A bathtub manufacturer is moving its plant from the Toronto area to St. Thomas, bringing about 150 jobs with it.

Mirolin, owned by Masco, will move into the massive Masco plant on South Edgeware Road, with production scheduled to begin in June 2020, the company announced to workers Tuesday in Etobicoke.

“We love seeing brands come to the community. It means Masco has confidence in St. Thomas, they want to be here. This is huge for us,” Sean Dyke, director of economic development for St. Thomas, said Tuesday.

“It shows existing employees there is an intention to stay here and grow over the long haul.”

The Mirolin workers will join about 400 workers at Masco, increasing the workforce by nearly 40 per cent.

The Masco plant is about 46,450 square metres, and is split between production and warehousing. The production centre makes Delta Faucet products and Brasscraft plumbing supplies.

The consolidation will save Masco money in operating one facility, as opposed to two, and give the manufacturer “efficiencies,” said Imran Ahmad, president of Masco Canada and Mirolin Industries.

“Both Masco and Mirolin share a similar customer base and distribution network, a complementary product portfolio. This will give us a market strategy that is great for our customer base, it’s a streamline approach,” he said.

“It makes us competitive from a costing standpoint and it allows us growth.”

The Mirolin line includes bathtubs, showers, enclosures and standing showers, Ahmad said.

About 35 per cent of the St. Thomas plant will be used by Mirolin, he said.

“It is an exciting time and there is a lot of work ahead. We want to take care of the employee and customers.”

Dyke was in Etobicoke Tuesday selling Mirolin workers on the benefits and affordability of moving to the London and St. Thomas region.

“I am promoting St. Thomas, London and the whole region. I want the employees to know this whole region is a great place to live,” he said.

Workers asked him about housing, transit and affordability, Dyke said.

“The workforce here is diverse and we are happy to welcome many cultures. London is next door and they can find many cultural groups there. It is a good spot.”

Dyke said he was also asked about job opportunities for spouses, and assured workers there are employment opportunities in the region.

There are now about 200 workers at Mirolin in Etobicoke, and the remaining 50 will move to a sales office in Mississauga.

The Etobicoke workers are represented by United Steel Workers and the St. Thomas workplace by Unifor Local 27. Ahmad said the workers will likely join the Unifor local.

Delta Faucet was located in London before being moved by Masco to the St. Thomas plant in 2010 during an earlier consolidation.