For 68 years, G.R. Thériault Ltd. (T-RIO) has been a cornerstone of manufacturing in northern New Brunswick. Founded by George and Parise Thériault, the family-owned business has grown from humble beginnings into a trusted maker of windows and doors serving clients across New Brunswick, Quebec, and Maine. Now led by second-generation CEO Michel Thériault, the company continues to build on its legacy through innovation and strategic investment.
Efficiency through automation
That commitment to innovation is reinforced by the company’s latest investment: a new automated paint booth installed early this year. Designed to modernize a manual process, the system is already transforming operations on the production floor.
“The purpose of this new paint booth is to reduce our lead time and improve the quality of the finish on our windows and doors,” said Thériault. “And it has already done a great job of that.”
Painting was previously handled manually by two employees. Today, the automated system has not only streamlined the process but significantly increased throughput, requiring a larger team. “The increased capacity has meant more people needed to keep up,” he says. “We now have five employees supplying our new paint shop, where the automated paint booth operates.”
More capacity, better turnaround
Increased automation has had a direct impact on both productivity and turnaround times. By accelerating one of the more time-intensive production stages, T-RIO is better positioned to meet growing demand.
With more people doing prep work to keep up with the automated paint booth’s output, the equipment investment is not only improving efficiency but also supporting job growth.
Thériault says the immediate priority is to maximize the benefits of this new capacity for existing clients. “Our main focus for 2026 is making sure that, thanks to the new investments we’ve made, we are able to supply our distributors with a high-quality product with a reasonable lead time,” he said. “After we’re happy with that, we will decide if we want to go after new markets.”
New Brunswick support
T-RIO’s growth has been supported by partnerships with organizations like ONB and ACOA. Thériault credits these relationships with helping the company continue to expand. “We really appreciate ONB and ACOA’s support; they always have great ideas,” he said. “I think they also enjoy helping us out because they can see that what we’re doing here works.”
Fall 2025 also saw the company’s efforts recognized with the Large Business of the Year award from the Grand Falls Valley Chamber of Commerce, an achievement Thériault is quick to share with his team. “It’s an honour. It’s about the people, our employees, our suppliers, our clients,” he said. “That team is what got us there. It warms our hearts to have received this title.”
As housing demand continues to rise across Canada, T-RIO’s investment in automation positions it to deliver more efficiently than ever while staying true to the values that have made it a New Brunswick success story for nearly seven decades.
Learn more at https://www.t-rio.com/.
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