Artopex modernizes its facilities and steps up its digital shift

Investment project worth over $30 million

GRANBY, QC, April 27, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)

The governments of Quebec and Canada have provided a total of $10 million in financial assistance for Artopex Group - made up of manufacturing companies Artopex and Logiflex - to support a modernization and process automation project valued at an estimated $30.1 million.

Through the ESSOR program, the Government of Quebec has provided the enterprise a total of $8 million in funding, including an interest-free loan of $7 million and a non-repayable contribution of $1 million. Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) has granted the company a repayable contribution of $2 million under the Quebec Economic Development Program.

The initiative involves the automation of processes at an Artopex melamine office furniture manufacturing plant in Granby, and the modernization of the facilities at a Logiflex plant in Sherbrooke. The project will also result in the creation of 150 jobs by 2020 in the Montérégie, Estrie and Laval regions.

Dominique Anglade, Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy, together with Pierre Breton, Member of Parliament for Shefford, acting on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for CED, made the announcement today.

Quotes

"To ensure their competitiveness, manufacturing companies must fully embrace the fourth Industrial Revolution and invest in the automation of their processes and the acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment. Artopex has clearly understood this issue, and we are proud to assist this company in carrying out its plan for the future, which will allow it to make a digital shift and thus increase its productivity."

Dominique Anglade, Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy

"The manufacturing industry needs to focus on innovation and adopt new technologies, which is exactly what Artopex is doing. This company is a source of pride for the region, not only because of its success on the North American market and its high-quality products, but also because of the importance it places on sustainable development. I congratulate the entire Artopex team and wish it much success with this major project, which will generate significant spinoff for Granby, Sherbrooke and Quebec as a whole."

Pierre Breton, MP for Shefford

"Government of Canada initiatives, such as Canada's Innovation and Skills Plan help prepare Canadian businesses and workers for the challenges of tomorrow. By automating their production, manufacturing companies reduce their production costs, increase their productivity and enhance their competitiveness so as to be able to export their innovative products to new markets."

The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for CED

"As a result of this major project, the Artopex plant in Granby will become the first automated melamine office furniture manufacturing plant in North America to use this new integrated technology. The Government of Quebec is therefore very proud to support the growth of this dynamic group, which is helping to strengthen the innovative manufacturing sector, not only here in the Montérégie region but also in the Estrie and Laval regions."

Lucie Charlebois, Minister for Rehabilitation, Youth Protection, Public Health and Healthy Living and Minister responsible for the Montérégie region

Highlights

• Created in 1980, the Artopex group specializes in the design, manufacturing and commercialization of office furniture products. The group combines the know-how of two Quebec manufacturing companies - Artopex and Logiflex - that have facilities in Granby, Sherbrooke and Laval.
  
  
• The goal of the ESSOR program (website in French only) is to support investment projects carried out in Quebec with a view to enhancing competitiveness and productivity, creating jobs and ensuring sustainable development.
  
  
• The Government of Quebec has set aside $825 million for businesses from Investissement Québec's own funds and the Fonds du développement économique to support the growth of the innovative manufacturing sector (website in French only) across Quebec.

Related links:

• For more information on CED's key directions until 2021, consult Strategic Plan 2021 or visit www.dec-ced.gc.ca.
  
  
• To receive real-time press releases from the Ministère de l'Économie, de la Science et de l'Innovation (in French only), subscribe to the appropriate RSS news feed at www.economie.gouv.qc.ca/rss.

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SOURCE Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

Sources: Gabrielle Fallu, Press Secretary, Office of the Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation, and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy, Tel.: [phone]; Alexandra Régis, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister for Rehabilitation, Youth Protection, Public Health and Healthy Living and Minister responsible for the Montérégie region, Tel.: [phone]; Karl W. Sasseville, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Tel.: [phone]; Information: Jean-Pierre D'Auteuil, Media Relations Officer, Communications Directorate, Ministère de l'Économie, de la Science et de l'Innovation, Tel.:[phone], extension 4868, Cell: 418-559-0710; Media Relations, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Tel.: [phone], Email: [email protected]