winnipeg free press made right here manufacturing insert

MADE RIGHT. HERE.

FEATURING

MANUFACTURING SUCCESS IN MANITOBA

the future looks

BRIGHT

successFOOD TRUCK CRAZE DRIVES

BUILDING AN

Olympic-sizeREPUTATION

GLOBAL PARTNERS

feeding THE WORLD

WALKING FORWARD,

honouring THE PAST

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Manitoba Manufacturing Week 2016 3

if there’s a theme for the business climate in 2016, it’s uncer-tainty. falling oil prices and a troubled chinese economy are driving the canadian dollar to 13-year lows. but Manitoba has always ‘dared to compete’ and all of this represents opportunity for our manufacturing sec-tor, which continues to grow steadily despite declines in other industries.

as we get ready to celebrate Manu-facturing Week for 2016, i’d like to congratulate our members and thank them for their continued support. united against the elements (whether it’s climate or business) the entrepre-neurial, collaborative spirit we embrace in the prairies is a key and critical fac-tor in our success.

i have been part of the Manitoba manufacturing community for well over 30 years now, and it has been fulfilling to watch our manufacturing sector grow and develop to where it is today.

Some of our key strengths are our di-versity of manufacturing companies as well as the prairie-spirited partnership that has formed within the cMe mem-bership. cMe has helped to develop a great foundation for our members to continue their collective success as we navigate through changing and chal-lenging times. it has been a privilege

to be part of such a great team as cMe Manitoba.

in addition to our core member ser-vices, Made Safe, our industry-driven safety association, will make it easier for employers and workers to ensure workplaces are safe and productive. in turn, this will further reduce workers compensation costs for all manufac-turers, delivering yet another competi-tive advantage.

Manufacturing Week is an oppor-tunity to pause and reflect on the accomplishments of the past year. on behalf of the cMe board, i would like to congratulate the recipients of the 2016 cMe awards.

2016 holds great promise for Mani-toba manufacturers. Let’s celebrate our successes this Manufacturing Week and Dare to compete. See you at the conference!

Sincerely,

Scott keddie

cMe Manitoba board chaircMe national board Membergeneral Manager

masterBrand cabinets Inc.

A MessAge froM

scott Keddie

Canadian ManufaCturers

and exporters Manitoba

board Chair

Scott keDDie

cMe Manitoba board chaircMe national board Membergeneral Manager masterBrand cabinets Inc.

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for their LeaDerShip anD Support, We thank the

canadIan manufacturers and exportersmanItoBa Board of dIrectors 2015-2016

sCott KeddieCMe Manitoba board ChairCMe national board MemberGeneral ManagerMasterBrand Cabinets Inc.

CraiG MCintoshCMe national board Chairexecutive ChairmanAcrylon Plastics Inc.

rob MCbainpresidentAncast Industries

MiChael eastonpresident & CeoArgus Industries

Guy ChartierChief executive officerBeeMaid Honey Ltd.

sean lepperVice president & General ManagerBehlen Industries

MarC GroeneweGendirector, engineering, technology and new programsBoeing Canada Operations Ltd.

diane Graypresident & CeoCentrePort Canada Inc.

John GrahaMConsultant

ed Martin Vp operationsCustom Castings Ltd.

larry dyCKpresident & CeoDecor Cabinet Company

otto KeMerlepresident & CeoFood Trucks International

reynold MartensCMe national board MemberManaging partnerGHY International

GrahaM MooreConsultantGMA Consulting

triCia Girardinsales ManagerGraphic Packaging International Canada

audra pennerpresident & CeoImagineAbility Inc.

treVor CornellCMe national board MemberChief operating officerIndustrial Technology Centre

Gary GlowapresidentInkster Park Millwork Ltd.

todd leroy Vp Manufacturing Loewen

roy CooKpresident & CeoMonarch Industries

daVid whiteexecutive Vice president supply ManagementNew Flyer Industries Canada

John ColeChief operating officerPalliser Furniture

paul reMillard Vp operations Price Industries

GeorGe GrouMoutisCeoSky Blue Water Inc.

KiM olsonsenior Vice presidentStandardAero

ryan eliasVp & General Manager Triple E Recreational Vehicles

Chris parKer plant Manager Winpak

®

®

Seize the day at cMe’s Dare to compete conference on March 22, then build on that momentum at centrallia 2016 at rbc convention centre Win-nipeg May 25-27, when Wtc Winnipeg presents another opportunity to become inspired, motivated and connected.

Winnipeg’s third global business-to-business forum brings together 700 decision-makers from more than 30 countries. they’ll make 5,000 individual connections over the course of 2 1/2 days as they take part in face-to-face meetings, a trade show, round tables and networking events.

centrallia organizers arrange 30-min-ute “speed-dating” meetings for regis-tered participants, along with coaching and other support services, including assistance to develop company pro-files and post-event followup to help businesses further develop relation-ships with their new connections.

american civil and human rights leader Dr. gerald Durley, who was present in 1963 when Dr. Martin Luther king deliv-ered his “i have a dream” speech, will be

the keynote speaker. Dr. Durley brings an inspiring message about human rights-based leadership and emphasizes the importance of building strong business relationships based on trust, communi-cation and personal connection.

two round tables will focus on special themes, highlighting opportunities in the arctic and in the americas. interna-tionally recognized arctic specialist Dr. David barber, of the university of Mani-toba, will lead a discussion about meet-ing the needs of northern communities and improving economic conditions throughout the arctic. and north-south trade issues, economic blocs and op-portunities will be addressed in a round table titled americas: nafta, Mercosur and the pacific alliance.

Wtc Winnipeg is a member of the World trade centers association (Wtca), which represents more than 300 World trade centres in nearly 100 countries, many of whom will be rep-resented on Wtc Zone on the trade show floor.

in 2015, Wtc Winnipeg ceo Mari-

ette Mulaire was elected to the Wtca board of directors. the only canadian and one of only four north americans on the 23-person board, Mulaire is the driving force behind centrallia.

as ceo of aniM, the bilingual trade agency that has since expanded its mandate as Wtc Winnipeg, Mulaire wanted Manitoba’s business commu-nity to hear global opportunity knock-ing — so she built a door.

the only event of its kind in canada, the inaugural centrallia was held in 2010, and centrallia 2012 built on its success, bringing together more than 700 participants from 35 countries. a followup survey found that 96% of par-ticipants developed new business op-portunities or leads, and that 97% said they would recommend centrallia to other business leaders. ///

Learn more at www.centrallia.com.

centraLLia 2016 bringS the WorLD to Winnipeg’S DoorWorld trade centre Winnipeg (Wtc Winnipeg) and canadian Manufacturers and exporters (cMe) Manitoba share common goals: to help companies grow and expand local, national and international business opportunities

make Your next connectIon

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D i r e c t e D c o n t e n t


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ron KoslowsKy,Canadian ManufaCturers

and exporters Manitoba ViCe-president

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10185_MD_HorAd_7.125x4.875_VF.pdf 1 2016-01-08 3:48 PMcanadian Manufacturers and exporters

(cMe) Manitoba accelerates the process, tap-ping into its vast knowledge network to con-nect companies with the resources, training and experience that will help them grow and become more competitive.

“the best advice that a manufacturer can get usually is from another manufacturer who’s done it and learned some lessons,” cMe Vice-president ron koslowsky says.

