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In difficult times for manufacturing businesses in Ontario, a dental burr manufacturer located in Morrisburg is finding a way to survive, and grow.

Joanne Kydd, chief operating officer of Xenopus, and Barry Keicks, the company’s production manager, last week spoke with The Leader about the company’s building expansion.

“We are a wholly-owned Canadian firm, and we intend to stay that way,” said Kydd. “And, we are growing.”

“We knew that if we wanted to stay in manufacturing, in Canada, we needed to be making something really good,” she said, explaining that the main dental burr they are producing, is like the Porsche of dental burrs.

“We produce high quality dental burrs. Our focus is on quality, and that focus on quality will continue with this expansion,” said Kydd.

The major burr being produced by Xenopus is an all purpose burr favoured by the European market, among others.

“It’s a niche market that we’ve nestled into,” said Kydd.

Keicks said that gross production at Xenopus has increased over 60 per cent over the last five years.

Kydd adds that the increase has been steady, and has allowed them to  maintain product quality.

Money has been spent on research and development and three new machines have been developed, in house, to improve processes.

This solid and steady growth has enabled Xenopus to similarly grow their workforce, having hired an additional 12 people over the last three years.

“That’s a lot when you are small company,” said Kydd. 

Xenopus has a workforce of less than 50.

Kydd and Keicks agree that being a small company is an asset.

“When you are small, everyone works together,” said Keicks. “That’s the only way we move forward,” added Kydd.

The company’s increase in sales has allowed Xenopus to invest, most importantly, in its people.

“It takes about two years to learn to do the job well here,” says Keicks. “When you want to make a quality product, you need a stable and experienced workforce.”

That workforce will soon be benefiting from an expanded workspace.

With local contractors, Xenopus is breaking ground on a building addition this week that will double the work  area, providing an opportunity for added efficiency.

The front portion of the building will be demolished to make way for a 2,000 square foot addition. The project is expected to be complete  in September.

In the end, the 2,000 square foot addition will increase workspace, and add new offices and a sales area to the business that has been in the Morrisburg industrial park since 1991. 

While the focus of this addition is on improved efficiency, Kydd expects add new staff annually.

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