West End Radiators opens its doors as a local automotive radiator shop in Winnipeg, Manitoba at 2010 Logan Avenue.

It is one of more than 20+ family-run radiator repair shops in the city, all serving the growing demand for automotive maintenance as car ownership surges post WWII.

Like every other local Winnipeg rad shop in that era, West End Rad has no manufacturing capabilities of its own. Every rad shop relies on the same two local rad manufacturers to supply parts.

After immigrating to Canada from the Netherlands and spending a short stint working in a copper-brass core manufacturing company, Leendert (Len) Feeleus purchases West End Radiators in 1980.

Despite having zero experience in the radiator industry, Len brings along his wife, Laura, and their three eldest sons — Peter, Arnold, and Gary to work at the shop.

Over the next 10 years, the Feeleus family hires two shop workers to support the growing business. Everyone does a bit of everything: repairing rads, managing customers, handling paperwork and keeping the lights on.

Lens’ sons, Arnold and Pete Feeleus see an opportunity for more work on the industrial side of things.

Despite how busy they are at the shop, they attend tradeshows and National Automotive Radiator Service Association (NARSA) events. Feeling inspired by similar companies they network with, the brothers begin to shift their focus from automotive to heavy-duty heat exchangers.

They score one of their first heavy-duty jobs at a trucking trade show in Winnipeg. While attending, Arnold and Pete hear word of a dealer looking to repair a specific charge air cooler.

By Monday morning, they have the part in their shop and kick off West End Rad’s journey to becoming leaders in industrial cooling system repairs.

After years of growing and leading the company, Len Feeleus enters retirement in 1996.

His sons, Arnold and Pete, step into leadership, continuing the family-run legacy, and turn their focus to giving West End Rad manufacturing power.

In 2002, Arnold and Pete invite their younger brother, Wayne Feeleus, to join the company. Leaving his job in sales in the agriculture industry in BC, Wayne returns to Winnipeg to join the company.

Pete’s 13-year-old son, Justin also starts working at the shop after school and on weekends.

Building on their dad’s early experience with copper-brass core manufacturing, Arnold and Pete begin investing into developing a copper-brass manufacturing operation of their own.

The process comes with its share of challenges, but they lean into the same trial-and-error mentality they grew up with: taking on projects first, then working through the details as they go.

In 2003, the brothers officially open what will be West End Rad’s first iteration of a copper-brass core manufacturing plant located within the 2008 Logan service centre.

Backed by its copper-brass core manufacturing capabilities, West End Rad purchases and acquires a series of rad shops to help expand the company.

In 2004, under Arnold and Pete, West End Rad purchases its first competitor, Chevrier Radiator, welcoming its owner, Jim Rogers to the Customer Service team.

A few years later in 2009, West End Rad purchases another competitor, Garry Radiator, welcoming owner Arnold Lesko to the Radiator Service team.

Also in 2009, West End Rad purchases Rad Cores of Manitoba. This makes West End Rad Manitoba’s only manufacturer of copper-brass radiator cores.

A new generation takes the lead as Arnold and Pete retire.

Wayne and Pete’s now adult son, Justin, step into day-to-day operations. They guide West End Rad into its third generation of family ownership.

With a clear vision for the future, Wayne and Justin shift their focus to expanding across the Prairie provinces, planning for a future aluminum core manufacturing plant and continuously raising the bar for what West End Rad can deliver.

WER acquires GEM Radiator, bringing its long-time employee Ron Caron to the WER team.

WER also purchases the phone number of the former Mid-West Heli-Arc, expanding into aluminum fuel tank repair capabilities.

West End Rad expands beyond Manitoba for the first time, opening a full-service shop in Estevan, Saskatchewan. The team jumps right into supporting the region’s heaviest duty industries like oil and gas, mining and agriculture.

What began as a dream in the 90s finally becomes a reality. After five years of meticulous planning, consulting and building, West End Rad launches its aluminum core manufacturing division at 90 Park Lane in Winnipeg.

They become the only aluminum core manufacturer in Western Canada.

Producing custom aluminum heat exchangers requires years of research, testing, and trial-and-error to perfect the processes. But the result is a product that is lighter, stronger, and more efficient than traditional copper-brass cores.

After over 30 years of collaboration with its founder, Brad Hubbard, West End Rad continues its expansion into Saskatchewan by acquiring Saskatoon Radiator Sales.

Brad Hubbard retires, and WER introduces Saskatoon customers to its manufacturing line of heavy-duty aluminum and copper/brass cores.

This new location also presents the opportunity to become the first and only shop to perform DPF/DOC/SCR/EGR advanced regeneration in Saskatoon.

WER opens a new copper-brass core manufacturing plant at 2010 Logan Avenue, marking a major milestone in the company’s growth.

As the largest facility of its kind in Western Canada, the new 4,000 sq. ft. plant is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including a CNC press for producing accurate and precise brass radiator headers, brand-new heavy-duty copper-brass machinery, and new fin tables that increases work capacity and faster turnaround times.

West End Radiators continues to plan for expansion and growth.

With partnerships across Canada and the U.S. the company’s vision is clear;

To build a legacy of well being for our community of customers and employees by delivering excellence in heat exchangers and world-class service.