Manitoba’s heavy vehicle industry employs 6,500 Manitobans and is a major economic driver in the province, Jobs and the Economy Minister Theresa Oswald said as she announced the Manitoba government’s investment of an additional $1 million over two years to provide further support for those working in this field.
The funding is for Manitoba’s Vehicle Technology Centre (VTC), focusing on connecting innovative manufacturers and their Manitoba suppliers to help them develop and adopt new technologies, she said.
“With today’s investment, we are helping to build a solid future for the jobs in the manufacturing industry in this province,” said Minister Oswald. “The leadership, the ideas and the goals of those in Manitoba’s heavy vehicle manufacturing sector are admirable and modern. We value their contribution to helping our economy grow and working alongside the VTC to develop technologies that keep Manitoba companies competitive locally and globally.”
The VTC provides a venue to connect heavy vehicle manufacturers with suppliers helping them to develop new technologies that meet improved environmental standards and help Manitoba remain on the cutting edge of technology.
Minister Oswald noted the VTC has helped companies develop a number of innovative products and product improvements including:
- New Flyer Industries’ compressed natural gas articulated bus,
- a new independent suspension on Motor Coach Industries’ J4500 coach,
- a new aluminum bulk-haul trailer by Lode-King Industries,
- a new tractor design by Buhler Industries, and
- a new rescue vehicle by Fort Garry Fire Trucks.
“VTC support has been critical to us bringing a new format rescue truck to the market in the last year,” said Brian Nash, national sales manager, Fort Garry Fire Trucks. “It is also helping us develop three new products for specialized markets, which we anticipate will lead to up to 10 new hires.”
The Vehicle Technology Centre Inc., formed in 2002, is a non-profit corporation that fosters the competitiveness of Manitoba’s heavy vehicle manufacturing sector. The organization is governed by a volunteer board of representatives from major manufacturers within the industry.
The VTC estimates that 6,500 Manitobans work in the heavy vehicle manufacturing sector, which accounts for nearly 10 per cent of the province’s manufacturing workforce generating approximately $1 billion in exports annually.
In the past five years, the VTC reports projects supported by the centre have led to new products that have generated an estimated $197 million in new exports, $2.4 million in manufacturing investment and supported the creation of 223 new manufacturing positions.
“This program has shown itself to be a valuable way for industry and government to work together to maintain technological leadership of Manitoba’s heavy vehicle manufacturing industry,” said Ron Vanderwees, president, VTC. “Today’s funding support will allow the program to continue its successful track record of supporting technologically innovative projects. The $1 million in funding announced today is expected to leverage an additional $3.9 million in industry investments, resulting in new technology developments totalling nearly $5 million over the next two years.
