Sekisui has opened its first Canadian modular manufacturing factory in Burlington, Ont., following a $15-million investment.

Sekisui’s investment comes as developers and governments search for ways to increase housing supply amid persistent affordability pressures. Ontario has encouraged factory-built construction as the province works to accelerate homebuilding and address skilled-trade shortages.

The company has leased a facility spanning just under 40,000 square feet at 955 Maple Ave., where it expects to manufacture between 500 and 600 modular units annually. The plant establishes a Canadian production base for Sekisui and positions the company to serve growing demand for faster, more predictable building methods.

Modular construction shifts much of the building process into a controlled factory environment, allowing components to be produced while site work proceeds. The approach can shorten project timelines, improve quality control and reduce exposure to weather delays and labour constraints.

“A high-quality building delivered late is not a successful outcome,” Sekisui Canada Modular Solutions CEO Masatoshi Kifuji said in a release. He said the company’s system is designed to deliver consistent quality at scale.

The location provides access to major transportation routes and the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, placing the operation near one of Canada’s largest construction markets.