“What we make a business of is really bring-ing together people to tell their stories to each other. and then you see the sparks fly, you see the ideas taking off and you see how compa-nies are avoiding mistakes that others have made because they’ve had a chance to talk to somebody who’s done that.”

cMe encourages and supports peer-to-peer connection in several ways. a growing number of Lean consortiums bring companies together to share ideas and advice and motivate one an-other to reach new goals. and cMe’s Manufac-turers’ executive council (Mec) and exporters’ executive council (eec) give top-level deci-sion-makers safe, non-competitive forums for

sharing common challenges and solutions. “We’re finding that there is an appetite by

presidents and ceos to interact with peers and interact with other senior executives to discuss strategically what manufacturing is all about,” koslowsky says.

top-level executives make the decisions that determine how successful and profitable a company will be, and cMe facilitates coun-cils that help them make smart choices. topics for discussion may include questions such as where and how to target new markets, how to develop employees’ skills, what technologies to adopt, how to create innovative, meaning-fully unique products, and how to manufacture those products in the most efficient manner.

More rural businesses are seeking greater connection with their counterparts throughout Manitoba, as well, and fledgling companies are turning to cMe to connect them with the people and resources that will take them to the next level.

“they’ve gone through the entrepreneurial startup phase, and there are lots of resources to help them with that, but then they get big enough that they sort of get kicked out of the home or the nest but they’re really still very small, very young, very disconnected from the mainstream of manufacturing,” koslowsky says.

“Decisions at that level are huge. they’re so impactful and one wrong decision can really negatively affect a company; it can kill them or, conversely, it can really take them over the top

“What we make a business of is really bringing together people to tell their stories to each other. And then you see the sparks fly, you see the ideas taking off and you see how companies are avoiding mistakes that others have made because they’ve had a chance to talk to somebody who’s done that.”

and set them on the path to success.”Whether your company is a small startup

or a global conglomerate, canada’s largest trade and industry association provides direct training and advice to help develop and refine strategies in key areas: human resources, Lean and productivity, technology and inno-vation, trade and business development and, increasingly, environmental sustainability.

currently, a weak canadian dollar is mak-ing our manufactured goods more attrac-tive to u.S. and european markets, while the industry is adapting to the canada and european union comprehensive economic and trade agreement (ceta) and the trans-pacific partnership (tpp). Strategic planning can help companies navigate changes in the landscape, and determine whether they have a smooth or bumpy ride.

“these are all either opportunities or threats

and so what we’re really trying to do is po-sition people to take advantage of this as an opportunity and to be prepared to move into those markets,” koslowsky says.

Manitoba’s manufacturers have much to of-fer. We’re leading the way in 3D printing and more advanced additive manufacturing, em-bracing robotics, devel-oping new products and materials, finding innova-tive ways to improve ex-isting goods, and adopt-ing sustainable practices in our plants and through-out our supply chains.

celebrate success at cMe’s 2016 gala awards Dinner on March 23, and discover new ways to build upon success at the cMe Dare to compete conference on March 22 at rbc convention centre Winnipeg.

koslowsky says the conference is a profes-sional development opportunity that lets you step back from day-to-day activities and take a big-picture view of organizational issues and solutions, with keynote speakers, breakout sessions and workshops where you can con-nect with peers who are facing the same chal-

lenges, or who have faced similar challenges in the past.

“get some ideas about how you might do things differently, or where you want to go with your career or what you want to do next to move upwards.” ///

Inspired, Motivated, Connected

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More rural businesses are seeking greater connection with their counterparts throughout Manitoba, as well, and fledgling companies are turning to CME to connect them with the people and resources that will take them to the next level.

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emergIng award

Manitobah Mukluksthe emerging award is designed to capture businesses that have started new companies with significant future potential. it recognizes relatively new companies who are distinguishing themselves through growth, impact and in-novation. these organizations are likely to become future leaders in Manitoba manufacturing and exporting.

export award

behLen industries Lpthe export award is granted each year to a company demonstrating excellence in expanding into geographic markets and through significant and sustained export sales. this company has achieved a certain degree of revenue growth either through regular operations or the creation of additional product lines or the innovation of existing designs. they exhibit good corporate citizenship and have contributed to the expansion of Manitoban and canadian employment.

partner award

university of Manitoba, asper School of business | faculty of engineeringthe partner award is presented to an organization that, through tireless support or advocacy, has made a notable contribution to the Manitoba manufacturing and export-ing community. it recognizes partners and service provid-ers that have demonstrated a measurable impact on the growth and sustainability of manufacturing companies. recipients are widely recognized for their integrity, dedi-cation and collaboration in service to manufacturing.

the pioneer award looks back at those people who began a manufacturing business in Manitoba and nurtured it into a successful company. Most Manitoba companies are home-grown organizations and this award recognizes the key builders of our manufacturing community. pioneer award recipients have launched successful companies that have sig-nificantly increased employment in manufacturing. the business may have been passed on to others, but is still viably operating.

the hall of fame award celebrates individuals who have demonstrated leadership in the development of their company or companies and success in their chosen industry. these individuals are vision-ary leaders and exhibit these qualities through the design or implementation of revolutionary products, systems or processes. they are strongly integrated into the community and demonstrate a positive impact with youth and students.

haLL of fame award

bruce berry, winpak Ltd.

pIoneer award

peter barkman, founder of Barkman concrete

Just 30 years ago, the fax machine was the most high-tech device in many offices. even 10 years ago, digital media — then called “new” media — was in its infancy, and the notion that you could buy a 3D printer for personal use seemed like an idea out of a science fiction novel.

rapid advances in technology have changed almost every aspect of our working and personal lives. con-sider the ever-increasing importance of data and inter-net security or the prevalence of what kathy knight, ceo of the information and communications tech-nologies association of Manitoba, calls “uX design” — shorthand for user experience.

canadian Manufacturers and exporters project and event Lead geri rempel says technology doesn’t eliminate jobs, but it does have an impact on the way they’re executed.

“Jobs don’t disappear, they only change their shape,” rempel says.

imagine a future where the transport of goods relies on automated trucks. While at first blush it might seem like such a change would result in job losses, consider that the former driver, with the right training, could be-come the truck’s automated operator. and that truck will require a highly trained mechanic and logistics op-erator, as well.

the idea of a career is evolving, as well. entry-level workers don’t expect to work with the same company for 20, or even 10 years. and since many jobs can be performed anywhere there’s an internet or wi-fi con-nection, new workers are less likely to find — or be satisfied with — a 9-5 job in an office building.

even the idea of a full-time job in the traditional sense is changing. Many companies now offer contract or term positions.

according to the Manitoba Department of Jobs and the economy, only 39% of new jobs created between 2012 and 2013 were full-time.

one thing that isn’t changing is the need for adapt-able skilled workers.

“the jobs of the future are going to be above the ground not below the ground, they’re going to be less resource-based and more based on technology and the demands of the new economy,” knight says.

“More and more employers are looking for the em-ployee that has a well-rounded skill set,” she adds. “companies are looking for employees that are tech savvy, have good business acumen and the ability to understand marketing and sales to greater or lesser degrees depending on the industry.” ///

Rapid advances in technology have changed almost every aspect of our

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the manufacturers of tomorrowstudents expLore careers through cMe’s discovery prograM

for the ninth consecutive year, teams of students have de-signed and built a hovercraft — and unlike the trendy hoverboard, these contraptions actually do hover and do not rely on wheels.

along with a sense of accom-plishment, the program gives students a grounding in the es-sential skills they’ll need to enter the workplace. they need to use math, computer and literacy skills, work in teams, solve problems and

communicate in writing and in oral presentations to judges.

at the same time, the program gives students a chance to try on various aspects of the modern manufacturing industry and “dis-cover” how their personal inter-ests, strengths and skills fit into the manufacturing environment.

cMe project and event Lead geri rempel says the makeup of teams changes each year, with some returning students working with newcomers.

“the hovercraft offers a unique challenge and technology that many are still trying to perfect today. as the teams change, with some students remaining, it continuously remains fresh and thought-provoking,” rempel says.

“they continuously raise the bar by using new technologies such as 3D printers and drafting tech-nology software.”

