February 01, 2010
Humboldt, Saskatchewan
The Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) has achieved its objective of securing national Standards Council of Canada (SCC) accreditation for its equipment testing facilities in Humboldt with support from the federal and provincial governments.
“I am pleased to announce our Government’s support for this important project,” said Brad Trost, Member of Parliament for Saskatoon – Humboldt, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification. “This investment in PAMI will provide Saskatchewan manufacturers the opportunity to obtain quality assessments right here in Humboldt, which promotes the local economy and improves export sales.”
Today, the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan announced an investment of $82,295 through the Canada-Saskatchewan Western Economic Partnership Agreement (WEPA). Together with an initial WEPA investment of $65,000 announced in April 2009, this allowed PAMI to secure SCC accreditation.
“Having PAMI in our province means that our manufacturing industry will not have to go far to get their products assessed for quality and result in a quick turnaround to get the products to markets,” Enterprise Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said. “Standards are a powerful tool for organizations of all sizes, supporting innovation and increasing productivity. Effective standardization promotes competition and enhances profitability, enabling a business to take a leading role in shaping the industry itself.”
The WEPA investments helped PAMI purchase new test machinery to meet SCC’s security of test equipment requirements and for equipment to ensure calibration of all test equipment to international standards. This includes enhancing the calibration procedures for existing test equipment. New testing procedures and detailed procedure manuals have been developed.
“When it comes to research, development and testing, PAMI is a strong player in Western Canada,” says Jim Wassermann, Vice President of PAMI’s Saskatchewan Operations. “We serve businesses in this region that are operating on a global scale, with global competitors. We must provide them with credible information that is recognized globally, and SCC accreditation provides international acceptance and credibility of test results. We very much appreciate the investment our Federal and Provincial governments are making in PAMI today, which enables us to do this.”
The investment by the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan is made through the Canada-Saskatchewan Western Economic Partnership Agreement (WEPA). Both Canada and Saskatchewan are contributing $25 million each, over four years, to strengthen economic activity and improve quality of life in western Canadian communities.
For additional information, contact:
Joanne Mysak
Communications Manager
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 975-5942
Joanne Johnson
Communications Director
Enterprise Saskatchewan
Regina, Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 798-0503
Jim Wasserman
Vice President – Saskatchewan Region
Prairie Agriculture Machinery Institute
Humboldt, Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 682-5033
WD Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-877-303-3388
WD Website: www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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