New Brunswick company sees opportunity in automation
News release
Fiready Inc. installs state-of-the-art equipment to increase productivity and meet client demand
March 5, 2021 · Clair, New Brunswick · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Helping rural businesses access the tools they need to innovate, grow and compete is a priority of the Government of Canada, and an important step on the road to economic recovery. With the help of a federal contribution, packaged-firewood producer Fiready Inc. is installing new equipment that will allow the company to increase production and grow its market.
Firewood company automates to meet increasing demand
René Arseneault, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Member of Parliament for Madawaska-Restigouche, announced a repayable contribution of $300,000 through ACOA to help Fiready Inc. add semi-automated wood drying equipment. This state-of-the-art equipment will increase the operation’s productivity by maximizing drying capability, and enable the company to meet current and future client demand.
The Government of Canada is committed to helping more businesses like Fiready Inc. automate to increase productivity and seize opportunities for future growth.
Quotes
“We are committed to helping rural businesses like Fiready Inc. innovate and expand to become more productive and competitive. This investment will position Fiready for future success, contributing to the region’s economic recovery.”
- The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA.
“We are proud to support Fiready as it increases its competitiveness and builds capacity for the future. Making strategic local investments now leads to the long term growth and success of our small- and medium-sized enterprises.”
- René Arseneault, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Member of Parliament for Madawaska-Restigouche
“Fiready Inc. is always striving to accommodate the ever-growing demand for its products. Investing in new equipment and re-engineering our biomass infrastructure will allow us to expand our kiln drying capacity and manage our energy consumption in a more efficient way. We would like to thank ACOA for its confidence and financial support in this project that is crucial to our continued growth.”
- Ian Clair, Production Director, Fiready Inc.
Quick facts
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The Government of Canada is providing a repayable contribution of $300,000 to Fiready through ACOA’s Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program.
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Fiready Inc. was founded in 1999 and makes dried, packaged firewood for the New England market, other eastern U.S. states and eastern Canada.
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The family business has been operating in the forestry industry since 1882.
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Fiready employs 18 people full-time.
Associated links
Contacts
Catherine Mounier-Desrochers
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages
Catherine.Mounier-Desrochers@canada.ca
Dominique Bouchard
Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Dominique.Bouchard@canada.ca