Gavin Semple Honoured by Canadian Manufacturers

Gavin Semple, President of the Brandt Group of Companies was one of six individuals inducted into the Canadian Manufacturing Hall of Fame at a ceremony held in Windsor, Ontario on March 31, 2009.

The Canadian Manufacturing Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the economic, political, educational or technological development of the Canadian manufacturing industry.

Though proud of its history, which began in 1932 by electrical contractor Abram Peter Brandt, the company of today holds little or no likeness to its predecessor. Brandt's founder passed away in 1957, at which time he left the company to his family. It remained largely this way, as a multi-shareholder package, until a young, competent, ambitious and visionary salesman by the name of Gavin Semple came to work for Brandt in the early 1970's.

Growing revenues five-fold by 1976, Semple, by now president and general manager, acquired a 15 per cent share of the company. He parlayed that into a majority shareholder position by 1982.

Today, the Brandt Group of Companies consists of five businesses headquartered in Regina, Saskatchewan.

• Brandt Agricultural Products Ltd. manufactures agricultural equipment and markets these products through a dealer network in North America, Europe and Australia.
• Brandt Engineered Products Ltd. (ISO 9001-2000) manufactures custom engineered products and markets these products to steel mills, food processing companies and railways throughout North America.
• Brandt Equipment Solutions Ltd. specializes in the design and manufacture of customized attachments for the construction industry.
• Brandt Road Rail Corporation manufactures and markets rail maintenance equipment to railways around the world.
• Brandt Tractor Ltd. consists of 21 John Deere construction and forestry equipment dealerships across Western Canada and a Ditch Witch dealership in Milton, Ontario. Brandt Tractor Ltd. is the largest privately held John Deere dealer in the world.

Brandt is the largest privately held company in Saskatchewan and has received many awards including Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies Platinum Member for 2008, awarded for being a 50 Best Managed Company for eight consecutive years and an induction into the Saskatchewan Business Hall of Fame in 2005. More recently, Gavin Semple was given the Saskatchewan Order of Merit for 2008.