The governments of Canada and Quebec and Investissement Québec are granting $2.2 million to Les Industries Mélymax (Mélymax) to help it improve its productivity. Through this project valued at nearly $7.5 million, the business, which manufactures steel doors, wishes to double its production capacity.
The financial assistance includes a loan of $800,000 from the Government of Quebec granted under the ESSOR program, managed by Investissement Québec as the government's representative, along with a loan in the same amount from Investissement Québec's capital funds. These two loans are provided through the Productivité innovation initiative. A repayable contribution of $600,000 is also being granted by the Government of Canada through the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program.
The Honourable Pascale St‑Onge, Member of Parliament for Brome-Missisquoi, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED), along with François St‑Louis, Member for Joliette, on behalf of the Minister for the Economy, Minister Responsible for the Fight Against Racism and Minister Responsible for the Laval Region, Christopher Skeete, made the announcement today. Mr. St‑Louis took the opportunity to tour the business's facilities.
The government contributions will enable Mélymax to expand its plant, strengthen its production line, and acquire digital equipment. In addition to improving its storage capacity, the new facilities will house a robotic paint chamber and collaborative robots aimed at optimizing and automating a part of the door preparation process. Moreover, the business has received support from the Centre collégial de transfert de technologie Inovem, affiliated with the Cégep de Victoriaville, to design its robots. Initial laboratory tests have demonstrated a notable potential gain in productivity.
Quotes
"Our government is here to support businesses such as Mélymax that are ambitious and making an active contribution to their region's economic dynamism. This investment project is, in fact, a great example of regional collaboration, with the Cégep de Victoriaville, to maximize process automation at a flagship business in the Lanaudière region!"
François St-Louis, Member for Joliette
"Our government is here to support SMEs such as Mélymax so they can seize new opportunities and carve out a place for themselves in the economy of tomorrow. The investment granted today will help the business overcome various challenges, including the labour shortage, and enable it to acquire automated equipment to increase production. Mélymax will thus be more competitive and will be able to meet growing market demand. By equipping homegrown businesses with what they need, we are developing a strong, resilient, sustainable economy together."
The Honourable Pascale St‑Onge, Member of Parliament for Brome-Missisquoi, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for CED
"Innovation and robotization are among the solutions to help our manufacturing businesses remain competitive, especially in the current context of a labour shortage. Mélymax's investments will undoubtedly boost its growth. Congratulations to the entire team!"
Christopher Skeete, Minister for the Economy, Minister Responsible for the Fight Against Racism and Minister Responsible for the Laval Region
"Through the levers provided under the Productivité innovation initiative, which combines financing and mentoring, Investissement Québec's team in the Lanaudière region is proud to have supported Mélymax in this project. By automating its operations and integrating collaborative robots at various stages of the manufacturing process, Mélymax will be able to increase its productivity and become more competitive."
Guy LeBlanc, President and CEO, Investissement Québec
Quick facts
- Founded in 1997, Mélymax specializes in manufacturing high-quality steel doors mainly for the residential sector.
- Revenues in the door and window manufacturing market in Quebec, which includes over 130 businesses, are estimated to be approximately $3 billion a year.
- With a view to enhancing competitiveness and productivity, creating jobs, and fostering sustainable development, the ESSOR program, managed by Investissement Québec as the government's representative, supports investment projects in Quebec.
- The Productivité innovation initiative aims to boost the competitiveness and accelerate the growth of homegrown businesses. The objective: To have more businesses leverage innovation in all its forms and technologies and processes such as automation, digitization, robotization, and artificial intelligence applications.
- Investissement Québec has a role to stimulate innovation among businesses, entrepreneurship, and exports, in addition to increasing local and foreign investment in all Quebec regions. The Crown corporation provides businesses of all sizes with personalized mentoring, technological expertise, and flexible financial solutions at each step of their growth.
- CED's REGI program targets entrepreneurs leveraging innovation to grow their businesses and enhance their competitiveness, as well as regional economic stakeholders helping to create an entrepreneurial environment conducive to innovation and growth for all, across all regions.
- CED is a key federal partner in Quebec's regional economic development. With its 12 regional business offices, CED accompanies businesses, supporting organizations and all regions across Quebec into tomorrow's economy.
