Ottawa delivers $2.2 million to strengthen area manufacturing resilience
By Brad Aubin
With market conditions changing, FedNor is helping local businesses diversify, grow, strengthen domestic supply chains, and more.
Pauline Rochefort, Member of Parliament for Nipissing-Timiskaming, announced over $2.2 million to help five North Bay and area businesses respond to global trade pressures and build for the future.
A million dollars goes to Premier Mining Products with nearly a million for Pilot Diamond to boost productivity, diversify, expand into new markets, strengthen supply chains, and grow domestic trade.
FedNor funding will also help Miller Technology, Mincon Canada and Old Forge Manufacturing in Verner modernize their operations, maximize efficiencies and become more competitive.
Rochefort says everyone is coming together to build a stronger country and economy, including the local companies receiving funding.
“These companies that are resilient, that are building for the future and protecting jobs in North Bay,” she says. “It’s wonderful to see. It makes me feel good.”
Joe Guido, President of Premier Mining Products says he’s committed to North Bay and the skilled trades, saying he’d ‘give them the Moon’.
He’s donated $55,000 for ten skilled trades bursaries at Canadore College.
“What I’m interested in is growing North Bay,” he says. “We need the trades. If we don’t have the trades what do we do?”
Funding is as follows:
Premier Mining Products (PMP)
$1 million to purchase and install a variety of specialized equipment including a fully automated laser cell, 4 axis CNC mill, large diameter lathe, induction heat treat equipment, and more. Once complete, this expansion will allow PMP to eliminate bottlenecks, boost productivity by up to 50 percent, retain key customers, diversify its product offerings and pursue emerging and previously inaccessible markets.
Pilot Diamond Ltd
$969,500 to upgrade manufacturing facilities, purchase and install new equipment, integrate new technologies, and more. Once fully implemented, this project will result in streamlined production, increased capacity, improved product quality, reduced reliance on imported components and stronger, more reliable domestic supply chains.
Miller Technology
$134,827 to adopt an advanced manufacturing Enterprise Resource Planning system to boost productivity and achieve operational efficiencies. This cloud-based system will support data-driven decision-making, optimize manufacturing processes, reduce streamline procurement and enhance productivity.
Mincon Canada
$70,000 to purchase and install an induction heating system, which will significantly improve safety, energy efficiency, product consistency, and allow the company to remain successful despite the impact of tariffs.
Old Forge Manufacturing
$55,000 to acquire Computer Numerical $55,000 Control (CNC) equipment to improve efficiency, boost production and increase competitiveness. Once fully operational, the CNC machine will allow the Verner company to access new markets and increase sales by producing high-volume and complex parts with precision and efficiency-capabilities that are not achievable with conventional machinery.
Brad Aubinhttp://www.mynorthbaynow.comBrad is Vista Radio's Senior News Director for Ontario. He was born in Sudbury, raised in Kapuskasing and has lived in the North Bay area for nearly 20 years. A Canadore College grad, he has worked for many newspapers across the north, and joined the broadcasting side of the business in 2020. The proud husband and father of two loves sharing important local and area news to listeners. If you have a news tip you'd like to share, e-mail baubin@vistaradio.ca
