Industrial computer firm expanding for entry into the border states market.Industrial computer firm expanding for entry into the border states Border States The slave states of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, and Missouri that were adjacent to the free states of the North during the Civil War. market An industrial computer manufacturer in Thunder Bay Thunder Bay, city (1991 pop. 113,946), SW Ont., Canada, on Thunder Bay inlet of Lake Superior. The city was created in 1970 by the amalgamation of the twin cities of Fort William and Port Arthur and two adjoining townships. is set for an expansion which will double its plant size and increase production. The $270,000 expansion project for Digital Engineering Inc. is slated for this spring. "Right now we are looking to build or relocate re·lo·cate v. re·lo·cat·ed, re·lo·cat·ing, re·lo·cates v.tr. To move to or establish in a new place: relocated the business. v.intr. . We need about 4,000 square feet which will house more equipment and increase production," explains majority shareholder Bill Fauconnier. Because of increased production Fauconnier also expects to hire several more people in the next two years. Digital Engineering designs, manufactures and services industrial control systems and computers for paper mills, utility companies, lumber lumber, term for timber that has been cut into boards for use as a building material. The major steps in producing lumber involve logging (the felling and preparation of timber for shipment to sawmills), sawing the logs into boards, grading the boards according to mills and grain elevators grain elevator Storage building for grain, usually a tall frame, metal, or concrete structure with a compartmented interior; also, the device for loading grain into a building. . "We started by repairing circuit boards for self-serve gas consoles and elevators. There wasn't anyone servicing these computer systems, and clients were forced to send their equipment to Toronto or the U.S. for repair," recalls Fauconnier. He says these industrial computers were neither being designed nor made in Canada Made in Canada may also mean Country of origin. Made in Canada is a Canadian television situation comedy which aired on the CBC from 1998 to 2003. In the United States, France, Australia and Latin America, the show was syndicated as The Industry. either. Within four years Digital Engineering was not only servicing industrial computer systems, but also designing and manufacturing them. Today, the company designs and manufactures industrial computers for paper mills throughout northwestern Ontario Northwestern Ontario is the region within the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north and west of Lake Superior, and west of Hudson Bay and James Bay. It includes most of subarctic Ontario. , elevators, lumber mills and utility companies. It sells 45 products which are manufactured on a continuous basis. Digital Engineering has started exporting its products to customers in France, England and the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . "So far we've exported our products in limited quantities, but we're ready for increased exporting soon. This summer we will concentrate on the border states," says Fauconnier. One of the Digital's more popular products is the company's peak load controller and energy management system. The system measures and controls power costs for paper mills. Fauconnier says one outfitted mill is now saving $100,000 per month because of this control system. Although Digital Engineering has been successful in manufacturing, Fauconnier believes there is still a great need for more Canadian-made products. "We'd better do a lot more research and development if Canada wants to be successful. Relatively few products are being made here, and we can't afford to rely solely on the service sector," says Fauconnier. "We don't have enough Canadian-made products to showcase in the world markets. Yet, ironically, as a country we demand and buy a lot." PHOTO : Industrial computer manufacturer Digital Engineering Inc. of Thunder Bay is preparing for an expansion which will double the company's plant size and increase production. |
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