'Expanding Canadian N-Sector Offers Huge Investment Avenues'

Canadian local suppliers and manufacturers have the skills, technology and manufacturing capacity to tap into billions of dollars of infrastructure spending in the country's expanding nuclear energy sector, according to the head of Atomic Energy Canada Ltd. (AECL).

AECL's Chair of the Board & Chief Executive Officer Glenna Carr said, "Canada's nuclear industry has the potential to create thousands of new jobs and generate billions of dollars in revenue." Carr was speaking to more than 200 Windsor-area manufacturing sector representatives at a Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce meeting recently.

"Winning just a fraction of the world nuclear new build market represents enormous opportunities for AECL and its suppliers," said Carr.

Kevin Kelly, of Shur-Lok Products, a manufacturer of stamping dies, modular assemblies and prototypes, and Dave Bondy, of Landau Gage, a manufacturer of gauging systems, both attended the supplier seminar with the hope of finding new customers.

"We're serious about seeking new markets," said Kelly. "The nuclear industry requires a lot of metal fabricating and we're ideally placed to take advantage. We will probably have to spend some money to gain access to the nuclear energy supply chain but there's no better place to spend it right now from my perspective."

In addition to a presentation from Carr, representatives of the nuclear energy industry also explained what the industry needs from suppliers and how to gain access to the supply chain.

"We're already supplying gauges and measuring equipment to the auto and aerospace industries and we're definitely interested in expansion, providing the volume is there to justify it," said Bondy. "There's a great deal of potential, but the volume has to support a business case."

Some Windsor companies, such as Harbour Advanced Machining and Anchor Danly, have already diversified into production of atomic energy sector components.

"There are tremendous opportunities in nuclear," said Derek Astbury, vice-president of Concorde. "The numbers don't lie and we're always looking for additional opportunities.

"We have a great relationship with AECL. They're very receptive to new ideas and I think they recognize the advanced technology skills which exist in this area."

But depending upon what products manufacturers supply to the industry, it can take between a few months and a few years to become certified and qualified to become a member of the sector's supply chain.

"We're not a manufacturer, so 100 per cent of the equipment and components comes from industry," said Bob DeGregorio, director of CANDU supply strategy for AECL. "And it all depends upon what the supplier is producing. There's a great deal of non-nuclear equipment in a nuclear plant including electrical panels, pipes, valves, fittings and switches to name just a few.