About TORCAD

Torcad Limited began in the 1930s in Toronto’s Don Valley as Toronto Cadmium and Tinning, a small operation specializing in hot-dip tinning of milk cans. As demand grew, the company relocated to 190 Edmond Avenue and expanded into broader metal finishing.

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In 1967, the company was acquired by Richard Court of Court Holdings. A year later, it moved to its current home at 275 Norseman Street in Etobicoke, opening a 23,000-square-foot facility focused on zinc, copper, tin, cadmium plating, and hot-dip galvanizing. Production quickly scaled to 20,000 tons annually.

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By 1972, the business rebranded as Torcad Limited. In 1973, Stelco acquired a 50% ownership stake, helping fund major automation projects, including a phosphate line and spinner galvanizing. The facility expanded to 34,000 sq. ft., with capacity reaching 30,000 tons.

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Over the next two decades, Torcad became a Canadian leader in plating automation:

• 1976 – Introduced dip & spin coatings for organic finishes.
• 1979 – Installed a fully automated zinc barrel line, eliminating manual processing and phasing out copper, tin, and rack plating.
• 1985 – Added 6,000 sq. ft., a third zinc line, and three truck docks.
  

Through the 1990s, the company modernized aggressively, aligning with emerging quality and environmental standards:

• 1993 – Ended hot-dip galvanizing; added de-embrittlement baking and a chromating line.
• 1994–1995 – Achieved ISO 9000 certification and introduced manganese phosphating.
• 1998 – Expanded to 45,000 sq. ft., added a fourth zinc line, and achieved QS-9000 certification (then the gold standard for automotive suppliers).
  

In 1999, General Fasteners Canada acquired Stelco’s shares. By 2001, Court Holdings regained full ownership, returning Torcad to 100% family control.

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Since then, the company has invested heavily in automation, quality control, and environmental leadership. Our facility now includes a fully automated wastewater treatment and recovery system and holds ISO 14001 certification.

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Today, Torcad operates one of Canada’s largest and most advanced electroplating and metal finishing plants, serving industries including automotive, fasteners, wind, solar, construction, and heavy equipment. From zinc and zinc-nickel plating to manganese phosphate, chromate conversion, and dip-spin coatings (via our sister company), we offer reliable surface solutions engineered for high performance.