vinyl layer. The white upper coating gives the roof its reflective quality, bouncing sunlight off flat-roofed buildings and allowing building owners and operators to better manage heat load and enable ambient cooling of interiors through lower roof temperatures.

CGT’s Tower Roofing division has recently developed an innovative Sloped Roof (residential) system. Tower Shake and Tower Slate roofing shingles are constructed from a proprietary blend of premium polymers including recycled materials. These attractive roof coverings offer the homeowner the elegant appearance of cedar shake shingles or slate roofing tiles and are an environmentally friendly choice.

As well, Ontario’s Green Energy Act, which passed into law in 2009 has created additional opportunities for rooftop owners. This provincial initiative is designed to make Ontario a global leader in clean, renewable energy, and provides very attractive incentives to businesses and homeowners to adopt green measures, including the transformation of industrial flat roofs and residential sloped roofs into solar installations.

The Ontario Green Energy Act opened the door for CGT to seriously explore the solar marketplace as the next step in our green business strategy. It created new levels of demand from our customers who were eager to see CGT expand its roofing business with specific offerings tailored for solar installations.” 


In June of 2010, CGT formed its new solar division under Rick Chaplin, CEO, and appointed Rick Williams, former head of operations for its Cambridge and Ohio plants to lead the effort. CGT assists building and home owners to design and install effective Solar Photovoltaic systems on their rooftops. These rooftop installations produce clean electricity and reduce strain on the electrical grid. 



Rick Chaplin is also the Champion for CGT’s Tower Roofing division and is supporting Paul Yurcich, Director of Tower Roofing, in his efforts to provide Canadian homeowners with a superior roofing option that is also the right choice for the environment.

CGT is pleased to see the progress that Waterloo Region is making as many new environmentally focused companies locate here and also that many existing companies in the region are refocusing on sustainable products and practices. The many great support agencies and networks do make a difference.

“The key to success in manufacturing is reinvention. By constantly seeking new opportunities and markets to diversify operations, we find our ourselves capable of weathering economic downturns and able to adapt more quickly as trends and circumstances change.”

“We’re incredibly excited about the opportunities solar energy represents for our business. We’re aggressively moving forward in this market to apply our existing manufacturing methods and recycled materials to serve our customers with new and innovative Green products. It’s a very exciting time here at CGT. The opportunities are really limitless.” 


 - Rick Williams - Director, Solar Division

Sources:

• Cambridge Business Update Mid-Year Review | October 2010
• www.cgtower.com