AP&C Advanced Powders & Coatings, a GE Additive-owned manufacturer of metal powders for additive manufacturing, has announced it will be expanding its operations in the Greater Montreal area. As part of the expansion, the Canadian company will increase its production capacity and support the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies.
The recently announced expansion marks the second phase of AP&C’s growth plans; the first phase consisted of the opening of a new $31 million facility in Montreal and the creation of over 100 jobs. The upcoming expansion plan will create up to 75 skilled, well-paying jobs in the next five years.
The GE Additive company will be increasing the scale of its existing facilities in Saint-Eustache, just outside of Montreal, as well as adding state-of-the-art Industry 4.0 technologies to its workflow. The goal of the second phase of expansion is to improve productivity rate and update the facility’s technology for manufacturing metal 3D printing powders.
“Our company is experiencing rapid growth and strong increase in demand,” said Alain Dupont, President and CEO of AP&C. “That’s why we plan to boost R&D, diversify our portfolio, increase our production capacity and enhance productivity. The government support will help us address critical needs and continue to do what we do here in Quebec.”
Pierre Fitzgibbon, Quebec Minister of Economy and Innovation, said of the expansion: “It is with great pride that we support the establishment of AP&C Advanced Powders & Coatings Research Center in the Laurentians. This project will undoubtedly contribute to the growth of Quebec’s aerospace and biomedical sectors, for which 3D printing has strategic importance. I am convinced that companies which use this technology will be able to further increase their competitiveness in these key sectors of our economy.”
In addition to the Quebec government, AP&C has also found support from Montréal International, the economic promotion agency for the Greater Montreal region, and Investissement Québec, an organization aimed at attracting foreign investment in the Canadian province and supporting international subsidiaries.
“The aerospace industry is one of the future focus points at the heart of our sectoral strategy, which has enabled Greater Montréal to develop a strong economic identity,” said Hubert Bolduc, President and CEO of Montréal International. “Today, our region is one of the world’s top aerospace hubs, bringing together industry giants such as AP&C and a critical mass of more than 200 specialized companies.”
Investissement Québec, for its part, is eager to see AP&C expand its metal powder production operations in the province. Pierre Gabriel Côté, President and CEO of the agency, said: “For the last few years, we have teamed up with AP&C to provide them with the support they need in the pursuit and development of their activities. As an agent of the government, we are proud to have facilitated the funding of this project and thus, to have contributed to creating high value-added jobs in Montréal.”
Source: 3dprintingmedia.network
