The Barrie, Ontario plant is undergoing renovation and, once completed, is expected to become Canada’s first and only prefabricated thermoplastic road markings manufacturing facility.
Gentem will produce an environmentally friendly road marking material – a plastic sheet manufactured to precise specifications that has the potential to replace road marking paint.
Gentem CEO Kevin Guidolin explained that the material can be used in a wider range of temperatures and weather conditions, which in Canada means an extended road marking season for contractors.
Preformed thermoplastic materials include decorative and standard road markings, such as road and bike lane markings and symbols. Using laser cutting technology, multi-color, complex patterns can be created, as well as customizable edge lines and marking thickness. Guidolin states that the plant can produce custom decorative markings, as well as thermoplastic materials that can be melted on-site, suitable for heavy-duty paint sprayers and small hand-held marking machines. These products will be widely used by road marking companies, municipalities, and road maintenance companies that apply markings themselves.
Guidolin noted that the installation process is simpler and safer for workers, and is less dependent on their skills, resulting in more consistent installation results.
”This product (paint) is quite messy for workers to work with, and its application is also challenging,” Guidolin said. “It’s a liquid that’s applied directly to the surface. Therefore, problems with uneven mixing, overflow, and spatter arise. And since it’s applied by hand, the clarity of the lines depends on the skill of the worker, so some challenges arise during the application process. If we use a stencil, the paint can bleed under the stencil, and the final lines won’t be as clean and crisp as those of prefabricated thermoplastic materials.”
”From an aesthetic standpoint, it’s much better to create complex patterns in the factory using straight lines than to create a mess on the road every time,” added Harry Stoimenov, vice president of Gentem. “Roads, bike paths, and sidewalks will look much better.”
Another advantage is safety. The company claims that in addition to improving installer safety, the coating also offers improved anti-slip properties.
Guidolin stated, “This means fewer people installing equipment on homeowners’ roads each year… and the risk of someone getting hurt during installation is also reduced.” He added that a single construction project can last between seven and 10 years, meaning fewer traffic disruptions, slowdowns, or road closures, which benefits both installers and homeowners.
”When applying conventional road markings, road closures and detours are required during painting and drying,” Stoimenov explained. “If you apply stop lines at an intersection, vehicles cannot cross them until the paint is completely dry; you have to direct them around them while the paint is drying. Reducing the number of intersection closures is more beneficial for right-of-way owners.”
He added: “This new method ensures workers are safer because they are not exposed to hazardous chemicals and solvents used for cleaning. This completely eliminates this risk.”
Gentem has a subsidiary, Upper Canada Road Services, located in Markham, Ontario, which has been in operation for 10 years. It specializes in applying various road and highway marking materials, including road paint, cold-rolled plastics, thermoplastics, and preformed thermoplastics, which will be manufactured at its new facility.
Pre-fabricated thermoplastic road markings are nothing new in North America. The city of Toronto already uses them extensively.
”We don’t introduce new products, but rather offer proven and established goods,” Guidolin said.
Post time: Jun-16-2026