Students get hands-on experience with a complete project life cycle, from conception and research to planning, budgeting, construction and marketing.

trevor friesen-Stoesz, head of the science department at altona’s W.c. Miller collegiate, has been involved with the program from the beginning, offering his students a chance to participate during their lunch hour.

“it’s an opportunity for students to be a part of something where they don’t have to connect it with grades and marks,” he says.

“they can focus on parts of it they are really interested in or where they feel that there’s more of a passion, rather than trying to fulfil a bunch of requirements that they don’t feel are quite as con-nected to what they’re doing.”

the Discovery program has di-rectly influenced some students’ post-secondary paths. for one student who is now studying elec-trical engineering at the university of Manitoba, the program led to a summer job.

“i had done a presentation for

cMe in Morden and i had high-lighted some of the work that this student had done and someone from the audience approached me and said, ‘i’d like to get in contact with that student based upon what you showed us here,’ ” friesen-Stoesz says.

“and that student was able to land a job at that firm during the summer.”

on Jan. 21, 20 teams had the opportunity to showcase their cre-ations and compete at a semi-final event at the university of Manito-ba. on March 22, during the cMe Dare to compete conference at rbc convention centre Winnipeg, the top-10 Discovery program projects from across the province will be showcased and assessed by a panel of industry judges.

the benefit is twofold: it gives em-ployers a glimpse into the creativity and ability of youth who will soon enter the workforce, and it rewards excellence in innovation and com-petitive performance. along with bragging rights, students compete for more than $30,000 in post-secondary scholarships and bur-saries sponsored in part by cMe, red river college, the university of Manitoba - faculty of engineer-ing and the Manitoba institute of trades and technology. ///Learn more at daretodiscover.ca.

almost half of students learn best through a combination of seeing and doing. that’s one benefit high school students across the province enjoy when they compete in the canadian Manufacturers and exporters (cMe) Discovery program

red rIver coLLege drIves green innovationif our walls could talk, there’s a good chance they’d complain about the weather.

Snow, wind and rain can wreak havoc on walls, doors and window sys-tems. and in Manitoba, extreme tem-peratures pose unique challenges.

building systems that maintain their integrity in other regions may not with-stand prolonged exposure to Mani-toba’s climate. the crumbling facades of many prominent Winnipeg buildings provide examples of such failures. air flow, humidity, insulation levels, com-plex wall assemblies, construction techniques and materials all impact the health of our homes and commercial buildings.

fortunately, red river college’s new building envelope technology access centre (betac) is ready to help manu-facturers and building owners address energy use and greenhouse gas emis-sions, construction and maintenance costs, longevity and related issues.

“We’re really trying to benefit the build-ing owners at the end of the day. they’re going to get a longer-lasting, more du-rable building with what we’re doing,” says betac manager rob Spewak.

based out of rrc’s centre for applied research in Sustainable infrastructure (carSi), betac was launched last spring, with $1.75-million in grant sup-port from the natural Sciences and en-gineering research council (nSerc) of canada’s technology access cen-tre program. it refocuses work begun through rrc’s Sustainable infrastruc-ture technology research group (Si-trg), an nSerc-funded initiative aimed at enhancing the overall energy perfor-mance of large commercial buildings.

betac proViDeS:

• technical services, including ac-cess to facilities and expertise for testing performance of mock-ups and assemblies during the design phase, as well as pre-certification testing of product prototypes.

• applied research, to accelerate in-novation in new building materials, products and assemblies.

• Diagnostics, monitoring and as-sessment of the performance of both individual components and complete assemblies.

• Specialized education and training related to testing methods, proto-cols and standards.

along with airtightness testing of commercial buildings, which can in-form decisions prior to renovations and retrofits, betac’s services will benefit the construction industry and manufac-turers who produce building materials such as windows, doors, insulation and wall assembly components.

“a lot of what we can do is evaluate per-formance of wall assemblies. We have a

new air water structural test chamber. We can put 12-foot by 12-foot wall sec-tions in it and we can actually mimic rain force, wind load, as well as test them for air leakage,” Spewak says.

“if you have a new window system connecting to a wall for instance, you

can actually put that into the test cham-ber and then you can test the interface and see how it’s performing.”

rrc is the only college in canada with two nSerc-funded technology access centres. the technology ac-cess centre for aerospace and Manu-facturing (tacaM) provides a similar array of services for three main focus areas: advanced Materials & bonding, imaging, robotics and automation and industrial Simulation and Visualization.

Learn more about tacam and Betac at rrc.ca/appliedresearch.

an rrc teaM conDuctS an airtightneSS teSt at a coMMerciaL buiLDing in DoWntoWn Winnipeg.

photo courtesy of red river college

Air flow, humidity, insulation levels, complex wall assemblies, construction techniques and materials all impact the health of our homes and commercial buildings.

a StuDent-buiLt hoVercraft in action.photo courtesy

of cMe



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piLLars in support of ‘growIng manItoBa’s economY’

in advance of the april 19 provincial election, cMe joined forces with the business council of Manitoba, Mani-toba chambers of commerce, Manitoba heavy construc-tion association, Manitoba home builders association and the Winnipeg chamber of commerce. together, the organi-zations drew up a list of seven policy pillars Manitoba’s politi-cal party leaders must address in their election platforms to establish their commitment to stimulating growth.

“as a business association representing manufacturing, we

are really keen and interested in growing Manitoba’s econo-my,” koslowsky says.

“We want to make sure that there are discussions going into the election about plans that will really help grow the economy, which in turn will help the province add to jobs — meaningful jobs that will keep our young people here and our talented people here — and help us to pay for the necessary social programs that we want to continue to deliver.”

koslowsky says the seven pillars do not represent an

shapIng puBLIc poLIcY advocating for a strong econoMic foundationcanadian Manufacturers and exporters (cMe) Manitoba has always been a strong advocate for members. Vice-president ron koslowsky works with all three levels of government to ensure elected officials understand how public policy affects the industry. this year, cMe and five fellow business and industry associations are getting a jump on the process.

in today’s globally competitive business environment it is imperative that government create a climate that attracts new business and allows existing businesses to grow and thrive. for Manitoba to reach its full potential there are seven key public policy pillars that political parties must address to demonstrate their political commitment to “growing Manitoba’s economy,” in their 2016 provincial election platforms

I. fIscaL competItIvenessManitoba must have an effective and fiscally pru-dent government committed to creating a competi-tive tax jurisdiction to attract and retain new invest-ment.

II. venture capItaLcommitment to the creation of an accessible ven-ture capital fund and supportive tax credit policies to leverage investment in the growth of new and ex-isting businesses.

III. gLoBaL tradecommitment to pursuing an expanded global trade profile for Manitoba which derives substantial eco-nomic benefit.

Iv. Infrastructure Investmentcommitment to a strategic, sustained, disciplined approach to investment in Manitoba’s core infra-structure.

v. aBorIgInaL engagementcommitment to the creation of an aboriginalengagement Strategy to ensure inclusion and part-nership in economic growth policies.

vI. skILLed workforcecommitment to attracting, educating, training and retaining a skilled, responsive workforce is funda-mental to ongoing economic growth.

vII. ‘new fIscaL deaL’ for munIcIpaLItIescommitment to address the existing fiscal frame-work between the province and municipalities to meet the challenges of the future.

concLusIonthe above principles are supported and respect-fully submitted by the following supporting orga-nizations, each of which is committed to pursuing ‘growing Manitoba’s economy,’ in the 2016 provin-cial election.

business council of Manitoba (bcM)canadian Manufacturers and exporters (cMe)Manitoba chambers of commerce (Mcc)Manitoba heavy construction association (Mhca)Manitoba home builders association (Mhba)the Winnipeg chamber of commerce (Wcc)

exhaustive list, but the group reached a consensus that, at minimum, leaders must address the needs to be more fiscally competitive, create a venture capital fund, pursue global trade opportunities, invest in infrastructure, create an aboriginal engagement strategy, develop and retain a skilled workforce, and revisit fiscal agreements with municipalities.

