CMTS Blog and Industry News
Update on New Steel & Aluminum Surtax & Remissions
From Robert Cattle, Executive Director, CTMA: On October 11th, the Government of Canada announced further steps to prevent diversion of foreign steel products into Canada (including from China and Europe), and provide relief to steel…
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Happy #MFGDay18!
Every year, thousands of manufacturers around North America open their doors to inspire the next generation of manufacturers. As a proud supporter of Manufacturing Day 2018, SME is excited to drive awareness of manufacturing, the exciting…
More Canadian manufacturing sales keep rising
Canada: Monthly Survey of Manufacturing, June 2018 "Manufacturing sales rose 1.1% to $58.1 billion in June, following a 1.5% increase in May. The increase in June was mainly due to sharply higher sales in the…
More Strong manufacturing growth maintained in July
08/02/2018 - LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE) - Canadian manufacturers recorded robust rises in output, new orders and employment during July, thereby signalling another marked improvement in overall business conditions across the sector. However, the latest survey also signalled…
More Statistics Canada reports manufacturing sales up 1.4 per cent in May
The Canadian Press - June 17, 2018 - Canadian manufacturing sales bounced back more than expected in May as the gains were led by the chemical, machinery and wood product industries. Manufacturing sales were up…
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Manufacturers got $46.1M in government funding in June
Canadian businesses and organizations in the manufacturing sector secured $46.1M in government grants, contributions and incentives from federal and provincial programs this June, according to new data from Fundingportal, a leading funding services and solutions…
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[White Paper] From Hype to Happening: Exploring Machine Learning & AI
Regardless of the myths and mysteries that come along with artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, these tools aren't as scary as they might seem. This white paper examines the reasons for investing in and…
More Canada manufacturing growth hits survey-record high in June: Markit
TORONTO, (Reuters) - Growth in the Canadian manufacturing sector accelerated in June to its fastest pace in more than seven years, data showed on Tuesday, hitting the highest since the survey began in October 2010…
More Canada’s Economy Shows Surprise Strength With April GDP Gain
The Canadian Press - Canada's economy grew by 0.1 in April on the back of a big uptick in manufacturing output. The Bank of Canada's quarterly business outlook survey signalled widespread business optimism with sales…
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Key Trends in Digital Manufacturing Revealed in Joint Plataine; SME Industrial IoT Survey
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., June 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent Trends in Digital Manufacturing survey, jointly conducted by SME, a manufacturing association promoting advanced manufacturing technologies, and Plataine, a leading provider of Industrial IoT and AI-based manufacturing optimization solutions, has revealed key…
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Smart Manufacturing: 7 Essential Building Blocks
The Smart Manufacturing Report Series helps manufacturers consider, evaluate and execute strategies to become strong entities as the industry shifts to integrated and flexible advanced manufacturing technology and tools. The top two challenges for manufacturers…
More 2018 State of Canada’s Aerospace Industry Report: Aerospace remains national innovation leader
OTTAWA, June 21, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC) and the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) released their joint 2018 report on the state of Canada’s…
More Ramifications of a trade war: an expert look at the numbers for Canada
A new Scotiabank report looks at the economic consequences of U.S. tariffs on our economy. OTTAWA—A new analysis of escalating trade disputes involving the United States warns that a deterioration into an all-out, global trade…
More Manufacturers risk going out of business for failing to adopt technology
In promoting Canada’s tech sector, governments spend a great deal of innovation money and effort boosting the suppliers of new technologies, with a big focus on commercializing new knowledge and supporting tech start-ups. Equally important,…
More Groupe Meloche to carry out additive manufacturing projects for big names in aerospace
Canada’s Groupe Meloche, an OEM aircraft and aerostructure component supplier, has signed a 3D printing partnership agreement with French metal additive manufacturing specialist FusiA Impression 3D Métal. Advancing an initiative “to deliver world-class performance” and…
