New depot sets uniform company up for growth in Timmins

After 40 years of service in the area, a uniform service company has a permanent home in the city.

Northern Uniform recently opened a delivery depot with four trucks at 822 Riverside Dr. in Timmins. The company provides high visibility and cold weather clothing for mining companies, as well as other rentals and commercial uniforms for many different industries.

The new space allows for less travel time from their Sudbury dispatch, saving time on the road, money on gas, and hours behind the wheel, said general manager Chad Laframboise.

“We decided it’s time due to the volume of work and the anticipation of growing that branch,” he said. “So we’ll have trucks up there to distribute to the area, and we can take better care of our customers. We have a home there now.”

The company has been working with the mining industry in Timmins for over 40 years, with trucks going back and forth along Highway 144 six times a week, said Laframboise.

“It comes down to so many vehicles going back and forth on that highway from Sudbury,” he said. “You reduce the risk when you only have one tractor-trailer going down that highway. It made sense at this point.”

Concerns during the winter, especially along the highway, are less of a problem with the Timmins depot.

“That highway closes at least once a week,” he said.

He said the depot in Timmins is giving them greater capacity to work with their clients in the area.

“If they’re spending all their time staring at a windshield and not delivering, it’s not very productive,” he said. “Now we have more hours in a day for the service guys when they’re up there.”

The new facility has been in the works for three years, and there have been a few bumps along the way, said Laframboise, but he said they’re happy to see it all come together finally.

“We’re past all the red tape, and it’s all good,” he said.

The company serves many mining companies in the area, and given the growth in that sector, Laframboise said the expansion was well-timed.

The customer reaction so far has been very positive, said Laframboise and the company is looking forward to being part of Timmins.

“Our customers are delighted to have us closer, and the community, we’ve always been a visitor, and now we’re part of the community,” he said. “We used a lot of local vendors to get the facility up and going.”