Some organizations place a higher priority on certain pillars. koslowsky notes, for example, that taxation may have a greater impact on manufacturers who compete on the global stage than on businesses whose competi-tion is local.

cMe also places a high value on human infrastructure and developing leaders who will drive the economy. and while global trade is important, im-provements to canada’s na-tional agreement on internal trade are vital to remove trade barriers between provinces.

cMe is also concerned with issues of sustainability and finding ways to operate that are good for both the environ-ment and business.

koslowsky has developed a public policy principles docu-ment of his own. it calls on governments to give citizens a greater voice in how their money is spent, what services governments provide and the manner in which those servic-es are delivered. it also calls for improved regulatory services to create clarity and harmony, particularly where several lev-els of bureaucracy have been layered on over many years, creating redundancies and even conflicting regulations.

koslowsky would also like to see governments focus more on outcomes than bureaucrat-ic procedure — to focus on

end goals rather than on the steps required to reach them.

a venture capital fund is vital to help entrepreneurs grow and to keep them in Manitoba, and koslowsky says we have to create a business climate that helps aboriginal businesses grow and gives youth real op-portunities to be engaged in the mainstream economy.

“and then of course looking at the skilled workforce gen-erally. Just looking at our edu-cation system, how it’s doing some good things, how it’s falling short in some areas,” koslowsky says. “We need to have a little more engage-ment of young people in the exploration of what careers are possible out there — a little more connection to the marketplace, to entrepreneur-ship, to giving kids a real bet-ter vision of what they could be when they grow up.”

as well, more collaborative efforts are needed to find in-novative solutions to public policy issues, with a healthy business community, the not-for-profit sector and govern-ment working together.

“government has to become much better at doing what the private sector does,” he says.

that means continually evaluating its effectiveness and growing its tax base to increase revenues and cre-ate sustainable employment, which in turn helps to address social development needs.

“having a fiscally respon-sible government that spends money wisely and doesn’t overspend but tries to manage and retain balanced budgets, that to me is very important. it sends signals to the business industry that gives them con-fidence to keep growing and doing business in Manitoba.” ///

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for more than 80 years, new flyer industries and Motor coach in-dustries have travelled on parallel paths. now, north america’s leading manufacturer of transit buses and lead-ing manufacturer of motor coaches are continuing the journey together.

founded in 1930, urban transit giant new flyer industries (nfi) completed a “blockbuster” deal late last year to buy highway star Motor coach industries (Mci). the move will bring Mci’s head-quarters back to Winnipeg, where the company was founded in 1933.

“it’s a really special scenario where we are absolutely the market leaders in both of our segments — and we can do it from Winnipeg,” says nfi and Mci president and ceo paul Soubry. “to be able to champion and drive the engine from Winnipeg is a pretty excit-ing thing.

“You know, there have been a lot of success stories in Manitoba with dif-ferent types of businesses over the years, but this whole concept of made-in-Manitoba means more than just the product. it means that there’s history,

there’s a sense of cooperation, there’s a sense of ownership and pride.”

While the companies complement one another, they do not compete in the adjacent markets in which each is no. 1, with a combined total revenue of $2.3 billion uS in 2015. Separately, they’ve come a long way, establishing manufacturing plants in Winnipeg and the u.S. — where Mci has maintained a head office — along with parts and service facilities. together they’ll go even farther.

Soubry says combining nfi and Mci

was a long-time goal. it’s a natural fit that benefits both companies and their home province.

“the biggest win you have right off the bat is the leader in bus manufacturing for both city buses and highway coach buses together maintain a head office in Winnipeg, so that’s a really exciting thing to build on,” he says.

nfi expects to achieve efficiencies through collabo-ration and sharing technologies, innovation, Lean manufacturing practices and sustainability initiatives, with spinoff benefits on several fronts.

the companies have Winnipeg transit and highway coach operators right in their backyard, along with education and training facilities such as red river college and the university of Manitoba and its fac-ulty of engineering, and its direct labour force runs the gamut from welders and electricians to account-ing professionals and industrial engineers.

“this collaborative story of the company, the com-munity, the customer working together to make sure we continue to be successful i think is the big win,” Soubry says.

nfi is ahead of the curve when it comes to em-ployee engagement. it fosters a collegial working at-mosphere, with a strong focus on safety, health and wellness, and professional development.

“We rely on the quality, the efficiency, the safety, the performance, the build workmanship of the people to design and build (buses),” Soubry says.

“When you walk into our facilities you’re going to see a circle cut into three pieces, and we say every single decision you make you’ve got to balance em-ployees, the customers and the shareholders. if you don’t have staff who are happy, safe, trained, en-gaged people, you’re not going to build world-class products, and if you don’t have world-class products you don’t have customers, and if you don’t have cus-tomers you won’t make any money and people won’t invest in your business.”

nfi and Mci will continue to strive for that balance, and to provide stable jobs for Manitobans who are looking for a company that cares about its business, its people and its community, and that provides op-portunity for development and growth.

“We’ve got a total now of about 5,000 people, half of whom are in the province of Manitoba and within the perimeter of Winnipeg. We’ve got a pretty excit-ing place that we think can attract professionals and young people that want careers,” Soubry says.

“both businesses have been around for 80 plus years and we plan to be around for another 80 years.” ///

paIr of aces for ManitoBanew flyer industries and Motor coach industries forge new deal

new fLyer industries and Motor coach industries have coMe a Long way, BLazing adjacent traiLs to success. new fLYer IndustrIes (nfI)

• Founded in Winnipeg in 1930

• Builds low-floor buses that primarily serve short routes with frequent stops

• Most costumers are public entities

• Builds buses powered by clean diesel, natural gas, electric-hybrid, electric-trolley and battery-electric

• NFI has a parts fabrication businesses called TCB, located in elkhart, ind.

• In 2015, NFI delivered 2,489 new buses and posted total revenues of $1.56 billion

• NFI is No. 1 in its market, with a 48% share

motor coach IndustrIes (mcI)

• Founded in Winnipeg in 1933

• MCI builds high-floor buses that serve longer distances with fewer stops

• 70% of MCI’s customers are private operators.

• Builds coaches powered by clean diesel and natural gas

• MCI has a parts fabrication business called frank fair located in Winnipeg

• In 2015, MCI delivered 835 new coaches and 312 pre-owned coaches, and posted total revenues of $636 million

• MCI is No. 1 in its market, with a 42% share

Founded in 1930, urban transit giant New Flyer Industries (NFI) completed a “blockbuster” deal late last year to buy highway star Motor Coach Industries (MCI).


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honour behLen with the export award at the 2016 gala awards Dinner on March 23 at rbc convention centre Winnipeg, has been a long-time supporter, as well.

“We’ve networked through cMe to access various contacts,” Lepper explains. “cMe acts as an advocate and connects us with many of the resources we draw on.”

that kind of support is critical for busi-nesses hoping to break into international markets, he adds.

“cMe is a basic starting point, educating people on the challenges they may find in the international market and how to over-come those challenges. Some of the pro-grams and contacts they make available are very helpful,” he says. “it can be very valuable at the very beginning to get the international aspects of your business off the ground.”

the company’s location in brandon is a plus, but Lepper says behLen’s work-force, currently 250 strong, is its great-est asset.

“We’re in the geographic centre of can-

ada — and north america, for that mat-ter,” he says. “We have a committed group of stable, hardworking employees here. We’ve had very little turnover. the key to our success has always been our people. We have a dedicated staff that is always looking to take on new challenges.”

currently, behLen is continuing efforts to expand the business in the face of an uncertain economy.

