About Us

The Howard Iron Works Museum and Restoration facility is a lifelong dream of Liana and Nick Howard. The Howards are custodians of Howard Graphic Equipment Ltd., a company that is a leading edge supplier and rebuilder of printing and converting equipment since 1967. 

Since Nick Howard was a young boy, he has worked in the printing trade. This lifelong vocation continues the tradition of several generations. Liana Howard has been not only involved but instrumental in leading the Howard Group of Companies and shares the same passion. Together they have assembled a diverse and important collection featuring machinery and materials from the period 1830 to 1950. Each piece represents a key building block in the advancement of the printing processes.

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HIW was a dream both wanted to see come to life. There are many outstanding museums devoted to printing around the world. These are operated by passionate individuals and have served the arts and creative community for decades. HIW shares this love, but also wanted to utilize the skills of the HGE technicians to completely restore machines to a new level.

Restoration is the key fundamental difference one will immediately notice at the HIW. All machines are completely disassembled, repaired and finished to “As New” condition. That offers another way to enjoy some of the most beautiful machinery ever made - just as they would have been when they left the small workshops of Europe and America. Restoration is the primary difference of HIW.

However, for Nick and Liana Howard, the ultimate goal is even more paramount. Once completed, the HIW will be available for private functions and, most importantly, will begin the Howards' real mission to use the museum for philanthropic purposes.

Visit our location at:  800 Westgate Road, Oakville, ON  L6L 5N2