More Canada manufacturing growth accelerates to seven-year high in May
(Reuters) - Growth in the Canadian manufacturing sector accelerated in May to its fastest pace in more than seven years as new orders and inventories climbed, data showed on Friday. The IHS Markit Canada Manufacturing…
More Burloak Technologies to Open State-of-the-Art Additive Manufacturing Center
BURLINGTON, ON, May 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Burloak Technologies, a division of Samuel, Son & Co., today announced the establishment of its Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. The state-of-the-art 40,000 square foot facility will…
More Magna Spending Big on New Technology
When a big player such as Canada's Magna International starts spending, there is opportunity afoot. Magna CEO Don Walker told shareholders this month that the company is stepping up its R&D spending this year, adding an…
More Analysts: Canada’s manufacturing sales point to growth in overall economy
"Aerospace products and parts were up 10.6 per cent to $1.9 billion, primary metal sales rose 4.2 per cent to $4.4 billion, and fabricated metal products rose 4.6 per cent to $3.3 billion." OTTAWA —…
More STEMCELL Technologies Announces $45 Million Government Funding for Advanced Manufacturing Facility
STEMCELL Technologies, Canada’s largest biotechnology company, today announced a $45 million joint funding agreement between the Governments of Canada and British Columbia to help the company build a state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing facility. The funding agreement…
More Canadian Manufacturing Sales Up 2%
Canadian manufacturing sales increased 1.9 percent to C$55.8 billion in February (US$44.4 billion) following two straight monthly declines. The growth was due mainly to higher sales in the transportation equipment industry, according to new data…
More Canada to Invest in Aerospace Sector to Support Helicopter Tech
The Government of Canada is set to invest in the country’s aerospace sector to support the development of next-generation helicopter technology. The C$49.5m ($39m) investment “will be provided to an aerospace consortium led by Bell…
More Statistics Canada: Number of Job Openings in Canada Rose in Fourth Quarter 2017
Reuters (4/12, Schnurr) reports that Statistics Canada announced on Thursday that “the number of job vacancies in Canada rose in the fourth quarter compared to a year ago, with increased openings led by the accommodation…
More Canada manufacturing growth firms in March as output accelerates
TORONTO, April 2 (Reuters) - The pace of growth in the Canadian manufacturing sector firmed in March as output accelerated and new orders climbed, while purchasing activity rose at the fastest clip in almost seven…
More Canada’s New Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster To Create 13,500 Jobs
$950-million investment nationwide positions Canada for an innovation boom in high-growth sectors. VANCOUVER, Feb. 22, 2018 /CNW/ - When small, medium-sized and large companies, academic institutions and not-for-profit organizations come together to generate bold ideas,…
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CMTA View Features Member Participation in CMTS 2017
The Winter 2018 issue of The CTMA View features the Canadian Tooling & Machining Association member companies who exhibited at CMTS in September 2017 at The International Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. Details and photos of…
More Feds to unveil ‘supercluster’ winners that will get slice of $950M funding pie
The Canadian Press | Tuesday, February 13, 2018 "OTTAWA -- The Trudeau government is poised to unveil the winners of a competition to form technology "superclusters" -- a title that will guarantee the victors a piece…
More Canadian Manufacturing Surged in Late 2017
Ambrose O'Callaghan | February 11, 2018 | Read original article "Ongoing NAFTA re-negotiations have stirred anxiety among investors when it pertains to the Canadian manufacturing sector. Statistics Canada released its GDP data for November 2017 on January…
More The shortage of skilled workers in Canada’s industrial sector is reaching a new intensity
Globe and Mail - Article | SARAH EFRON | PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 4, 2018 "The shortage of skilled workers in Canada's industrial sector is reaching a new intensity, with many factory owners saying the lack of…
More Canada manufacturing growth strongest in nine months in January
FEBRUARY 1, 2018 | Reuters Staff | Article "OTTAWA (Reuters) - The pace of growth in the Canadian manufacturing sector picked up at the start of the year to its highest level in nine months as…
More The digital economy has created a demand for 216,000 more tech workers, report finds
