July 22, 2015 – Winnipeg, MB
Versatile will receive up to $220,000 in funding through the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) to support development of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for agricultural farm tractors, and to create hydraulic installation models and drawings for tillage equipment.
Joyce Bateman, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre, along with the Honourable Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology), today announced the investment which will help the company improve the overall performance of Versatile products.
Versatile began producing tractors in Winnipeg in 1966, and was one of the first companies to mass-produce articulated four-wheel drive tractors. Versatile’s main production facility in Winnipeg covers over 650,000 square feet, with complete manufacturing and assembly capabilities and full research and development facilities.
- Buhler Versatile Inc. currently employs 344 men and women in Winnipeg. In total Buhler associated companies employ approximately 815 Canadians across Canada.
- Versatile’s products are known for simplicity, reliability, and ease of service even with advanced technological innovations. The company has produced over 100,000 tractors in its years of operation. Their tractors are used on farms in North America and around the world.
- Through its national network of industrial technology advisors, NRC-IRAP provides support to SMEs in Canada in the development and commercialization of technologies.
- NRC-IRAP works with industry to bridge technology gaps, helping build a more innovative Canadian economy that reflects today’s global realities.
- In 2014-2015, NRC-IRAP supported over 10,000 SMEs with expert advisory services. More than 3,000 of these firms also received some form of financial assistance.
“Our government is strongly committed to research and development that moves ideas from the lab to the marketplace. Like so many companies in Winnipeg, Buhler-Versatile’s innovative work will create jobs and long-term prosperity for Canadians here at home.
Joyce Bateman, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre
“As outlined in our government’s science, technology, and innovation strategy, we are harnessing the power of science and technology to create jobs and opportunities and to improve the quality of life of Canadians. Through the National Research Council of Canada’s industry-driven approach, Canadian businesses are becoming more innovative and competitive globally while creating jobs locally.”
Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology)
“With NRC-IRAP assistance, Versatile will be able to advance development of a continuously variable transmission for tractors, which will result in better efficiency for farmers in Canada and around the world, ultimately enabling them to increase productivity. This funding will contribute to the use of simulation technology, significantly reducing development time, which will allow us to be more competitive in the global marketplace.”
Grant Adolph, Chief Operating Officer, Buhler Versatile Inc.
