Omniglass Destroyed by Fire
Last Post 04 Apr 2012 08:54 PM by windowrookie. 10 Replies.
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windowrookieUser is Offline
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02 Jan 2012 02:49 PM
Omniglass who is the supplier of fiberglass lineals to  Norwood, Thermotech, Accurate Dorwin and Fibertech to name a few has been destroyed by fire. Their building was left in a pile of rubble after a huge fire. Glad to hear no one was seriously injured. See the article below...


Winnipeg fibreglass plant destroyed by fire

4 firefighters hurt in blaze, explosion at Sherwin Road facility

Posted: Jan 2, 2012 10:44 AM CST

Last Updated: Jan 2, 2012 12:03 PM CST

Fire crews remain at the scene in Winnipeg's St. James area of an early-morning blaze and explosion that has destroyed a fibreglass window and door component plant.

The fire at Omniglass, located at 1205 Sherwin Road, started just after midnight on Monday.The fire at Omniglass, located at 1205 Sherwin Road, started just after midnight on Monday. (Google Street View)

The fire at Omniglass Ltd. on 1205 Sherwin Road started just after midnight on Monday.

A total of four firefighters were injured after an explosion occurred in the building, but no one was seriously hurt.

One of the firefighters was sent flying from the explosion, but he was treated in hospital and released. The three other injured firefighters were treated at the scene.

Fire crews continue to pour water on the roof of the building late Monday morning, while a demolition crew is trying to tear down part of the structure, part of which has been completely gutted.

"It's still burning in the middle of the building … we can't get in to get at it," fire platoon chief Brian Somers told CBC News shortly before 11 a.m. CT.

Omniglass workers saddened

"We're trying to work with aerial ladders and [a] backhoe to get it pulled down to where we can get it extinguished."

Police officers are also at the scene, keeping spectators — including some Omniglass employees — at a safe distance as the building is set to be demolished.

The Omniglass employees at the scene told CBC News they are deeply saddened to see their workplace destroyed by fire, especially at the start of a new year.

The employees said a total of about 80 people work at Omniglass, which produces fibreglass and other window and door components.

No one was inside the plant at the time of the blaze. Damage is expected to be in the millions of dollars.

"It exploded and it blew out some of the walls of the building," Somers said.

"The whole building is twisted and structurally unsafe right now, so that's why we can't get crews inside to attack these hotspots."

Sherwin Road has been closed between Notre Dame and Dublin avenues for much of Monday morning.


JohnBUser is Offline
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04 Jan 2012 02:35 PM
 

It is extremely unfortunate that this has occured and people will be out of work temporarily.

We are very confident that Omniglass will rebuild and be up and running shortly. they have an amazing group of people and the determination of continuing in supplying a great product.

Despite this small setback having occured, we at Fibertec maintain a high volume of inventory and this will not affect our production moving forward. We will stay on track and supply all of our existing and future customers' needs.

We will be thinking of those families that have been affected by this situation including the Firemen that have been hurt.

windowrookieUser is Offline
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15 Jan 2012 09:40 PM
John

Have you heard anything yet? One of my suppliers that was impacted has started to search for an alternate supplier. He wasn't sure how much longer he can accept new orders. No one is willing to share their remaining stock and as of last week he hadn't received an update.

Any chance of helping out?


JohnBUser is Offline
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16 Jan 2012 08:45 AM
We are always willing to help.
We just need to know who we are dealing with.
Fortunately, we are not in that predicament of running out of inventory.
We do have updates and it all looks very positive.
windowrookieUser is Offline
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24 Feb 2012 06:45 PM
I just heard that Omniglass will not reopen!!! They are definitely shutting the place down and the bigger guys are trying to pull their dies out and looking for new pultruders companies to run them. Other smaller window manufacturers who's dies are owned by Omni are shafted....

John B, I wish you and your company best of luck in the future...

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/burned-out-omniglass-plant-unlikely-to-reopen-139425673.html
JohnBUser is Offline
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25 Feb 2012 10:49 AM
As much as we were hoping to see them open again as they are a great bunch, we were prepared for any issues and we not only have enough inventory to carry us on, but this opens up a new venue for us. news to come within the next few weeks. we will always supply any requests.
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25 Feb 2012 12:30 PM
John B

 I appreciate your optimism but do not share it. It is sometimes difficult to accept the hand you have been given but sometimes it is better accept the reality of what happened.

Currently you do not have any source or supplier of lineals. It has been 2 months since the fire. You mentioned you will not know anything for at least another month, that makes 3 months. Even if you bought a pultruder you are still 12 months away. If you copy the identical profiles you purchased from Omniglass, you have copyright infringement issues. To design a new window system is another year away minimum To purchase another system from some other pultruder takes several months for certification. I highly doubt you carry 4/5/6 months of inventory because in this business no one else does and frankly the cost and inventorying of it make zero business sense even if you were cash rich which you are not. Or you have no orders which makes your predicament even worse.

Sometimes it is better to tell the truth that your future looks very grim. It is time to put the customers first instead of yourself. Earlier you mentioned that everything was fine and it wasn't and isn't. Therefore be honest, it is time you put the customer first instead your self interests. You would want the same.

 The boat is sinking, time to tell the passengers..
windowrookieUser is Offline
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25 Feb 2012 12:31 PM
Oops double post..
LbearUser is Offline
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25 Feb 2012 04:26 PM
It sounds like the Italian cruise ship and Captain Francesco Schettino telling everyone that everything is OK while he is on a escape boat rowing towards the shore.

I am with you, the company sounds like it sunk. Best protect your funds and count the company as a loss.
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08 Mar 2012 07:00 PM
A little birdie told me the issue was they were SEVERELY under insured.

Very curious as it is Serious Energy who bought the company.

This incident will probably drastically reshape the fiberglass window landscape.
windowrookieUser is Offline
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04 Apr 2012 08:54 PM
Michaeld

So will the fact that James Hardie bought Teel Pultrusions. The choices of the remaining Omniglass customers securing an alternative supplier has just decrease by one...

http://www.dwmmag.com/index.php/teel-plastics-sells-pultrusion-division/


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