“oil and gas is our biggest challenge right now because the industry contracted so drastically and so quickly,” Lepper says.

however, the solid reputation behLen has built over the years will serve the company well.

“our customers are happy with the quality of our product and the ease with which it goes to-gether. it speaks to the strengths behLen has,” Lepper says. “We have the ability to take on very, very big work.” ///

the largest steel-building manufacturer in canada, behLen has completed high-profile projects on six continents, including the world’s largest convex-style frameless steel building, an international-sized soccer complex in Siberia.

“We’re quite a well-kept secret. people should take note of what we’ve been able to achieve out of brandon, Manitoba,” says Vice-president and general Manager Sean Lepper.

“We continue to follow our strengths. We go where there’s a demand for large recreational or industrial complexes. east europe has been a big draw for us.”

behLen manufactured the iconic peak 2 peak gondola terminals for the 2010 Winter olympic games in Vancouver, and it built the roof for the gangneung arena in South korea, which will be a venue during the 2018 Winter olympics.

but the Siberian soccer complex was one of its most de-manding projects, requiring overseas transport of 70 container loads of steel and taking more than 18 months to complete.

“the logistics of getting that project off the ground were immense. there were no right angles on the roof — it was all off-angles, designed so it would fit together on a mountain-top. it was extremely challenging,” Lepper says. “it was all coated in glass, so there was very little room for error. this project stretched our limits in lots of ways. it definitely high-lighted our capability to achieve that level of design.”

the gangneung arena posed another level of difficulty.“South korea was one of the heaviest roof structures we’ve

ever completed. it was challenging because of the heavy snowfall in the region, but our products matched up well with the project,” Lepper says. “the gangneung arena will be the curling venue for the upcoming olympics in South korea.”

Lepper says a number of organizations have contributed to behLen’s success on the international scene, including export Development canada, which helped create ways to connect with international projects and clients.

canadian Manufacturers and exporters (cMe), which will

it’s fair to say behLen industries Lp is a giant of industry. from a modest start in 1969 as a small grain bin manufacturer, the company has grown by leaps and bounds.

We’re quite a well-kept secret. People should take note of what we’ve been able to achieve out of Brandon, Manitoba

BuiLding an oLYmpIc-sIze reputatIon

proJectS incLuDe thiS Soccer coMpLeX in Siberia.photos courtesy of behLen industries

Hats off to a concrete pioneer.Congratulations Peter Barkman on receiving the 2016 CME Pioneer Award.

www.barkmanconcrete.com


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Magellan Aerospace, Winnipeg has been a part of the

Manitoba business community for more than 85 years, when in 1930, the company began building and repairing floats for bush planes.

Magellan’s Winnipeg operating division is part of a global enterprise providing integrated products to the aerospace industry worldwide. Magellan is

one of Canada’s largest aerospace companies, and is a leader in global supply chain development, managing the connection between customers and the emerging supply base to provide competitive, flexible business solutions. Magellan has developed strategic relationships around the world and is stronger and more effective from the collaborations.

“Aerospace is becoming more and more competitive as the supply chain is becoming increasingly globalized”, says Don Boitson, Vice President and General Manager, “and manufacturers such as Magellan are focusing on our core capabilities, where we can be the most competitive and create a niche for ourselves. At Magellan we are committed to investing in new technology and intellectual capital, such as the advanced composite assemblies that we are producing for the F-35 Lightning II aircraft. These complex assemblies are being produced in our state-of-the art advanced composites facility and are an integral part to our future growth. Also as part of our future growth is the investment in our people to optimize the new technologies and processes introduced through the F-35 Lightning II program.”

Magellan Aerospace, Winnipeg exports in excess of 85% of its

products and services to OEMs and countries around the world for use in aircraft, aeroengines, satellites, space payloads, and rocketry. Magellan applies innovative thinking and efficient processes to provide the global aerospace market a range of complex designed and manufactured products.

“Our products are exported around the world for use in various aerospace applications, both civil and military,” Mr. Boitson says. “Some of our products are even shot into space – two Magellan-built satellites are currently orbiting the earth, and we are now working on an array of three in our cleanroom, known collectively as RADARSAT Constellation Mission, to be launched in 2018. Our products are everywhere.”

Magellan’s Winnipeg facility is 835,000 square feet, and employs more than 600 skilled tradespersons and professionals. The company has provided

employment for generations of Manitobans, and offers competitive salary and benefit packages as well as an opportunity to build a solid career in the aerospace industry.

“With the predicted growth in the sector over the next decade, and many changing demands, we need highly-skilled individuals to fill these challenging and long-term positions. Magellan employs engineers, technologists, skilled tradespersons such as manufacturing and assembly technicians, and composite fabricators. We also offer career opportunities in program management, contract administration, quality assurance, manufacturing engineering, human resources, purchasing, IT, marketing, and finance.”

Magellan’s customers include Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, General Electric, Rolls-Royce, Airbus, the Canadian Space Agency, MDA, Eurocopter, Bell, and Sikorsky.

Magellan Aerospace Over 85 Years of Manufacture and Export in Manitoba

Learn more about Magellan at www.magellan.aero

the Dugald-based company builds and remodels trucks for chefs throughout the u.S. and canada, and business has doubled in the two years since president otto kemerle took over the company from pizza trucks of canada.

"We found a market research study in the u.S. that shows currently 1% of the total restaurant industry is based out of food trucks and they expect that number to rise to 3 or 4% by 2017," he says. “That is about $2.6 billion in sales just out of food trucks, which is crazy!"

currently, food trucks international has trucks in panama, 21 u.S. states and every province in canada.

“there are three using our trucks locally: habanero Sombrero, Simba Safari grill and Little pizza heaven, all done in the last year,” kemerle says.

custom-building trucks for increasingly upscale street food requires a highly technical skill set and an under-standing of each chef’s menu and process.

"We work to understand the flow of the kitchen because you are taking a big commercial kitchen and building it into a vehicle, compressing a 30- or 40-foot kitchen into 15 feet," kemerle says.

"a lot of the work we do is understanding local code for a jurisdiction and we actually talk to their local health code department and their local building and fire depart-ments to make sure that when the trucks get there they are going to meet code," he says. “that’s something unique that we do when we work with our customer."

kemerle says he’s relied on canadian Manufacturers and exporters (cMe) training and services to optimize productivity, including a Lean consortium and train-

ing Within industry, and he’s found valuable peer support with the Manufacturers’ executive council (Mec).

cMe’s advanced Manufacturing and Senior executive Leadership champion kevin Lusk is the facilitator for peer-driven forums made up of top-level leaders of non-competing companies.

"We have two councils and the member ceos and owners run manufacturing companies that are above $3 million in sales that meet once a month behind closed doors,” Lusk says.

"by participating in the Mec program, the principal, otto kemerle, is able to dramatically advance his own al-ready significant level of executive expertise by present-ing his challenges and gaining insight from other ceos and owners who have dealt with similar issues.”

Last year, kemerle turned to the Mec for advice when he wanted to hire someone in sales.

"You don’t go in empty-handed. it’s just like in life, when you go in with a problem, you should always have a po-tential solution. but what really helped was having these seven other sets of eyes look at it and say, ‘Did you think about this?’ ”

by quickly establishing a culture of continuous improve-ment, and a reputation for safe, quality builds, food trucks international has laid the groundwork for further expansion. the company is in talks with contacts in greenland and Saudi arabia and kemerle plans to make further inroads in the u.S. market.

"We want to move with the trends, and continue to ex-pand and see if we can take advantage of the food truck craze that’s going on." ///

food truck craze drIves successMobile cuisine is the hottest trend on wheels, and food trucks international has shifted into high gear to keep pace.

