May 27, 2005 Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island Quality Thermoform & Packaging will expand its workforce, thanks to the purchase of new equipment. The company will be able to create an additional eight new jobs to complement a staff of 35. The new extrusion equipment will increase production capacity and will also allow the company to recycle its waste and fabricate sheet plastic for the thermoform production directly on-site. The PEI manufacturing facility produces high quality thermoformed products to electronic, automotive, pharmaceutical, cosmetic/toiletries, hardware and food industries. It is the only company in Canada to offer complete in-house CAD/CAM and CNC tool facilities, development and manufacturing of packaging solutions. The company currently operates 24-hours-a-day, five days a week. "The economic benefits this company has brought to Prince Edward Island are significant," said the Honourable Wayne Easter, Member of Parliament for Malpeque, on behalf of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. "Not only is this latest expansion creating new employment for the region, but it will also allow Quality Thermoform & Packaging Co. to explore additional trade opportunities in other markets and be prepared for future growth." Quality Thermoform & Packaging expanded its operations to P.E.I. in 2002. It is located in the 20,000 square foot former Strait Crossing administrative building in Borden- Carleton. The company's head office remains in Toronto where it has operated since 1986. The company is recognized as an industry leader and is ISO-9001/QS 9000 certified. "The Government of Prince Edward Island is pleased with the success this company has experienced since expanding its operations to PEI," said the Honourable Michael F. Currie, Minister of Development & Technology. "The company continues to expand beyond original expectations. The provincial government supports diligent operations like this that continue to seek out new opportunities, thereby creating more work for itself and Islanders." With this new ability, Quality Thermoform & Packaging Co. predicts cost savings of 20 per cent. The elimination of source suppliers for the plastic sheet raw material will make the company more competitive in the US while being less vulnerable to exchange rate fluctuations. "Our mandate is to supply our clients with the highest quality thermoformed products at competitive pricing," explained Mr. Toomas Ots, President, Quality Thermoform & Packaging Co. Ltd. "By increasing our productivity and creating efficiencies through vertical integration, we are confident that we can acquire a larger share of the market and continue to expand our production on Prince Edward Island." The Government of Canada, through ACOA's Business Development Program, is providing a repayable contribution of $500,000 towards the purchase of the new equipment. PEI Business Development provided $300,000, under its Infrastructure Fund. - 30 - For more information, please contact: Ron Crozier Office of the Minister of ACOA (902) 888-4150 Lynn MacDonald Communications ACOA PEI and Tourism (902) 566-7491 lynn.macdonald@acoa-apeca.gc.ca Julie Whitlock vCommunications PEI Business Development Inc. (902) 894-0367 jawhitlock@gov.pe.ca Toomas Ots President Quality Thermoform & Packaging Borden: (902) 437-2960 Toronto (416) 798-4494 ext 24 tots@quality-thermoform.com
