Blainville, QC Facility Becomes New Home to Company's Industry-Leading Research, Design & Development Team
BLAINVILLE, Quebec, Oct. 6, 2015 /CNW/ -- Bauer Hockey, Inc., the world's leading manufacturer of hockey equipment, officially opened its new Innovation Center in Blainville, Quebec, as the facility recently hosted approximately 350 of the company's top global retail partners for the annual BauerWorld event. The new 100,000 square-foot facility features state-of-the-art product testing labs, industry-leading design tools, a real ice surface to evaluate new product and a custom pro shop to host elite athletes from around the world.
"We take great pride in the product we provide to consumers, whether it's for a player trying the game for the first time or an NHL player like Jonathan Toews, Claude Giroux or Henrik Lundqvist. The reason we continue to be the No. 1 global brand in hockey is because of our commitment to research, design and development," said Rich Wuerthele, Executive Vice President, Bauer Hockey. "Quebec has an incredibly rich hockey history and a deep heritage for Bauer Hockey. Our new facility in Blainville matches our premium product with a premium research facility to continue elevating performance and protection at all levels."
Previously located in St. Jerome, Quebec, for more than 44 years, the BAUER Innovation Center is home to more than 150 testing and R&D machines that allow the product engineers, designers and developers to properly evaluate and validate next-generation products.
An impact simulator, linear accelerator and puck cannon are just a few of the tools the company uses to optimize performance and protection levels of helmets, skates, sticks, shoulder pads and more. The Advanced Development team has a dedicated 18,000 square foot prototyping space with state-of-the-art 3-D printers to build products that are four to five years out from commercial launch.
The real ice surface features regulation hockey boards and glass, and allows researchers and designers to gain valuable on-ice feedback instantaneously. In addition to allowing the team to test new product, the BAUER team utilizes the latest sensor technology on the ice surface to evaluate stick flex, responsiveness, power and much more in real time.
"Our team in Blainville is the heart and soul of Bauer Hockey because it's here where we design and develop the world's best hockey equipment," Wuerthele said. "It's also home to our custom pro shop, which is where we welcome NHL players and other elite athletes from around the world to receive an individualized fitting and assemble their custom skates."
The BAUER pro shop assembles all of the company's custom skates, which includes skates for players in the NHL, Canadian Hockey League, European professional leagues, NCAA Division I programs and other top-level leagues.
With a long history and deep heritage in Quebec, the company has developed long-standing and valuable partnerships in the region with local businesses and educational institutions, such as McGill University. The new facility is 25 percent larger than the company's former space in St. Jerome and was built to suit the company's R&D needs and future growth. All of the positions have been moved to Blainville.
ABOUT BAUER HOCKEY
Bauer Hockey is the world's most recognized designer, marketer and manufacturer of hockey equipment. Founded in Kitchener, Ontario in 1927, Bauer Hockey developed the first skate with a blade attached to a boot, forever changing the game of hockey. Since then, Bauer Hockey has continued to develop the most sought after products in the industry, including the widely successful SUPREME®, VAPOR® and NEXUS® lines of products. Performance Sports Group Ltd., the parent company of Bauer Hockey, is a publicly-traded company on the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange whose affiliates market products under the BAUER, MISSION, MAVERIK, CASCADE, INARIA, COMBAT and EASTON brand names. Performance Sports Group is a member of the Russell 2000 and 3000 Indexes, as well as the S&P/Toronto Stock Exchange Composite Index. For more information, visit Bauer Hockey's website at BAUER.com.
Media Contact
Tory Mazzola
Sr. Manager, Corporate Communications
Bauer Hockey/Performance Sports Group
Phone: 603-430-2111
Email: [email protected]
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151005/274123
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151005/274122
SOURCE Bauer Hockey
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