Ottawa manufacturers, province invest millions in production upgrades

Four Ottawa-area companies are boosting domestic manufacturing with a $25.5 million investment and over $3.8 million in funding from the Ontario government.

Beau-Roc Inc. is building a second facility to manufacture dump bodies for dump trucks in a $12-million project that will create 30 jobs and help retain 84 existing positions. Ontario is investing $1.8 million from the Eastern Ontario Development Fund to support Beau-Roc’s project.

Founded in 1985, the company’s dump bodies service a range of customers and applications across Canada and the United States. The new facility will reduce lead times and enable Beau-Roc to take on custom orders for larger dump bodies.

Nathalie St-Pierre, general manager of Beau-Roc, says that the investment will increase production capacity by 50 per cent and have a positive impact on its regional supply chain.

Lumibird Ltd. is investing $7.3 million of eligible project costs in facility upgrades and new equipment, as well as boosting its R&D work for the company’s light detection and ranging technologies (LIDAR). Ontario is providing $1.09 million from the Eastern Ontario Development Fund to help the company create nine jobs and help retain 16 positions.

Lumibird specializes in laser technologies with applications in wind energy, meteorology, environmental safety, climate change monitoring, aviation safety, industrial automation, space and defence.

LTR Industries (Ottawa) Ltd. is expanding its millwork production facilities to compete for larger contracts and grow its business. This $5.2-million project is supported with $780,000 from the Eastern Ontario Development Fund, which will help to create 17 jobs and to retain 31 positions.

LTR Industries supplies commercial millwork to the general construction industry, interior designers and individual commercial/residential clients, and offers complete design/build services or pre-costed tendered jobs.

KB Media Corp. is building expanded, consolidated premises for the design and production of its print media, signage, wraps and web services to help companies with corporate branding. This $898,000 project is being supported with $134,700 from the Eastern Ontario Development Fund. It will create seven jobs and help to retain 10 positions.