Delta, British Columbia, December 3, 2010 - The Honourable Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Asia–Pacific Gateway, on behalf of the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, today announced a repayable investment of $7.7 million in a $19.2-million project being undertaken by Asco Aerospace Canada Ltd. The project will involve researching and developing innovative manufacturing technologies to produce aircraft bulkheads and specialized metal components. The investment is being made through the Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative (SADI).
"One of the benefits of the government support is that it will help Asco Aerospace develop innovative techniques for manufacturing aircraft components," said Minister Day. "This SADI investment will enable the company to more fully participate in the significant opportunities of the global supply chains that will define the aerospace and defence sectors in the future."
Asco Aerospace will work on a manufacturing process that is capable of handling large, odd-shaped and complex components built from aluminum, titanium and other hard metals that are difficult to machine. The objective is to reduce production time and costs. The project will be carried out in collaboration with the University of British Columbia.
"By helping us to perfect our manufacturing processes with these more challenging metallic designs, this investment will allow us to find more opportunities in the Joint Strike Fighter program," said Asco Aerospace Canada Inc. Vice-President Kevin Russell.
Canada joined the Joint Strike Fighter program in 1997 in anticipation of the Canadian Forces' need to replace its current fleet of CF-18s.
To date, Canada has invested approximately $168 million in the program. Since 2002, this has led to more than $350 million in contracts with more than 60 Canadian companies, research laboratories and universities.
SADI supports strategic industrial research and pre-competitive development projects in the aerospace, defence, space and security industries. SADI is managed by the Industrial Technologies Office, a special operating agency of Industry Canada with a mandate to advance leading-edge research and development by Canadian industries.
For further information (media only), please contact:
Lynn Meahan
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
Minister of Industry
613-995-9001
Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502
