IKO, a roofing, waterproofing and insulation manufacturer, has broken ground on a new extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation manufacturing facility in Brantford, Ont., marking the company’s first plant dedicated to that product line.

The 67,000-square-foot facility represents an investment of more than $45 million and is expected to employ about 40 people once operational, the company said in a June 12 press release.

IKO said the plant will supply customers across Canada and the northeastern United States. The company currently operates polyisocyanurate insulation facilities in Ontario, Alberta and Maryland.

Company representatives, including CEO David Koschitzky, attended the groundbreaking alongside Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis and MP Larry Brock.

Yekutiel Koschitzky, XPS general manager and product innovation manager at IKO North America, said the project supports the company’s growth plans and expands its manufacturing capabilities.

Construction is underway. IKO did not provide a timeline for completion.

The Brantford project follows other recent investments by the company, including a fiberglass manufacturing facility and glass mat plant in Chester County, S.C., and a new plant in Clay Hill, Fla., expected to open later this month.