DEFENCE DOLLARS HELPS SURREY, BURNABY FIRMS' GROWTH TO INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS

Federal Investment in Local Industry Vital to Success, Reps Tell House of Commons Finance Committee

SURREY, BC, Sept. 28 /CNW/ - Two British Columbia companies welcomed the House of Commons Finance Committee Monday for a first hand look at how federal tax dollars have contributed to their success.

Tri-Metal Fabricators President Joe Toso toured the Committee through his Surrey plant where they saw examples of the redeployable shelter systems Tri-Metal manufactures with Burnaby-based Weatherhaven.

"Over twenty years, working in partnership with the Department of National Defence (DND), we have produced a product that is now the world wide standard for military shelters," said Toso. "We're proud of the work we do, and to be able to show it to the Committee."

Dubbed "the Canadian solution" by Australian armed forces, the shelters are sold all over the world to both military and industrial clients. On the tour, Committee members saw units headed for Australia and the United States.

Toso was joined by Weatherhaven Partner Glen Thorne who spoke to the impact the investments have had on both companies to grow, create jobs, and find new markets.

"This is the kind of government investment and partnership that allows companies with innovative technology to build an international business model," said Thorne. "We are proof positive that the right kind of federal dollars can help launch very successful private companies, creating hundreds of local jobs in the process."

The portable state of the art shelters arrive appearing as normal shipping containers. But when they are opened up and fully deployed, they are fully loaded and ready kitchens, level III hospitals, washrooms, integrated workshops and command centres.

DND has recently ordered another 400 of the units for deployment to Canadian troops overseas. This $60 million project is poised to grow in scope as other programs have taken notice of this new platform including JSSP, Arctic Sovereignty and Canada's new Chinook helicopter program, further contributing to long term job growth in British Columbia for both companies.

The Committee is on a cross-country tour as part of their annual pre-budget consultation process.

ABOUT TRI-METAL FABRICATORS:
For more than four decades, Tri-Metal Fabricators has been recognized as one of British Columbia's most versatile fabricators of metal products satisfying Canadian and international customers with our fully integrated design, engineering and metal working capabilities. www.trimetalfans.com

ABOUT WEATHERHAVEN:
Weatherhaven is a leading provider of portable shelters, camps and systems for remote sites around the world. The company engineers, manufactures and installs custom shelter systems for a wide variety of commercial, military and medical applications. www.weatherhaven.com

High resolution photographs are available for publication.

For further information:

Marcella Munro, cell 604-345-3214