Innovation,calculatedrisktaking,qualityexcellenceandteamworkarehallmarksofAlgonquinAutomotive‘sexcitingevolutiontoglobalcapabilitiesandvigorousgrowthintheMuskokaRegion.ThecompanywasestablishedasAlgonquinMetalsinHuntsvilletomanufacturetrailerhitchesandtowingaccessoriesin1968,andwasrenamedIdealAlgonquinin1969.ThenalongcameJimAlexander,adynamicyoungbusinessmanlookingforacompanywithexcitinggrowthpotential.In1976,heboughthalfoftheorganization,andacquiredtheremainderin1980.Overthenextdecade,Jimbuiltanenergeticteamwhothrivedonthechallengeoftakingcalculatedriskswiththedevelopmentandlaunchofnewproducts,focusingonaffordable,innovativequalityaccessoriesthatallowconsumerstocustomizetheirvehiclesforappearanceandutility.Throughthe1990‘s,IdealAlgonquinmadeaboldmovebyaddingenhanceddesignsforrunningboards-therebyattractingtheautomotiveindustry‘smajororiginalequipmentmanufacturer(OEMs),includingToyota,GeneralMotors,ChryslerandFord.Thegrowthinglobalcapabilitiesandqualitystandardsinitiatedthecreationoftwoseparatebusinessgroupsin1994:AlgonquinAutomotiveandHiddenHitch(ledbyRobAlexander,Jim‘sson).Toaccommodatethefast-pacedgrowth,theGravenhurstfacilitywaspurchasedin1996.RobAlexanderacceptedthepositionofChiefExecutiveOfficerforAlgonquinAutomotivein1998,asJimchosesemi-retirement.WithastrongcommitmenttotheMuskokaRegion,andinrecognitionoftheimportanceofqualitypaintprocessingforpartsproduction,AlgonquinenteredajointventurewiththeCrownGroups‘paintfacilityinBracebridgein1999.Then,in2001,twokeydecisionsweremade:tosellHiddenHitchandfocusonoperationalexcellenceinAlgonquinAutomotive;andtoacquiretheCrownGroup‘sBracebridgefacilityratherthanloseavaluable,localsupplier.Andherewearetoday...adynamicteamdeterminedtobethebestintheworldattwothings:supplyingvarietyatlowcostandcommercializingproprietaryinnovations.Asavalue-drivencompany,we‘rebuildingacultureofexcellence.Together,wefaceaprosperousfutureofexcitingchange,innovationandgrowth.