01/31/2018, Financial Post, Original: http://business.financialpost.com/technology/the-digital-economy-has-created-a-demand-for-216000-more-tech-workers-report-finds "The transportation, retail, healthcare, finance and manufacturing sectors are ramping up demand for digitally skilled workers. "Blockchain, artificial intelligence, 5G mobile networks, 3D printing and virtual reality are creating a…
More GM Canada President Labels Ontario Facility As Key To Company’s Autonomous Vehicle Aspirations
The Globe and Mail (CAN) (1/19, Paddon) reported Steve Carlisle, the CEO of General Motors of Canada, revealed on Friday that the company “sees Ontario’s strength in advanced technologies as strategically important for its plans…
More Statistics Canada: Canadian Manufacturing Sales Rose 3.4% In November
The Wall Street Journal (1/19, Vieira, Subscription Publication) reported that Statistics Canada announced Friday that Canadian manufacturing sales rose 3.4% in November, exceeding expectations. The Journal added that Royal Bank of Canada economists had forecast…
More Canada’s Job Market “Stellar” In 2017
Bloomberg News (1/5, Argitis) reported that “Canada’s job market had a stellar 2017, producing some of the strongest employment numbers the nation has seen in years.” Last year, “employment increased by 422,500, the biggest annual…
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Ontario Investing in 53 Research Projects
Supporting New Discoveries to Help People in Their Everyday Lives Ontario Investing in 53 Research Projects Ontario is supporting researchers in fields such as health care, advanced manufacturing, clean tech and computer technology to make…
More Markit Canada Manufacturing Purchasing Manager’s Index Rose in December
Reuters (1/2, Schnurr) reports that a rise in the Markit Canada Manufacturing Purchasing Mangers’ Index in December, to 54.7 from 54.4 in November, shows that “the pace of growth in the Canadian manufacturing sector picked…
More Smart Manufacturing Has Potential to Solve C-Suite Issues
In a post for its ‘Forbes Technology Council’ series, Forbes (1/2, Clemons) reports that although “members of the C-suite may rarely interact directly with smart technologies, they are nonetheless vital to achieving the strategic objectives…
More Some Tech Workers Choosing Canada Over US
The Los Angeles Times (12/14, Lien) reports on comments by former British Columbia Technical Association President Bill Tam on the recent uptick in tech workers moving to Canada. Tam said, “Canada’s sudden desirability is a…
More Canadian Exports Grew in October, First Monthly Growth Since May
Reuters (12/5, Ljungrren) reports that Statistics Canada announced Tuesday that Canadian exports grew in October for the first time since May, and, “as a result, Canada’s trade deficit shrank to a five-month low of C$1.47…
More Report: Canadian Auto Sales Could Reach 2M In 2017
Reuters (12/4, Farhatha) writes that a new report from Desrosiers Automotive Consultants, released Monday, says that “Canadian auto sales dipped 1.2 percent in November from last year but could hit the two million milestone for…
More Statistics Canada: Canada Saw Acceleration in Hiring, Wage Growth in November
Reuters (12/1, Schnurr) reported, The Canadian economy slowed in the third quarter after a hot first half of the year as exports tumbled, but an acceleration in hiring and wage growth last month was seen…
More Bombardier to Add 1,000 Jobs In Montreal to Build Business Jets
AFP (11/17) reported that “Canadian manufacturer Bombardier announced on Nov. 17 the addition of 1,000 jobs in Montreal to build business jets, to meet rising demand for its new Global 7000 series,” which “will be…
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HP Introduces New 3D Printer, Boosts Materials Offerings
HP Inc. is introducing an industrial-sized 3D printer and expanding its offering of materials for additive manufacturing. The company is bringing out the new Jet Fusion 3D 4210, a machine HP says can cut the cost…
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Advanced Manufacturing Technologies Require Upskilling Your Workforce
Let Tooling U-SME Provide Training, Apprenticeship Support Changing technology and misconceptions about the manufacturing industry are contributing to a shortage of skilled workers. Tooling U-SME provides positive solutions with a measurable return on investment (ROI).…
More Deloitte: “Growth of manufacturing jobs is good news for Canada. Examine industries contributing to this growth:”
Canada: Growing once again "The growth of manufacturing jobs is, indeed, good news. It is spread over a wide variety of industries, and suggests that Canada’s competitiveness is finally returning. And, in fact, exports of…
More Statistics Canada: Canadian Economy Added More Jobs Than Anticipated In October.
