November 2, 2004 Val D'Amour, New Brunswick Johnson Enterprises Inc. today unveiled a brand new water jet cutting table at its Val D'Amour plant in New Brunswick. The new equipment will allow Johnson Enterprises to increase its level of production and annual sales in the Canadian and U.S. markets. This new acquisition is part of a growth plan the company initiated last year with the expansion and modernization of its facility where it manufactures chipper and debarker parts for the sawmill industry. "Acquiring this new water jet cutting table attests to Johnson Enterprises' commitment to offering a premium- quality service to its customers," said Jean-Claude D'Amours, MP for Madawaska-Restigouche, on behalf of the Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). "The Government of Canada is proud to support the growth of Johnson Enterprises, a company that has become an industry leader thanks to the hard work of its dedicated staff and the consistent use of state-of-the-art technology." "With the purchase of the water jet cutting table, Johnson Enterprises is looking to the future in diversifying its activities and to provide services for the growing needs of industries surrounding Johnson Enterprises in eastern Canada and in the New England market, said Yvon Johnson, owner of Johnson Enterprises Inc. Clearly, ACOA and the Royal Bank of Canada have played a major role in helping us to grow and reduce costs, which is necessary to our future." The new water jet cutting table helps produce high- precision parts while diminishing the lost of raw materials. It is especially useful for cutting steel-based tools and heat-sensitive metals since the table causes no heat to the metal. The table is programmed for large-scale production and helps eliminate certain production stages, reduce time and increase the company's overall productivity. The table also improves the quality of life at work since it generates no dust that could otherwise harm workers' health. ACOA provided a refundable contribution of $350,000, through its Business Development Program, for the acquisition of the water jet cutting table. ACOA's Business Development Program was created to provide repayable financial assistance to small- and medium-sized enterprises to establish, expand and modernize operations. For more information on ACOA's programs, visit our Web site at: www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca. For further information on Johnson Enterprises products and services, please visit the company's Website at www.johnsoninnovations.com. - 30 - Information: Valérie Poulin Office of the Minister of ACOA (613) 948-7293 Nadya Ladouceur Communications officer ACOA NB (506) 451-2677 André Rivard Johnson Enterprises (506) 753-5574
