OTTAWA, November 8, 2005 -- Export Development Canada (EDC) presented the Canadian Innovation Award for Diversification of Export Markets to AltaSteel of Edmonton, Alberta on November 1 in Toronto. The annual awards program, organized by Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME), encourages and celebrates innovation in all aspects of Canadian business. "Branching out into new world markets takes innovation and daring. That's why partnerships are so important -- partnerships between the public and private sector, between Canadian business, government, trade associations like CME, banks and financial institutions like EDC -- to help Canadian companies seize opportunities around the globe," said Benoit Daignault, Senior Vice-President, Business Development, in presenting the award to Peter Ouellette, President and CEO of AltaSteel.AltaSteel, a subsidiary of Stelco Inc., manufactures steel billets from scrap steel, which are used in bar products for the mining, oil and gas, construction and other industries. The company won the award for its strong customer partnerships and product development enabling it to expand sales into some 20 countries. The two other Export Market Diversification Award finalists were Satlantic Inc., a Nova-Scotian company making data-sensing devices for ocean monitoring, which recently increased its exports by 80 per cent; and Novatek Laser-Anderson Machineries of Quebec, which has expanded its exports worldwide thanks to its use of laser-cutting technology to manufacture agricultural and forestry machinery. CME and its partners also handed out Innovation Awards in five other categories, culminating with the Canadian Innovation Business of the Year, which went to Micralyne Inc. of Alberta, also winner of the New Technology Award. The company makes micro-electro-mechanical systems used in cars, medical devices and other equipment. Microlyne's new technology, developed with the University of Alberta, makes these devices tinier and more precise than ever.Winners in the remaining categories were: Aecometric Corporation of Ontario for Environmental Technologies (industrial burners that remove most of the smog-causing chemicals from factory emissions; for the past decade, Aecometric has been using various EDC services for its global activities); Quantum5X Systems of Ontario for New Product Design & Commercialization (world's smallest professional wireless transmitter used by sportscasters and performers globally); Stackpole Limited of Ontario for Productivity Improvement (proprietary system that increases line productivity by this manufacturer of powertrain components for the automotive industry); and Interquisa Canada of Quebec for Export Sales (first plant in Canada to make petrochemicals for polyester and other synthetics, sold across North America). Several of the winners are now, or have been, EDC clients.
EDC is Canada's export credit agency, offering innovative commercial solutions to help Canadian exporters and investors expand their international business. EDC's knowledge and partnerships are used by 7,000 Canadian companies and their global customers in up to 200 markets worldwide each year. EDC is financially self-sustaining and is a recognized leader in financial reporting, economic analysis and human resource management.
- 30 -
Media contact:
Phil TaylorEDC Public Affairs (613) 598-2904ptaylor@edc.ca