Currently, Food Trucks International has trucks in Panama, 21 U.S. states and every province in Canada.

fooD truckS internationaL haS buiLt truckS for three LocaL coMpanieS in the LaSt Year.

“We found a market research study in the U.S. that shows currently 1% of the total restaurant industry is based out of food trucks and they expect that number to rise to 3 or 4% by 2017.”


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Some documents, such as the company’s employee-ownership plan, have been translated into multiple languages, and fries-ens has a mentorship program to partner newcomers with staff members who speak the same language.

“i give a lot of credit to our hr department. a whole set of dif-ferent skills and processes have to be thought about when you’re dealing with different cultures,” friesen says.

not all refugee families stay in altona. build a Village founder ray Loewen says the goal is sim-ply to give them a good start on their new life, with a focus on de-veloping language skills as they adapt to a new culture.

“they’re looking for a place that’s going to be safe, a place where there aren’t guns and bombs and

where it’s going to be peaceful.” the community supports the

effort in many ways. friesens worked with a local landscape photographer to produce 1,000 calendars that sold out within days, raising about $20,000 — basically, enough money to spon-sor a family.

“to have businesses involved and supportive is a key part of the overall success that refugee families will be able to enjoy,” Loewen says.

“Most of the families that we sponsor over the years want to get working as quickly as they can. they want to be contribut-ing, they want to be active. So to have manufacturers onboard like friesens who are willing to provide some jobs and who have jobs available is obviously a key part of making this all work.” ///

“he used to work in or maybe even own a print shop in Syria, so he was wondering whether he could get a tour. one of our production managers gave him a tour, so he’s excited and would love to start,” friesens president and ceo curwin friesen says.

“i think what he basically said through a translator is, ‘We’ve been displaced for such a long time, but i feel at home in a printing plant.’ ”

friesen says he’d love to hire the man, but the first order of business for 45 members of five Syrian families in al-tona is to learn english.

World Vision estimates that 6.6 million Syrians are displaced within their home country and 4.6 million are refugees. When canada stepped up efforts to welcome refugees last year, altona was among the first communities to put out the welcome mat. The town of 4,500 will see its population rise by 1%, but the newcomers from Syria are just the latest group to be sponsored by local volunteer organization build a Village.

“We have had an active employment program with build a Village really over the last 10 years, so we have at various times employed different people from different countries,” friesen says.

“Some still work for us and some have moved on, but we’ve been actively in-volved kind of as a partner with build a Village for a long time.”

Since 2005, the community has spon-sored 25 refugee families representing 150-200 people from Sudan, tanza-nia, congo, burundi, iraq, colombia

and Somalia.friesens employs 550-600 people at

any given time, and today, 23 coun-tries are represented on the production floor, including ecuador, colombia, Su-dan, kazakhstan, croatia, the u.k. and the philippines. Whether they arrive as refugees or immigrants, friesen says it’s a win-win situation for employers and newcomers.

“We have low unemployment in south-ern Manitoba. We need staff and we need staff with skills and so it’s a good match if we can help people resettle and find people who are motivated to work in manufacturing and build up the future of altona.”

friesen says he reminds staff that 100 years ago, the newcomers were Men-nonites, and they weren’t always wel-comed with open arms.

“they spoke german, they didn’t par-ticipate in the school system, they didn’t want to go to war, they were very coun-tercultural and canada was a refuge for them, escaping wars and famine and dislocation, and they became a very in-tegral part of the Manitoba history.”

friesens is very much a part of that history. founded by D.W. friesen in 1907 as a confectionery store, the company bought its first printing press in 1933. today, it produces 25 million books each year, from the oxford Dic-tionary to blockbuster titles in the harry potter and Walking Dead series and Laura ingalls Wilder’s bestselling pio-neer girl autobiography.

“We’ve done some interesting books

from Margaret atwood that use tree-free paper,” friesen says. “every year we’ve got really fascinating, interesting titles and you never know what they’re going to be.”

the company’s self-publishing divi-sion, friesenpress, produces short runs on a digital press, which has been used to create faux yearbooks as props for the tV series glee, and its packag-ing arm produces boxes and innovative packaging products for leading con-sumer goods companies like gillette and birks.

newcomers who arrive with basic language skills can be put to work in positions that don’t involve complex communications functions, and then move on to more advanced jobs as their skills grow.

“We look throughout our company to find roles that people can play that match their skill sets and immigrants are no different. We just work on where their language skills are at and how we can train them in some visual systems and other things to help that along,” friesen says.

“We actually run english as a Second Language right at friesens and we do it in multiple shifts so people working the night shift can participate during the day and another group can participate after work,” he adds.

“everyday living skills are part of our orientation as well — how to open a bank account and pay for apartments and find housing, and what is a pension plan and why is it important.”

photo captionphoto credit

heLpIng refugees start a new chapter In theIr LIves

altona is very different from the home Syrian refugee families left behind. but one man found himself in familiar surroundings at the friesens corporation printing plant soon after his family arrived in the pembina Valley.

turnIng a page

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Harvesting Performance. Our harvesting history is rooted deep in the rich prairie heritage of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. We’ve kept our history of family values firmly intact while becoming a world-class leader in the technology, innovation and manufacturing of high quality, high performance harvesting equipment.

We’re proud of our reputation in providing customers with quality equipment and take our position as The Harvesting Specialists seriously ... because at the end of the day, our equipment helps producers harvest the crops that feed the world.

MacDon.com

Harvesting Performance. Our harvesting history is rooted deep in the rich prairie heritage of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. We’ve kept our history of family values firmly intact while becoming a world-class leader in the technology, innovation and manufacturing of high quality, high performance harvesting equipment.

We’re proud of our reputation in providing customers with quality equipment and take our position as The Harvesting Specialists seriously ... because at the end of the day, our equipment helps producers harvest the crops that feed the world.

Harvesting Performance.Our harvesting history is rooted deep in the rich prairie heritage of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. We’ve kept our history of family values firmly intact while becoming a world-class leader in the technology, innovation and manufacturing of high quality, high performance harvesting equipment.

We’re proud of our reputation in providing customers with quality equipment and take our position as the Harvesting Specialists seriously ... because at the end of the day, our equipment helps producers harvest the crops that feed the world.

curWin frieSen (right) aLWaYS haS SoMething faScinating to reaD in the pLant. photo courtesy of friesens corporation

27 Manitoba Manufacturing Week 2016 26


“Sean’s been making moccasins since 1997. for him, it was all about his community. he hated that non-aboriginal companies were capitalizing from aboriginal designs,” explains tara barnes, Manitobah Mukluks Director of brand Development and public relations.

“then kate Moss got photo-graphed wearing a pair of muk-luks he created, and the next day, demand skyrocketed.”

the company had to grow in a hurry, but Mccormick vowed to stay true to his vision of pro-viding opportunities for aborig-inal people while making high-quality footwear designed for a canadian climate.

“Sean tries to bring opportuni-ties and success to aboriginal

people across canada,” barnes says. “We have 30% aboriginal employees, which is a lot more than most companies.”

Mccormick and his sister heather Mccormick estab-lished Manitobah Mukluks as a Winnipeg trading post in 1990. Seven years later, they started manufacturing aboriginal foot-wear and built a brand around high-quality authentically made products.

each of the company’s prod-ucts speaks to tradition in a different way. Storyboots are one-of-a-kind mukluks and moccasins handcrafted by ab-original artisans who receive 100% of the proceeds from ev-

ery Storyboot sold. Manitobah Mukluks has part-

nered with Mcgill university, carlton university, the univer-sity of british columbia and other institutions across the country to pass on traditional skills and cultural values to new generations through Sto-ryboot schools.

