Shear Power leverages 10 years of expertise to lead in specialty attachments and on-site support

Over the last decade, Ontario-based Shear Power Corp. has gone from a modest operation to a significant force in the hydraulic attachment market. Starting out with just two employees, one rented service bay, and a single service truck for mobile repairs, the company seized an opportunity in an underserved sector. 

"It was a growing market with limited support and knowledge to ensure that the installation was done correctly, allowing the attachments to work reliably and at 100 percent efficiency," says Greg Morely, vice president of sales and service at Shear Power. "We committed to be the business that would offer just that, and invested into different product lines to fill the needs of our customers across multiple industries."

Recognizing the need for specialized support and reliable installation all in one place, Shear Power has since expanded its offerings to cater to the metal recycling, demolition, construction, forestry, and mining industries. 

"We started out as a dealer for Genesis attachments, selling their shears and heavily supporting the product in Ontario," says Morely. "Then it just expanded from there. We hired a team of mechanics and I took over running the company in about 2015. It's just been consistent growth since then."

Hands-on experience

This growth can be partly attributed to Morley's extensive experience in the field. He grew up working on his family's farm and maintaining their fleet of highway trucks before his career path eventually shifted toward heavy equipment. Over the years, he progressed from a shop technician to a field service technician, then a shop foreman, and ultimately to his current position where his firsthand experience enables unique and in-depth product knowledge from both the technical and operational sides of the business.

"In the early days, it was kind of a slow market. For me in the service truck, it allowed me to go out and support the shears that were existing in the field and develop a relationship with those customers and instill some confidence that we can support them," says Morely. "That made it a lot easier. When the market turned around and they were looking to replace some of those attachments, they knew there was a local company that they could rely on for that support."

Shear Power now operates three fully equipped service trucks that provide on-site services including maintenance, technical support, and installations. After outgrowing its initial space, Shear Power hit another milestone in 2017 when it moved to a 10,000-square-foot facility in Strathroy tailored to meet its specific business needs. 

With a 10-ton overhead crane, six repair bays, a machine shop, a component rebuild area, and a spare parts warehouse, this decision allowed the company to both expand the team and handle larger service jobs more efficiently. The same year, Shear Power also secured a dealer agreement with ShearCore for the Fortress line of shears, and today Shear Power serves as a dealer for other prominent brands including OilQuick, BladeCore, and more. 

Relationships are key

At the core of Shear Power's success is a strong team dynamic and employees that have been instrumental in providing unique and memorable customer service, says Morely. "The determination, focus, and attitude of our team is our largest asset. We have a great atmosphere with high morale throughout, and that is seen by our customers, competitors, and everyone in between. I believe that we provide an experience each time that is a pleasure for all, leaving the customer with a sense of desire to work with us again for their next service or equipment need."

Equally important are the relationships Shear Power has built over the last 10 years with suppliers, vendors, and customers. Strong relationships have always been a cornerstone of the company's business, creating an important rapport that drives its growth, says Morely.

"We learned the value of our people very quickly, and have been very fortunate over the years to employ some of the best people in the business. It's largely because of our team, and their supportive families, that we have built a strong reputation for offering the best product support possible, when and where our customers need it," says Morely. "We've also established a great group of suppliers and vendors that have supported us over these first 10 years. Without the support of each and every one of them, we wouldn't have been able to achieve what we have today." 

Keeping pace with industry changes

As Shear Power looks to the future, its focus remains on maintaining momentum and seeking even more efficient ways to serve the industry. Although the current market poses challenges like high interest rates, increasing equipment costs, and reduced commodity prices, Morley says Shear Power will stay ahead of customer expectations by providing fast and fair service even as the industry becomes increasingly competitive.

"It's important to be as valuable as possible in the opportunities available to you. Buyers of any product expect more today than ever before because of the rising costs and challenges they face day to day, and we understand that," says Morely. "We ensure that our people are properly trained and equipped with the tools needed to react quickly and confidently."

Addressing these challenges, Morley highlights how simpler, more advanced attachments are revolutionizing operations.

"Hydraulic attachments have definitely advanced over the years to have more power and run more efficiently. They're designing and building more attachments now for multiple different industries to make certain challenges in those industries a lot easier," says Morely. 

Manufacturers are continuing to expand their range of attachments to better suit more industries, including specialized attachments designed to tackle industry-specific challenges. Morley notes that customers are prioritizing attachments and couplers that simplify processes and eliminate manual labour, an invaluable feature in the midst of the ongoing labour shortage across a variety of industries.

"We're always looking at attachments at the different shows and trying to stay ahead of the market as things advance and improve," says Morely. "We always want to try to make sure that we're offering the best possible attachments and equipment to our customers." 

Looking toward another decade

While celebrating Shear Power's 10th anniversary, Morley reflects on a decade of hard work, dedication, and the strong relationships that have fuelled its success. His vision for the future is straightforward: "The biggest thing is lots of consistent growth into markets where there is a need for a strong attachment supplier in the recycling industries. Then, continue to grow our team to make sure that we're getting a chance at every opportunity out there and that we can support all of the product lines that we take on as we expand."

Even with a decade of success under its belt, Morley makes it clear that exponential overnight growth is not Shear Power's goal, and that strategy is key. 

"The biggest thing for me is that we have to grow consistently and controlled so that that support never falls off or delays with the customers that we've built a rapport with already," says Morely.

A commitment to its customers and track record of reliability position Shear Power to embrace new challenges and chart the course in the industry. With each milestone achieved, Shear Power reinforces its dedication to quality, innovation, and meaningful connections for more decades to come.