Reuters (11/3) reported, “The Canadian economy added more jobs than expected in October on gains in full-time employment, but the jobless rate edged up to 6.3 percent as more people looked for work,” Statistics Canada…
More New Study from Statistics Canada: “Changing Importance of Foreign Control in Canadian Manufacturing”
Statistics Canada - October 30, 2017 - The paper investigates changes in the importance of foreign ownership in Canadian manufacturing in the 2000s, and compares these changes to those in the previous decades from 1973…
More Gender gap in manufacturing won’t narrow without more training for women: report
Joanna Smith, The Canadian Press | Published Wednesday, October 25, 2017 OTTAWA - Recruitment efforts to get more women working in manufacturing will fail unless girls get the education and training needed for those jobs, says…
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Artificial Intelligence and Industry 4.0 – Taking the Plunge
You don’t have to look very hard to find gloomy predictions about the effect artificial intelligence (AI) is going to have on the working world. Whether or not you should worry about AI taking your job is still an open question,…
More To Get on Industry 4.0 Path, Focus on the Here and Now
Instead of focusing the Industry 4.0 discussion on “connected devices” and “digital twins,” manufacturers need to help people struggling to meet production goals and improve throughput with reduced and limited resources. Read more
More GKN and GE Additive sign MoU for Additive Manufacturing Collaboration
GKN plc has signed a MoU with GE Additive, Concept Laser and Arcam AB to collaborate on additive manufacturing. Under the agreement, GKN becomes a GE Additive development and production center as well as a…
More Statistics Canada says Manufacturing sales climbed higher in August
OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says manufacturing sales rose 1.6 per cent to $53.5 billion in August, their first move higher after two consecutive monthly declines. The agency says the increase was mainly attributable to higher…
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Why Manufacturers Must Embrace Industry 4.0
Industry 4.0 is a term that has pervaded manufacturing circles for the past five years. For me, it is synonymous with analytics, the collection of data and, most importantly, the ability to make decisions based…
More The IIoT in a Nutshell
The Internet has become an essential part of our lives and it is quickly becoming integral for competitive manufacturing. The Internet of Things (IoT) has grown from a consumer desire to connect all our smart…
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CMTS Keynoter Humera Malik Interviewed by Bloomberg
Humera Malik, CEO of Canvass Analytics, was recently interviewed by Bloomberg TV Canada about using machine learning to streamline manufacturing. Malik will deliver the CMTS keynote address on Wednesday, September 27 at 9:00 a.m.…
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Futurist Says “Fast & Furious” Changes Coming to Manufacturing
Forget your Magic 8-Ball or fancy-schmancy predictive analytics. Futurist Jim Carroll knows what lies ahead for manufacturing and technology, and we have the scoop for you here. Bet you didn't see that coming. Read more…
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Technology Holds the Key to Improving Productivity in Manufacturing
By Jason MacFarlane, Head of Advanced Manufacturing, Venture Services, MaRS Discovery District Canada trails the rest of the world leaders when it comes to manufacturing productivity. I don’t think there is anything controversial in that…
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It All Adds Up: How GE’s 3D Printing Push Will Change Manufacturing
Kirk Rogers, GE Additive's Technology Leader, explains how new approaches to 3D printing will reshape the next century of manufacturing. Read more Rogers will deliver the CMTS keynote address on Tuesday, September 26 at 9:00 a.m. His…
More Automation and Artificial Intelligence: The Keys to Converting Operational Data into Valuable Insights
By Humera Malik, CEO, Canvass Analytics The global manufacturing sector has gone through significant change over the past several decades, with advances ranging from mass production to computerization and automation. The Industrial Internet of Things…
More Canadians Saw “Steady Rise” In Incomes Between 2005 And 2015.
