Aurora, Ontario -- Hunter Engineering has completed a major upgrade of its Canadian distribution and training facility in Aurora, doubling inventory space and cutting delivery times in half.
The reimagined warehouse now holds twice the equipment and parts it once could, thanks to new high-capacity racks, a FIFO pallet flow system that expanded skid spaces and upgraded cantilever storage for lift runways. A new Combii-lift forklift has also been added to improve handling of heavy equipment.
The parts department saw one of the most significant changes, with an expanded space and streamlined picking process that reduces order preparation time by 50 percent. An additional dock door was also built to accommodate the higher shipping volume.
Monique Menard, co-ordinator of marketing for Hunter Canada, said the improvements reflect the company’s commitment to serving customers faster and more effectively. “By reworking the same footprint, we’ve doubled capacity and cut lead times from nearly a month to as little as 10 to 14 days,” she said. “That means customers can start using their equipment right away, instead of waiting weeks.”
One challenge during the renovation was finding more space without disrupting day-to-day operations. A classroom was repurposed into the new parts department, while training continued with a mobile “rolling classroom” set up on the shop floor. For Menard, what could have been a setback became an advantage. “Instead of losing a teaching space, we gained flexibility. Now trainees are right beside the equipment as they learn, which makes the experience even stronger,” she said.
Hunter’s Aurora facility continues to serve as both a distribution hub and a training centre, hosting OEM evaluations, hands-on classes and “red carpet” demo events. “Our goal is to grow alongside Canadian businesses,” said Menard. “When our partners succeed, we succeed.”
