Local Company Expands Into Curling Market

Chatham, Ontario – Guspro Inc. announced Wednesday that it has acquired Ice King, makers of ice maintenance equipment for use in curling rinks. Guspro will manufacture the Ice King product line at its headquarters in Chatham, Ontario.

“Ice King is known for their outstanding curling equipment and impeccable customer service. We’re very excited to continue that tradition under the Guspro umbrella,” said Brian Sunnen, Vice President of Guspro.

Guspro will continue to operate the business under the Ice King brand name, which traces back to 1968 and the invention of the first curling ice scraping machine by Harry Mather in London, Ontario.

“This transition will facilitate Ice King’s advancement of ice making technologies, and we’re pleased that the company will carry on in capable hands. Our customers will certainly benefit from Guspro’s R&D capabilities, global reach and eight decades of manufacturing expertise,” said Cindy Kortebein, former CEO of Ice King™.

Guspro maintains a team of local sales and service professionals within North America, and currently sells in over 50 countries through a network of distributors. Blademaster®, the company’s skate care equipment division, is an official supplier to Team Canada, Team USA, and six other top national hockey teams. Blademaster skate sharpening machines are also endorsed by the Society of Professional Hockey Equipment Managers (SPHEM), which represents teams from the NHL and other professional hockey leagues.

The purchase of Ice King, based in Perth, Ontario, represents a natural expansion for Guspro. Coincident with its 80th anniversary, the company relocated operations to a modern 100,000 square foot manufacturing facility, located at 566 Riverview Drive, in Chatham, Ontario.

Per Sunnen, “As a result of the move, we have new capabilities and additional capacity that didn’t exist two years ago. There are countless synergies with Ice King and our other divisions. Overall, Ice King is an excellent fit for Guspro’s growth strategy.”

Since 1968, Ice King has been a pioneer in the quest for a machine that can help ice makers produce optimal ice conditions for curlers. This dedication has made the Ice King brand synonymous with curling ice scraping machines throughout the world.