A Diversified Manufacturing Industry
With its 376 businesses and 9,758 jobs in 19 industries out of 20, the advanced manufacturing key sector offers a great diversity, each industry accounting for no more than 19% of the jobs of the sector.
A growing number of businesses, from global leader to new visionary start-up, have taken or are in the process of taking the road towards innovation by developing new and stimulating technologies, products and processes for the Sherbrooke economy.
Five leading industry sectors stand out in Sherbrooke’s manufacturing industry. Three of them are recognized by the Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et des Exportations du Québec (MEIE – Québec’s Minister of Economy, Innovation and Exportations) in the context of ACCORD clusters (regional development).
- Metal Products
- Plastics and Rubber Products
- Furniture and related product manufacturing
- Transportation Equipment
- Other sectors – Advanced Manufacturing
1,842 jobs – 19% of jobs for this sector
Fed by the great contracting parties of history, such as ABB, Ingersoll Rand, BRP, TLD Canada, Waterville TG and AFT, a multitude of Sherbrooke sub-contractors in metal transformation have developed expertise in processes and product development enabling them today to export their know-how. Here is an overview of some of these businesses:
Les Ateliers B.G. Inc.: Manufacturing of machined parts. Manufacturing and assembly of parts to be welded as assemblies, components for steel bridges, steel structures as well as shot blasting and industrial painting.
Dalkotech: Manufacture of welded and machined parts.
Les Engrenages Sherbrooke: Manufacturer of gears, gearbox rebuilding and machine shop.
ISE Métal Inc.: Metal stamping, car and household appliance parts, skate blades, industrial parts, laser stamping and recreational products.
Métosak Inc.: Machining on CNC, laser and plasma cutting, folding, rolling, tube bending and welding.
In addition to specialized sub-contractors, the Sherbrooke metal transformation sector possesses a good number of businesses manufacturing finished products, such as:
BALL Technologies avancées d’aluminium Canada Inc.: Manufacture of aluminum slugs (disks).
De La Fontaine Inc.: Steel frames and doors.
Pro-Par Inc.: Manufacture of pressure vessels, custom manufacturing, tank trucks, piping.
Les Quais Bertrand Inc.: Manufacturer of boat and jet ski lifts.
Supermétal Sherbrooke: Manufacture of steel structures.
Plastic and rubber products
1,254 jobs – 13% of jobs for this sector
Sherbrooke businesses specialized in the manufacturing of rubber products belong to the ACCORD cluster (regional development) called the Elastomer Valley. The same as for the metal products sector, this sector was developed because of the presence of major contracting parties, but also includes businesses that design and manufacture their own products.
Produits American Biltrite Ltée: Industrial rubber products and commercial rubber and vinyl floor coverings.
Composites BHS: Design, structural analysis, manufacturing of composites parts from small to large dimensions. Services offered include conceptual and detailed design (CAD/FEA), tests, prototypes and production of small to medium series for different markets: transportation, flight simulators, medical, street furniture and special projects.
P.P.D. UHMW Industries: Suspension parts for recreational vehicles, conveyors, parts for the railway, agriculture and water treatment industries.
Soucy Techno: Plastic rubber compounds, rubber extrusion and calendaring.
889 jobs – 9% of jobs for this sector
The machine manufacturing sector includes equipment manufacturers along with the designers of molds and dies. These businesses work in very diverse industries: pulp & paper, transportation material, food and beverages, heating systems, and much more.
AFT (Technologies de fibres AIKAWA): Custom screening and refining solutions for the pulp and paper industry. Industrial subcontracting of machining, welding and assembly of complex stainless steel mechanical structures. Chrome plating.
AMF Canada: Sale of industrial equipment for bakeries: mixers, ovens, packaging machines, slicers, conveyors and other automated machinery for high-capacity production.
Atelier CFM Inc.: Design and manufacture of industrial automated machinery: robot integrators, camera inspections, assembly lines, drilling machines, and mounting lines.
Milan conception: Automated industrial equipment design and manufacturing.
Moules Industriels: Manufacture of rubber and plastic injection moulds and precision tools.
SECM-GT International Inc.: Design and manufacturing of cutting and stretchbending tools and equipments, automated and specialized machinery for the automotive sector. Machining for the aerospace sector.
Furniture and related products
707 jobs – 7% of jobs for this sector
The furniture and wood products sector include furniture manufacturing businesses, but also manufacturers of cabinets, stairways, and components of prefabricated buildings, among others. This key sector belongs to the ACCORD cluster (regional development) of the Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et des Exportations (Québec’s Minister of Economy, Innovation and Exportations), called le Service Intégré du Bois (SIB – Integrated wood services). Here are a few examples of successful ventures:
Cuisine idéale: Manufacture of kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
Fabrik Estrie Inc.: Manufacture of walls, floors, chalets, houses, garages and modules of all types.
Mobilier de bureau Logiflex Inc.: Manufacturer of office furniture, chairs and armchairs.
Armoires de cuisine NAC: Manufacture of kitchen cupboards, bathroom vanities and wall units.
Univers du modulaire: Manufacturing of specialized modular units (mobile homes, construction trailers, toilets).
Sherbrooke and the Estrie region are part of one of three Québec regions forming the Pôle d’excellence québécois en transport terrestre (Québec cluster in ground transportation) put in place by the Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et des Exportations (Québec’s Minister of Economy, Innovation and Exportations). The presence of major players, notably BRP Recreational Products, Waterville TG, Cooper Standard Automotive Canada, and TLD, has contributed to the development of a critical mass of specialized sub-contractors and a qualified workforce in areas as diverse as off-road electric vehicles, railway material, buses and motor coaches, special vehicles, and recreational vehicles.
ACP Canada: Design of metal parts for the automotive industry.
Mesotec Inc.: Manufacture and assembly of machined parts for the aeronautics sector. Design and manufacture of various high precision tools and equipment.
BRP Groupe SVG: Assembly of specialized BRP vehicles.
TLD Canada: Design and manufacturing of airport ground support equipment (GSE).
Other sectors – Advanced Manufacturing
Several other innovating businesses are part of the advanced manufacturing sector. See the Business Directory of the key sector by selecting the industry of interest to you.
Plastic and rubber products
Furniture and related products
Food and beverages
Non-metallic mineral products
Clothing and other texile or leather products
Other manufacturing activities
 In Québec, the Pôle d’excellence en transport terrestre numbers 32,450 jobs distributed into 950 businesses. It generates sales of nearly 11 billion dollars.