The Canadian Press (9/13) reports that “on average, Canadians saw a steady rise in their income between 2005 and 2015, when the median national income weighed in at $70,336, up 10.8 per cent from $63,457…
More An Introduction to Metrology and Quality in Manufacturing
The basics of maintaining quality involves quality assurance, quality control and metrology. Quality assurance is used to gain confidence that quality requirements will be fulfilled. Quality control is used to check that requirements have been fulfilled.…
More Huawei, Festo will Research how 5G and Cloud Robotics Can Transform Manufacturing
Huawei and Festo will explore the robot-as-a-service concept, which customizes robots and automated services for specific manufacturing tasks. With this concept, computing is shifted from the robot to the cloud — a low latency 5G…
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SME’s Canadian Manufacturing Technology Show Celebrates 150 Years of Canadian Innovation, Expansion and Opportunity
(TORONTO, Sept. 13, 2017) – The 2017 Canadian Manufacturing Technology Show (CMTS), being held during the ongoing observance of Canada’s sesquicentennial, will welcome attendees to a new world of manufacturing innovation and opportunity. CMTS, produced by SME,…
More Additive Manufacturing Technology Enables Radical New Designs
By Kirk Rogers, PhD, Technology Leader, GE Center for Additive Technology Advancement For thousands of years, civilization relied on casting for the creation of elaborate and complicated objects, including copper statues and metal tools. Today,…
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Canadian Manufacturing: Driving Innovation for 150 Years
By Julie Pike, Director, Canadian Events, SME In May, the Canadian economy got some welcome news: manufacturing sales increased for the third consecutive month, up 1.1% to $54.6 billion.[1] Manufacturing is the largest sector of…
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Festo takes wing with new eMotionButterflies at CMTS
Industry 4.0: Festo’s “eMotionButterflies” bionics to be featured at Canadian Manufacturing Technology Show (CMTS), September 25-28, 2017. (8/24, Canadian Packaging) Mississauga, ON—“Industry 4.0 is more than a buzzword, it’s here, it’s real products that will further…
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Busting the Myths about Artificial Intelligence
Manufacturers cannot afford to wait around to implement industrial Artificial Intelligence (AI) — the rewards are far too great. Despite the myths about it, Industrial AI is a rare case of affordable innovation without inherent…
More Why Automate with Industrial Robots?
Fear. It’s a common reaction for small- and medium-sized firms who must automate with industrial robotics in order to stay competitive. Vickers Engineering, a Troy, Michigan-based automotive Tier 1, is a case-in-point. The precision machining…
More What Can Augmented Reality Do for Manufacturing?
Recent events, including IMTS, have had a number of virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) devices present in exhibitor booths. Are they just marketing gimmicks—or are manufacturers truly adopting these technologies and applying them to their…
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Disruptive Changes from Robotics Driving the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
By Mike Nager, Business Development Manager, Festo In the world of automotive manufacturing, there are few technologies that promise to be as disruptive as robotics. Sound familiar? While it’s true that automation and mechanization have…
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SME’s Canadian Manufacturing Technology Show: Resources, Knowledge and the Coming New World of Manufacturing
(TORONTO, Aug. 9, 2017) – New challenges and opportunities are coming in Canada’s manufacturing sector in the very near future. That topic is among the highlights of the 2017 Canadian Manufacturing Technology Show (CMTS), produced by SME,…
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Preparing Engineering Students for Tomorrow’s Opportunities
By Dr. Tom Murad, Head of the Siemens Canada Engineering and Technology Academy (SCETA) With the rapid pace of technological change, how can we ensure that future college and university graduates will have the skills…
More Are You Ready for the New World of Manufacturing?
