Giffels has developed considerable expertise in automotive parts fabrication plants, especially in the areas of blanking stamping, welding, and forming. KTH Shelburne Mfg. Inc., after a competitive bidding process, awarded Giffels five separate design-build contracts relating to its automotive parts plant in Shelburne.

The plant produces automotive frame components for the Honda minivan plant in Alliston. Giffels engineering experience and expertise in similar welding plants for Honda, Toyota and Ford has provided KTH with added value engineering for their process. This included press installation, die and coil handling, overhead cranes, underfloor scrap conveyors, scrap loading facility welding operations and the overall plant layout. Giffels also provided process utilities design for the plant weld water and compressed air system, plant power distribution for the automatic welding equipment, and incoming M.V. power supply and transformation.

The original plant and offices were designed to accommodate 130,000 sq. ft. with provisions for future expansions. Subsequent expansions of 43,000 sq. ft., 31,400 sq. ft., 46,900 sq. ft. and pits, tunnels, conveyors to accommodate a main press and blanking line provided KTH with increased capabilities in stamping, blanking and welding. The design-build approach allowed KTH to be in operation faster, at a lower cost, yet provided the company with a high-performance design suited to their needs.