Our Story
01
1950s – A New Forming Idea
In the 1950s, civil engineer Tate Given saw a problem on real jobsites: contractors needed a forming system that was easy to use, versatile, lightweight and low cost. During the post‑World War II housing boom, crews were under pressure to pour more basement walls, faster, without tying up cash in heavy, complex systems. Tate designed and engineered what became the Westcon Easy Snap system with one clear goal: help contractors keep upfront costs low, work efficiently, and maximize profit on every project—while still pouring high‑quality, solid basement foundations. The system received patent approval, and production began in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada in the late 1950s.
02
1969 – Guelph Manufacturing
In 1969, Westcon opened a new facility in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, where production still runs today. Tate partnered with his brother‑in‑law Peter Clarke, and together they steadily grew the business by focusing on reliable products and hands‑on support for forming contractors across Canada and the US Midwest.
03
1985 – New Owners,
New Designs
In 1985, Westcon was sold to the Drew family. Under Bryan Drew, the product line expanded with foam and structural tie designs. Foam ties were created to make form cleaning faster and less labour‑intensive, extend the useful life of the forms, and provide a simple assembly aid on site. Structural ties were designed for agricultural buildings where heat retention matters, and today this design is being enhanced as a low‑cost alternative to ICFs wherever owners are concerned about heat loss.
04
2019 – Carrying on the Tradition
In 2019, Westcon was purchased by Tim and Karole Hyland, who carried on the strong tradition started by Tate Given—keeping the focus on best‑in‑class customer service and practical forming solutions for contractors and distributors.
05
2025 – Team Westcon Today
In May 2025, Westcon began its next chapter. Three private investor/operators from Ontario and Michigan acquired the company from the Hylands. The new Westcon team brings a broad mix of entrepreneurial experience, metals and plastics manufacturing, engineering, and product development. Today, Team Westcon continues the same core promise: At Westcon, our customers’ success is our success. From our Guelph location, we now offer manufacturing, shipping, and form rentals—and we’re preparing for Westcon USA warehousing and manufacturing, additional warehousing in Western Canada, and Credit River Mfg. to broaden our range of ties, accessories, and forming products.