15.05.2007

Skyjack to expand

Linamar has announced that it is spending $C24.79 million ($22.5/£11.4 million) in research and development at its Skyjack division. The investment will fund the development of Skyjacks new boom lift line as well as an all new range of telescopic handlers.

The company will also benefit from an interest free C$2.48 million ($2.3/£1.1 million) government loan which "will allow us to continue expanding our product line," said Linamar CEO Linda Hasenfratz.

Ontario’s economic development and trade minister, Sandra Pupatello, announced the loan at a news conference yesterday at Skyjack's Campbell Road manufacturing plant in Guelph, attended by the mayor Karen Farbridge and Guelph-Wellington MPP Liz Sandals.
Please register to see all images

Sandra Pupatello

The audience was largely made up of over 100 employees. "Our focus is on innovation, on what we are doing in terms of the training of the workforce and the technology it is creating, so that it moves manufacturing to higher levels," Pupatello said in an interview with the local media.

In order to qualify for the interest free loan Skyjack was required to demonstrate that its new products were marketable and would lead to measurable employment increases for the area, the loan is funded from Ontario's Advanced Manufacturing Investment Strategy program.

Hasenfratz said: "Over the past six months, the new assembly line for boom lifts has started production with new jobs already being created. The telehandler line is in development". Overall the company is expecting to add over 350 new jobs.
Please register to see all images

Linda Hasenfratz

"Our plan is to create an enhanced research and development centre right here at Skyjack that designs, tests and brings new aerial work platform products to the market".

Demand for Skyjack products is increasing, with sales to Europe up by 60 per cent in the first quarter of 2007, compared to 2006, while sales to the Asia-Pacific region doubled, she added.

“Skyjack's overall production has increased by about 300 per cent since becoming part of Linamar in August 2002. The goal is to see the company grown by 15 to 20 percent annually through the opening of new markets around the world and offering new products to existing customers”.

"As we grow the product line and grow sales, it will create jobs, the boom-lift line has been launched, sales have begun and we are out there trying to ramp up sales. Therefore there will be a need for more production and more employees."

Skyjack, currently employs around 1,000 people in Ontario, the vast majority of them in Guelph, if the expansion goes to plan employment levels will rise by over 30 percent.