By Jim Carroll, Futurist, Trends and Innovation Expert [caption id="attachment_7096" align="alignright" width="150"] Jim Carroll, Futurist, Trends and Innovation Expert[/caption] One of the most important questions for any manufacturing company to ask itself is this: “When…
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Get the Official CMTS 2017 Mobile App
The Official CMTS 2017 Mobile App is now available! Build Your Agenda Search Exhibitors and Products Navigate the Floor Plan View Speakers & Sessions Connect with fellow Attendees, Exhibitors, and Speakers before, during and after CMTS…
More Canadian manufacturing sales increase for the third consecutive month
Statistics Canada (7/19, The Daily) reports that "Manufacturing sales increased for the third consecutive month, up 1.1% to $54.6 billion in May. The gain was mainly attributable to higher sales in the transportation equipment and chemical…
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Mircom Partners with Euler Hermes to Mitigate Risk in Unknown Markets
Everywhere Mircom does business, it grows two ways: by doing more business with current clients and by geographically expanding into new markets and channels outside of Canada. The company’s partnership with Euler Hermes has been…
More Made in Canada- 150 Years of Canadian Auto Manufacturing
Posted on wheels.ca (7/7, Matthew Guy) - From early steam buggies to muscle cars to super cars, Canada has a rich history of automobile manufacturing. In the car industry’s infancy, any mechanically inclined person with a…
More Canadian Factory Sales Increase in April at Fastest Pace in Four Months
Dow Jones Newswires (6/15, Vieira, Subscription Publication) reports that “Canadian manufacturing sales increased in April at their fastest pace in four months, with energy and metals doing the heavy lifting amid a slowdown in the…
More Canada Added 54,000 Jobs In May
Bloomberg News (6/9, Argitis) reported that “Canada’s labor market continued surprising in May, with a greater-than-expected 54,500 jobs gain that also finally came with signs of a pick-up in wages.” Bloomberg News added, “The employment…
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Making Sense of the Digital Thread
By Bruce Morey - Contributing Editor, Advanced Manufacturing Media There is a lot of talk about digitalization in manufacturing. Siemens PLM is not alone in discussing digital twins and threads, cloud computing, big data, Industrial…
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Rise of the Robot
A four-part look at how robots are changing the way we work. First up, robots aren’t killing jobs, they’re creating new ones and more of them — at least at a GE Aviation plant in…
More Bombardier Delivers Additional CS300 To airBaltic
MarketWired (CAN) (6/1) reports that “Bombardier delivered today another CS300 aircraft, less than a week after SWISS’ first CS300 delivery milestone.” The article quotes Bombardier Commercial Aircraft President Fred Cromer saying “Production of the C…
More Canadian Manufacturing Pace Slows Modestly In May
Reuters (CAN) (6/1) reports that “the pace of growth in the Canadian manufacturing sector cooled slightly in May as new orders and output slowed, though demand for exports rose to the highest level in two-and-a-half…
More Report: Digital Transformation Impacts Manufacturing
The Computer Business Review (5/31) reports that “digital transformation has already changed the way technology-dependent businesses function.” The trend, the Review states, “is not just about how they buy services but in many cases has…
More Canadian Manufacturers Increase Productivity Through Digital Technology
CBC (CAN) (5/29, Pan) reports that “A study of nearly 1,000 small to mid-sized Canadian manufacturers, conducted by the Business Development Bank of Canada, found nearly 40 per cent had implemented digital technology in their…
More University Of Waterloo Gets $8.9M For New 3D Printing Lab
CTV News (CAN) (5/24, Phillips) reports that “a new 3-D printing lab at the University of Waterloo is getting its funding from the federal government,” adding that, “Waterloo M-P Bardish Chagger was on hand to…
More Canada Launches “Supercluster” Program To Bring Together Industry, Academia
CTV News (CAN) (5/24) reports that “the Trudeau government is opening the competition for its $950-million “supercluster” program that aims to bring together industry and academia as a way to lift the innovation economy.” Canada’s…
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Industrial Automation And Motion, Drive & Automation Trade Shows Merge To Form Integrated Automation, Motion & Drives Trade Show
New Event To Co-Locate Its Complete Range Of Industrial Automation, Transmission And Fluid Power Solutions In Canada And The United States At CMTS 2017 In Toronto, FABTECH 2017 In Chicago And IMTS 2018 In Chicago…
More Manufacturers Taking Out Cyber Insurance
The Wall Street Journal (4/17, Teitelbaum, Subscription Publication) reports that while consumer businesses were purchasing most insurance against cyber dangers, more manufacturers are not ensuring they have coverage. Manufacturers paid $36.9 million in cyberinsurance premiums…
More Blue-Collar Industries Facing Massive Skills Shortage.
HR Dive (4/11) reports employment experts “say the skills gap may be even more pressing for decent-paying jobs that don’t require any college at all,” citing the NAM’s prediction that US companies “will be facing…
More Ford To Hire 400 Engineers For Canadian Connected Car Development
The AP (3/30, Noronha) reports Ford Motor plans to hire around 400 employees from Blackberry as part of significant “new investments in Canada that include a connected-vehicle research center in Ottawa.” Ford said the Ottawa…
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