PROFILE
Waycon Manufacturing, located at 275 Waterloo Ave., in Penticton, has been making food processing equipment, machinery and systems for close to three decades.
“Our doors opened in 1987 and since then we have grown to be one of the largest custom metal fabrication and machine manufacturers west of the Rocky Mountains,” said marketing manager Tara O’Connell.
Tara is the daughter of Waycon founder John O’Connell.
An accomplished machinist and millwright, John emigrated from Ireland in 1978 and worked in Fort Nelson before coming to the Okanagan.
“Penticton was a prime location and rent was cheap,” he said.
Waycon has grown to have an impressive array of capabilities, such as plasma and water jet cutting, MIG and TIG welding and manual and CNC machining.
Today, the forest industry accounts for approximately 50 per cent of Waycon’s business, the food industry for 30 per cent and a large variety of custom work, such as the chime at the White Lake Observatory, for the remainder.
Carbon steel is used for forestry jobs and stainless steel for the food industry, John explained.
In general terms, steel itself is an alloy of iron and carbon; carbon steel is steel in which the main alloying element is carbon.
Stainless is a form of steel containing chromium and is noted for its resistance to tarnish and rust.
“We’re a well established name in the cherry industry,” John said.
Waycon provides a wide variety of equipment including sorting and packing tables, hydro coolers and cluster separators.
Oliver cherry grower and repeat customer Gary Sukhi said, “They are a good honest and hardworking team.”
Stainless steel fabricator Joe Myra recently made a staircase for Sukhi Orchards.
For the wine industry, Waycon manufactures equipment such as bin dumpers, cat walks, elevators, mobile hoppers and custom conveyors.
Waycon leaves the manufacturing of wine tanks to Ripley Stainless, while doing other equipment.
“We will design according to the customer’s need,” said Edmond Broderick.
A mechanical engineer, Broderick is the manager, estimator and co-ordinator for stainless steel projects.
Broderick oversaw the design and manufacture of a conveyor belt system that greatly improved the efficiency of the waste removal at Burrowing Owl Estate Winery in Oliver.
“Press the button and it’s done,” Broderick said.
John and Tara anticipate that Waycon will enjoy increased business as the wine and cherry industries grow and expand their markets, especially in Asia.
“We are faced with aggressive competition from the States, Europe and China. What makes us important for Okanagan growers is that we are local — if they’re in need of support, we’re just down the road,” Tara said.
Waycon also plays on a larger stage.
Many leading fruit growers on the West Coast from B.C. to California turn to Waycon for its high quality equipment and the ability of its employees to troubleshoot.
John attributes much of Waycon’s success to the high calibre of employees.
“Finding top talent with a solid work ethic can be a challenge,” Tara said.
John prefers to hire recent high school graduates and train them on-the-job.
“We look for students who have taken appropriate courses — welding, machine shop — are good at math and have common sense,” John said.
One employee has been with Waycon for 23 years and six for more than 20 years.
“We currently have a team of 45 and will be hiring five more in the next few months,” Tara said.
For information, visit or call John at 250-492-7718.
Susan McIver is The Herald’s agricultural correspondent.