Canada's Automotive Suppliers are Building the Cars of the Future Through Innovative Engineering

MARKHAM, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 08/31/16 -- Canada has set an all-time record by selling nearly 1.9 million new cars, light trucks and SUVs over the last year, and everyone has taken notice. Auto production is a huge driver of economic success for Canadians, which is why the Government of Canada is investing in new technologies ranging from early stage development to those available in the global automotive marketplace.

Thanks to nearly $3 million in funding from the Government of Canada for four projects, Canadians who design and manufacture auto parts for the cars of the future will benefit from new skills, knowledge and business expertise that create well-paying, middle-class jobs.

The funding, provided under the Automotive Supplier Innovation Program, will also enable businesses in the sector to develop new technologies and get their products to market faster and more efficiently.

The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, made the announcement at Bluewrist Inc., a developer of robotics systems based in Markham, Ontario. The company will receive a contribution of up to $821,445 to develop an innovative scanning inspection system that will be five times faster than existing technologies. The inspection system will increase quality-control capabilities for auto-parts manufacturers, while reducing waste and saving energy.

The other companies that have received funding include:

--  Smarter Alloys Inc., Waterloo, Ontario: The company will receive up to
    $1.1 million to develop advanced alloys that can retake their shape for
    use in mechanisms such as grill shutters and door latches. New
    mechanisms made of "smart" alloys will replace unreliable and bulky
    systems used today by automotive manufacturers.
--  A.P. Plasman, a Division of Plasman Group, Windsor, Ontario: The company
    will receive up to $366,688 to develop 3D-printed measurement tools to
    replace its current steel-machined fixtures. These new fixtures will
    reduce costs, increase energy efficiency and increase global
    competitiveness.
--  Invotek Electronics Inc., Markham, Ontario: The company will receive up
    to $412,025 to develop an innovative radar system for cars. This radar
    system will be more compact, allowing it to be installed in areas of
    vehicles that were traditionally inaccessible, thereby contributing to
    road safety.

Quote

"These projects illustrate how Canada's automotive suppliers are at the forefront of designing and building the super-efficient cars of the future-cars that are more energy-efficient and better for the environment. The made-in-Canada innovations that come from these companies strengthen the skills, knowledge and business expertise that create well-paying jobs for Canadians. These innovations make our country's automotive sector a global success."

- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development

"The Automotive Supplier Innovation Program helps Canada's automotive suppliers gain a competitive global edge through new innovative products and processes and next-generation technologies. Through ASIP, Canadian suppliers can drive ground-breaking technologies and generate jobs, economic growth and prosperity."

- The Honourable John McCallum, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Quick facts

--  Canada's automotive sector is the country's second-largest manufacturing
    sector, producing more than two million vehicles a year, which
    translates to one car every 14 seconds.
--  The sector employs 125,400 Canadians directly and another 398,700
    indirectly. It also has the largest job-multiplying effect of any
    sector. Every assembly job creates six additional jobs in the automotive
    supply chain.
--  Canada has an opportunity to draw on its research strengths in areas
    such as automotive lightweighting and information and communications
    technologies to help design and build the cars of the future.
--  As announced in Budget 2016, the Government extended the Automotive
    Innovation Fund through 2020-21.

Related product

--  Backgrounder: Automotive Supplier Innovation Program

Follow Minister Bains on social media.

Twitter: @MinisterISED

Contacts:
Philip Proulx
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Innovation,
Science and Economic Development
343-291-2500

Media Relations
Innovation, Science and
Economic Development Canada
343-291-1777
[email protected]

Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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