“Storyboots are handmade, one-of-a-kind art. they’re also an amazing cultural exchange tool,” barnes says. “this type of cultural exchange is so important.”

the company partners with the centre for aboriginal hu-man resource Development (cahrD), to provide a bursary for aboriginal students who at-tend college or university. the goal is to create educational

opportunity and open new ca-reer paths, including careers at Manitobah Mukluks.

one of canada’s most suc-cessful footwear brands, the company appeared on the 2015 profit 500 list for the sec-ond year in a row, with five-year revenue growth of 335% from 2009 - 2014.

“the company is still grow-ing, still expanding, but we’ve maintained our quality along the way,” barnes says.

one key to success is innova-tion. recognizing that the nat-ural leather or suede soles of traditional mukluks are not well suited to an urban environment, the company enlisted Vibram, a

waLkIng forward,

honouring the past

3501 McGillivray Blvd. Oak Bluff, MB R4G 0B5 | Phone: (204) 895-8002 | www.malachmetal.com

metal & machiningManitobah Mukluks founder and ceo Sean Mccormick didn’t set out to provide fashionable footwear to supermodels. but in 2006, a photograph of british model kate Moss changed his life — and the

lives of aboriginal artisans with whom he partners.

McCormick and his sister Heather McCormick established Manitobah Mukluks as a Winnipeg trading post in 1990.

each MukLuk anD MocaSSin iS true to aboriginaL traDition. photos courtesy of Manitobah Mukluks

continueD on page 28


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as canada’s leading exporter of premium windows, Steinbach-based wood window and door manufacturer Loewen has a clear view of the u.S. landscape.

government and industry trade agencies see the 110-year old company as a model for success, and individual manu-facturers turn to Loewen for export advice.

More than 20 years after Loewen entered the u.S. market, 75-80% of its window products are sold to american and inter-national markets. president and ceo al babiuk and Senior Vice-president - prod-uct and Marketing clyde Loewen have learned from experience that it’s vital to build strong relationships, align with dis-tributors who cater to their high-end tar-get market, and to understand differences in regional demand.

but a strong export strategy begins at home. Loewen makes distinctive windows

that allow distributors to differentiate them-selves from competitors, and the company is committed to ongoing innovation, sus-tainability and Lean manufacturing.

Loewen had to be nimble during the recent recession, and its mass customi-zation process requires agility, as well. Making high-performance windows is the norm for its growing workforce, but Loe-wen also caters to regional style prefer-ences that range from colonial in the u.S. northeast to contemporary in the west, along with specialized products for hurri-cane-prone coastal areas.

“every order is different,” says clyde Loewen. “every window coming down the line is different. You could have a window that’s two feet wide by two feet tall and the next one might be a giant grouped unit that’s 15-plus feet wide by eight feet tall.”

Loewen is certified by the international forest Stewardship council, which pro-

motes best social and environmental practices in forest management, and surplus wood is recycled to heat its 600,000-square-foot plant. consumers demand environmentally friendly prod-ucts, and Loewen works toward sustain-ability across the board, a practice that’s in keeping with its Lean philosophy.

in 2005, Loewen began pursuing an aggressive Lean strategy, making in-vestments in equipment, processes and people that led, over time, to a 30% im-provement in productivity.

“but along with that, really i would say our philosophy is to establish a real con-tinuous-improvement culture and envi-ronment,” babiuk says. “We’re trying to continually develop the leaders and de-velop our people into that problem-solv-ing mindset where they’re always looking at opportunities to eliminate waste.” ///

wIndows on the worLd Loewen Leads the way in exporting

world leader in high-performance rubber outsoles, to create a sole that can with-stand both cold weather and concrete. and in keeping with tradition, cree art-ist heather endall was commissioned to create a design to transform the sole into a canvas for an aboriginal story.

canadian Manufacturers and exporters (cMe) will honour Manitobah Mukluks with the emerging award during the 2016 gala awards Dinner on March 23 at the rbc convention centre Winnipeg.

Mccormick said in a statement that he appreciates cMe’s support for manufac-turers who export to broader markets.

“they generally help to create a com-petitive environment and celebrate suc-cess. they’ve helped us expand our network and reach new audiences who share our vision. as a growing aborig-

inal-owned company, that support and recognition is invaluable.”

in order to grow the business, barnes says it was necessary to outsource some of the production.

“We’ve been outsourcing things from the beginning, but the big bad word is china or asia. the truth of the matter is that’s where the expertise is, and we make sure that any company that works with us is ethical,” she adds. “Just like any busi-ness, we have to stay competitive.”

people from all over the world who purchase Manitobah Mukluks through the company’s website can see where each item is manufactured, and barnes says outsourcing some of the work has allowed the business to produce more footwear in canada than ever before. ///

continueD froM page 27


30



up quite quickly,” Sarazin says.the company’s 10,000-square-foot

plant is extremely energy efficient, and purees are packaged in aseptic totes, which do not require additional water and are less expensive to produce than cans. the product has an extremely long shelf life and has very minimal requirements for shipping, including minimal attention to temperature con-trol. one aseptic tote, packaged in a recyclable box, will hold 1,000 to 1,300 kilograms of product.

another plus? it’s delicious. the company partnered with red river college’s food research program in the School of hospitality and culinary arts, where chef brad gray used the purees to make cakes, a navy bean creme brulee and more treats. chef gray’s recipes helped the company to a first-place showing in a Manitoba food processors association best new product competition.

Sarazin sits on the canadian Manu-facturers and exporters (cMe) energy and environment committee. When he joined canadian prairie garden purees, it was natural to bring the company into the cMe fold and introduce Lean concepts for optimizing efficiency and reducing waste even further.

“this winter all of our staff trained to level one yellowbelt which is the first level of Lean training,” he says. “the nice thing about cMe training is you actually go to other facilities to put into practice your training, so our staff went from our environment to a metal file shop, for example, to put those activi-ties in place and learn with them.”

Sarazin would like to see a lot more

interest and effort invested in green manufacturing among other compa-nies. the place to start is their metrics.

“Most places measure from the finan-cial end, which is fine, i always support that,” he says.

“but none measure from the envi-ronmental-impact side. and you can’t manage what you don’t measure. You may have bought yourself a new high-efficiency motor, but if you’re not mea-suring your electricity inputs by output of product or your water consumption by output of product, even the amount of fuel you use by shipping refrigerated product — that’s greenwash.”

beaulieu says canadian prairie gar-den purees continues to strive to im-prove on all fronts.

“We will be building another plant shortly and we are making sure that it is an energy- and water-efficient green plant, using even better information and skills than we had when we built the first one,” she says.

“We have to do a better job and that’s why i started canadian prairie garden purees. We’ve got to feed the world and Manitoba has one of the best op-portunities to fill in the gaps and be the supplier.” ///

When it comes to food production on Manitoba farms, canadian prairie garden purees takes the adage “waste not, want not” very, very seriously.

“it’s the pillar of the company to drive out the waste,” says Michael Sarazin, Vice-president of operations. “the sad fact is there are reports of $27 billion of wasted food in canada every year.”

that’s a statistic company founder and ceo kelly beaulieu couldn’t stand for.

“i felt that the food waste was unac-ceptable, so we looked for a technology that could address it,” says beaulieu.

the portage la prairie entrepreneur adapted a steam processor to cre-ate award-winning fruit and vegetable

purees. they’re made from fresh, non-gMo produce that might otherwise languish in farmers’ fields because it doesn’t meet retailers’ appear-ance standards.

