Business View - January 2016 83
MANUFACTURING
there was a great potential for plastic pipes, he struck
out on his own and created his own company in 1973.
Now, some 42 years later, Corma machines turn out
corrugated plastic pipe products in almost 100 coun-
tries around the globe – approximately 1500 installa-
tions, in all. Its Concord, Ontario plant, though, is the
only one in the world authorized to produce equipment
employing Corma’s patented designs and technology.
However, the company doe have offices, sales agen-
cies and service centers in Canada, the United States,
Germany, Slovakia, Portugal, Ireland, Turkey, India,
China, Japan, and El Salvador.
And each machine that Corma builds is customized to
the specifications of the client. Corma makes no pipe,
itself. According to Stefan, it was an early decision
by Manfred to “only be a machinery guy.” That way,
his customers would have the confidence that Corma
would not compete with them up the road, nor hold
any of its proprietary technology, back. When work-
ing with new customers, Stefan outlines the process:
“We’ll design the pipe profile; we’ll give them advice;
and we’ll help them organize by starting up the line
and training their people. Then they are able to run
the line. Corma is in the background, offering service
support and a three-year warranty.
Staffed by approximately 200 workers, Corma, Inc.
continues to be a family affair. Manfred is 75 years
old, but still takes an active role in its day-to-day opera-
tions. When asked if he plans to retire in the near fu-
ture, according to son Stefan, his normal response is,
“Would you ask a painter to retire and stop painting?”
Perhaps it’s Manfred’s artistic temperament, com-
bined with his mechanical acumen, that suffuses the
