Brandt to save shuttered Saskatoon plant

Mar. 25, 2017 – The Brandt Group of Companies has announced it will acquire the Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Canada (MHPSC) facility in Saskatoon, Sask., and subsequent operating assets from Prestige Equipment and Hilco Global.

Located in the city’s Hudson Bay Industrial area, the 22-acre parcel, along with its 208,000 sq/ft. manufacturing facility and equipment, will make the transition to local ownership for an undisclosed sum. The plant boasts the largest machining and fabrication equipment in Canada and has produced power generation equipment for customers around the world, including SaskPower, says Brandt.

With almost 400 workers already out of work as a result of the plant’s decline and final closure last October, an auction and liquidation would have likely resulted in long-term unemployment for the local workforce.

“We realized that it was critically important for us to move quickly,” said Shaun Semple, Brandt president. “When we learned that the Hitachi assets were going be broken up and sold off in spring, we had to act fast or the province would lose a world-class facility and the ability to produce large-scale green energy products.”

“It is our plan to reintroduce green energy technologies such as wind turbines to assist SaskPower with its mandate to diversify beyond traditional fossil fuels. We will be sitting down with the provincial government, the City of Saskatoon and SaskPower to see what can be done to save this valuable asset. But, we’re just getting started; there is a lot of work still to be done to guarantee a successful outcome.”

The acquisition of this facility will bring Brandt’s manufacturing footprint in the province to more than 500,000 sq/ft., split evenly between Regina and Saskatoon.

The expected closing date for the Saskatoon deal is April 10.

Headquartered in Regina, Sask., the Brandt Group of Companies is comprised of Brandt Agricultural Products Ltd., Brandt Engineered Products Ltd., Brandt Equipment Solutions Ltd., Brandt Road Rail Corporation, Brandt Developments, and Brandt Tractor Ltd. – a privately held John Deere construction and forestry equipment dealer.