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ABOUT US

Powrmatic of Canada Ltd. is Eastern Canada's most respected distributor of residential, commercial, and industrial supply equipment. Setting the standard in quality for the HVAC, Electrical, and Hearth industries for over 75 years, we pride ourselves on a reliable and dedicated workforce trained to offer dependable and consistent service to our customers.

POWRMATIC is a subsidiary of Deschênes Group Inc., a private family business founded in 1940 and headquartered in Montreal, Quebec.  Deschênes Group is the largest Canadian-owned company in its sector of activity and an important wholesaler-distributor with 202 points of sale in Canada and the United States, and is supported by a qualified staff of over 3 000.  Since 2009, Deschênes Group has been recognized as one of the Best Managed Companies in Canada.

With 6 branches strategically located in Eastern Canada, namely in Toronto, London, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec and Halifax, Powrmatic is in a good position to properly serve the main markets in heating, air conditioning, ventilation, fireplaces, and electrical.

1945—The first location for Powrmatic of Canada, which at the time is known as Kresno Stamm Canada Ltd., is a small office and storage area located on Marie-Anne street in Montreal.

1946 — The name Powrmatic is registered as a trademark in Canada. An expansion takes place, and the sales office moves to the Sun Life building in Montreal. This is the start of the post-WWII period and almost all of the heating and cooking appliances are wood- or coal- fired. The company develops a kerosene-fired, vaporizing-type oil burner, which is called the Ball Flame burner. It consists of a series of stainless perforated rings on a cast iron base, which is installed in kitchen ranges and stoves to convert them from wood and coal to oil firing. The Ball Flame burner is gravity fed, using kerosene, stored in a glass bottle mounted on the side of the stove. Manufactured in the company’s New Jersey plant and imported into Canada, Ball Flame burners become immensely popular.

1948 — Powrmatic of Canada rents a 40,000 sq. ft. plant in Granby, Quebec where it starts manufacturing Ball Flame burners. The plant will operate at maximum capacity for several years due to the demand from all parts of Canada. As electric and gas stoves and ranges become more readily available, the market for these burners declines.

1951 — Powrmatic of Canada then relocates to 7,000 sq. ft. of space on Du Havre St. in Montreal, near the downtown port area. There, the company starts manufacturing automatic-type oil burners using no. 2 fuel oil, and residential warm air furnaces. These are marketed to heating contractors. This is the beginning of the company in the wholesale distribution business, since there are few wholesalers at that time. The company creates the concept of the “packaged unit” for warm air furnaces and hot water boilers, whereby the furnace, oil burner, and all wiring are assembled and shipped as a ready-to-start unit.

1955—Wholesale branch opens in Quebec City.

1957—Wholesale branch opens in Ottawa.

1960—A larger facility of 20,000 sq. ft. is purchased on Durocher St. in Montreal, housing the manufacturing and Montreal wholesale operations. Products added, including commercial air heaters, water heaters, boilers, and related supply products.

1962—Wholesale branch opens in Halifax.

1964 — Acquisition of Filter & Heating Supply Co. in Toronto, which is then converted to a Powrmatic branch.

1970 — Branches enter the residential and commercial air conditioning distribution market. During the oil crisis of the mid 1970’s, the company is one of the first in Canada to foresee the coming demand for wood burning stoves, fireplaces, warm air furnaces, flues and chimneys, and very rapidly enters this market. The branches soon become the most important wholesalers of this type of product in Canada.

1972 — The Montreal facility is outgrown and Powrmatic of Canada purchases a 40,000 sq. ft. plant in Terrebonne, north of Montreal. The Montreal wholesale operations are moved to a 20,000 sq. ft. location on 19th Ave. in Montreal.

1975—Valin Distribution Co., an electrical wholesaler in Quebec City is purchased and integrated into the Quebec City branch. The Quebec government has developed the James Bay and Churchill Falls hydroelectric facilities, the largest in the world. Recognizing that electric heating will become predominant, electrical supply wholesale is added to other branches.

1980’s — Powrmatic of Canada continues its penetration of the residential and commercial comfort products market with central air conditioners, heat pumps, rooftop units and ventilation products.

1992—Expansion of the Montreal branch to a 32,000 sq. ft. facility on Ray-Lawson Blvd.

1998 — Expansion of the Halifax to 15,000 sq. ft. at Strawberry Hill location.

2003 — Further expansion of the Montreal branch to 44,000 sq. ft. on Ray-Lawson Blvd.

2005—New state-of-the art branch of 22,000 sq. ft. in Quebec City.

2007—New distribution centre of 10,000 sq. ft. opens in London Ontario.

2011— The Toronto branch moves to a larger location, offering 27,000 sq. ft. of working space. In the same year, the Quebec City branch increases its warehouse space by 10,000 sq. ft. in response to the increasing needs of its Electrical customers.

2012—The Halifax branch moves to Dartmouth and the new building now strategically located in the heart of the industrial park has nearly 10,000 sq. ft. of warehouse and service space.

2015—The Ottawa branch moves to Gloucester with the new building strategically located at the intersection of two busy roads. Easily accessible, the branch now benefits from 35% more warehouse space. 

2020—Relocation of the Toronto branch to more than 40,500  sq. ft. facility. Acquisition of Powrmatic of Canada Ltd. by a the Deschênes Group Inc.

2021—Relocation of the Halifax branch to a 17 000 sq. ft. facility.

2022—Powrmatic of Canada launches its new transactional website, which features a complete catalogue of its 5 000+ products