Sask. manufacturing gets boost with 3 new projects

Saskatchewan’s manufacturing sector got a boost to end a week that saw a difficult budget released.

Brandt Industries, a Saskatchewan-based company announced it is buying the Hitachi plant in Saskatoon.

The plant features the largest machining and fabrication equipment in Canada and has produced power generation equipment for customers around the world, including SaskPower.

“We realized that it was critically important for us to move quickly,” says Brandt President, Shaun Semple.

“When we learned that the Hitachi assets were going to be broken up and sold off in spring, we had to act fast or the province would lose a world-class facility and the ability to produce large-scale green energy products.”

Roughly 400 workers had been laid off as a result but the indication is many will be rehired.

Elsewhere, the Grain Millers Canada Corporation (GMCC) announced the expansion of its oat mill production at its plant in Yorkton.

“We’ve operated in Saskatchewan for twenty years,” said Terry Tyson, director of grain procurement for GMCC.

“Yorkton is in the heart of oat country and, with the skilled workforce we have here, it is a great location for us to continue growing our milling business.”

The $100 million investment means not only construction jobs, but 25 permanent full-time positions will be available when complete.

The Company expects the new milling capacity to become operational in late 2018.

And with President Donald Trump’s final approval of the last stages of the Keystone XL pipeline, it also means good news for Evraz in Regina.

“That’s good for Evraz it employs about 900 people and it makes pipes and we know they are going to be a part of that Keystone project.,” Premier Brad Wall said.