Quebec manufacturers receive $1.2M for automation upgrades

August 19, 2019 – Two Quebec manufacturers have received a combined $1.2M in funding from the federal government to acquire new automation equipment.

Usimax Inc., a business in Saint-Georges (Beauce) in the Chaudière-Appalaches region, received a $800,000 non-repayable contribution to increase its productivity by acquiring and implementing specialized CNC (numerical control) machinery.

Usimax will also be able to manufacture ultra–high precision ground gears for heavy power transmission applications.

Usimax designs, manufactures and assembles a wide range of speed reducers and specialized gears. The company also offers customized machining based on client requirements. Its products can be found in a number of fields: aerospace, defence and the rail and agriculture sectors, as well as in medical devices and various types of vehicles.

Compagnie canadienne de tableaux noirs (CCTN/CBBC), a business in the Montérégie region, received a $396,000 non-repayable contribution to increase its productivity and production capacity by acquiring and implementing robotic equipment to digitize production processes.

“This is a much appreciated sign of confidence that will allow us to increase our production volume and ultimately create some 25 new jobs, most of which will be value-added,” says Frédéric Tremblay, CEO, CCTN/CBBC, in a release. “The automated laminator will be used to assemble different types of panels for use in various industries and markets in both Canada and the United States. It will have unique capabilities in terms of lamination compositions, dimensions and flexibility, and will also improve the environmental benefits.”

The investments were awarded under the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) Steel and Aluminum Initiative announced in March 2019.

Administered by the regional development agencies (RDAs), this initiative provides targeted support for Canada’s small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the steel and aluminum sectors. Non-repayable contributions will allow these SMEs to adopt innovative technologies in order to enhance their productivity or competitiveness and create highly skilled jobs.