“We use a proprietary processing sys-tem — the only one of its kind in the world — and we have the capability of processing the best puree products in the world,” she says.

the highly efficient steam infusion sys-tem injects steam at the molecular level of the product and cooks it in seconds. the domino effect of beaulieu’s com-

mitment to sustainability is dramatic, leading to remarkable environmental efficiencies in packaging, transporta-tion and storage.

farmers are paid for 100% of their produce, regardless of its appearance. Since there’s no expensive sorting pro-cess to weed out produce that “isn’t pretty” enough for retailers, farmers feed more people for the same effort from the same land.

“Sustainability at the farm level is quite huge and when you consider the number of farms in Manitoba, that adds

the portage La prairie Manufacturer heLpS to eLiMinate fooD WaSte. photo courtesy of canadian prairie garden purees

DeLiciouS pureeS can be uSeD in a WiDe

range of recipeS. photos by Darcy finley

feedIng the worLdgreen purees eLiMinate food waste

Purees made from fresh, non-GMO produce that might otherwise languish in farmers’ fields because it doesn’t meet retailers’ appearance standards.

32

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© 2016 Royal Canadian Mint. All rights reserved. | © 2016 Monnaie royale canadienne. Tous droits réservés.

520, BOUL. LAGIMODIÈRE BLVD., WINNIPEG MINT.CA | MONNAIE.CA

THE ROYAL CANADIAN MINT —A WORLD LEADER IN COIN DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING.A proud member of the Manitoba manufacturing industry for 40 years, our Winnipeg facility applies the industry’s most technologically advanced processes and equipment with the highest manufacturing standards that produce the world’s most secure circulation coins.

With a talent for innovation the Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown Corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada’s circulation coins and is a trusted and valued provider of circulation coins to more than 75 countries worldwide.

LA MONNAIE ROYALE CANADIENNE – UN LEADER MONDIAL DE LA CONCEPTION ET DE LA FABRICATION DE PIÈCES.Les installations de la Monnaie à Winnipeg font partie intégrante de l’industrie manufacturière du Manitoba depuis 40 ans. Sur le plan technologique, on y utilise l’équipement et les processus les plus perfectionnés de l’industrie, appliquant aussi les normes de fabrication les plus rigoureuses pour produire les pièces de circulation les plus sûres du monde.

Bastion de l’innovation, la Monnaie royale canadienne est la société d’État responsable de la production et de la distribution des pièces de circulation canadiennes. Fiable et respectée, elle est aussi un fournisseur de pièces de circulation pour plus de 75 pays dans le monde.

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cMe supports Manitoba’s manufacturing and exporting companies by providing training, networking opportunities and other events for members and non-members alike.

March 10 | Lean financial Management WorkshopMarch 22 | Discovery program finalsMarch 22 | Dare to compete [un]conference March 23 | cMe gala awards Dinner

April 12 | Lean Level i (Yellowbelt)April 19 | Lean Level ii (greenbelt)April 27 | cMe Manitoba annual general Meeting (agM)

May 3 | Leadership Development program

June 6 | cMe golf tournament

October 13 | Southern Manufacturers SummitNovember 3 | Deputy Ministers DinnerNovember 24 | trade Summit 2016

Fall | Lean Level i (Yellowbelt) Fall | Lean Level ii (greenbelt)Fall | Lean Level iii (blackbelt)

Arrange a date for:training Within industry (tWi)innovation engineering (ie)For more information, contact tammy oakes at 204.949.1454 or [email protected]

Join Us! Connect!

Manufacturers’ executive council (Mec)exporters’ executive council (eec)Special interest groups (Sig)consortiums – Leveraged Learning networksplant tours

for more information on the benefits of cMe membership and these groups, visit daretocompete.ca

MArK yoUr cAlendAr! UPCOMING TRAINING & EVENTS 2016

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Manitoba Manufacturing Week 2016 35 Manitoba Manufacturing Week 2016 34

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four years ago, Winnipeg’s orthopaedic innovation centre (oic) created a patella (kneecap) for a dog named oreo, using a Stratasys 3D printer to customize a bio-compatible implantable device for a prince edward island veterinarian in just four days.

that was one small step for a dog. now, oic has taken a giant leap for mankind, making a medical device metal prototype for future human applications and establishing a manufacturing capability through its first spinoff company, precision aDM inc.

“We’ve actually created a material that can be 3D printed and that elutes a drug that can fight knee infection in our patients,” says oic and precision aDM ceo Martin petrak.

“We’re working with Stratasys in the u.S. together to develop and patent these technologies and we’re in the process of licensing the technology to larger orthopaedic companies.”

based in the concordia hip & knee institute, the not-for-profit oic designs and tests medical devices, with a focus on hip and knee replacement systems.

oreo’s kneecap was made from a polymer, but since most materials used for permanent orthopaedic medical devices are metal — titanium, stainless steel and cobalt chrome — oic considered getting into metal additive manufacturing for orthopaedics. then they realized the aerospace industry uses the same materials and operates in the same highly regulated environments.

“the same materials they put inside the human body, they also belong on airplanes,” petrak says.

With an investment of $5 million from Western economic Diversification and $1.5 million from research Manitoba, the oic established an advanced Digital Manufacturing hub (aDMh) for Medical and aerospace in Manitoba that has far-reaching implications for manufacturers and entrepreneurs.

“We started off with a patella. We’ve actually created a 3D-printed drug material and now we’ve started our first company … to do everything from medical devices through to aerospace components and even energy sector components. precision aDM is the first company born out of the aDMh with the realization that multiple sectors could

benefit from having advanced metal digital manufacturing capability right here in Winnipeg.

petrak expects the for-profit precision aDM to be fully operational by the end of March and the company is seeking further investment to accelerate growth.

“in Manitoba we finally have a capability in metal additive manufacturing, which we didn’t have,” he says. “there’s likely to be a lot of entrepreneurial spirit wrapped around this technology, as well, because now for the first time you’ll create new products that you couldn’t make before.”

With precision aDM’s state-of-the-art advanced Digital Manufacturing technology, coupled with research, product development and design services, local companies now have an affordable way to produce small to medium quantities of complex parts — even a single part — and prototypes in a few hours.

“for the first time now, within three weeks you could have a prototype of a drone flying. and your company can start in a very short period of time,” petrak says.

over the years, oic has collaborated with canadian Manufacturers and exporters (cMe) to extend awareness of additive manufacturing, and petrak says cMe advanced Manufacturing and Senior executive Leadership champion

kevin Lusk has been a great help, sharing expertise in areas such as strategic business planning and connecting oic with leaders in manufacturing and related fields. furthermore, a branch of cMe called canada Makes, which promotes additive manufacturing in canada, has helped precision aDM reach international markets. petrak recently returned from a canada Makes trade mission to germany, where he toured multiple additive manufacturing companies, services centres and clients.

petrak expects oic to launch more companies in the future. one possibility is under wraps for now, but another is good news for the oreos of the world.

“We do see ourselves developing future solutions in the veterinary area,” petrak says.

the factory of the future

“We’ve actually created a material that can be 3D-printed and that elutes a drug that can fight knee infection in our patients.”

oic anD preciSion aDM ceo Martin petrak

photo courtesy of the

orthopaedic innovation centre

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Innovation Impacts ROI™

RRC’s Technology Access Centre for Aerospace and Manufacturing provides support to the aerospace and manufacturing industries through access to co-op students and interns, facilities and specialized equipment, applied research, and related technical services and training activities.

Established in 2015, the Building Envelope Technology Access Centre provides services to facilitate the design and construction of durable, energy-efficient buildings in harsh climate conditions like those found in Manitoba, while reducing the risks and uncertainties involved with using innovative new products and materials.

Find out how partnering with RRC can help your organization. Learn more at rrc.ca/appliedresearch

Now with two Technology Access Centres, Red River College has even more opportunities to provide industry partners with greater return on investment, through access to state-of-the-art technology, expertise and business support services.

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