Government of Canada Supports Metal 7 Automation Project

SEPT-ÎLES, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - July 7, 2011) - The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, announces that the company Métal 7 received $750,000 in repayable financial assistance to automate a portion of its manufacturing operations and consequently raise productivity and develop new products.

"To help the Côte-Nord economy grow, we are supporting the efforts of enterprises in sectors like metals processing that are looking to increase their productivity and innovation. That is why the Government of Canada is pleased to have lent its financial assistance to this expansion project of Métal 7, a world leader in the metallurgy sector," said Minister Lebel.

In order to optimize production at its recently-inaugurated premises, Métal 7 acquired a horizontal drilling machine and multidirectional digital lathe and reconfigured its mechanical assembly department. This expansion project will allow the firm to manufacture specialized conveyors for the mining industry and develop new products and services for the aluminium sector. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the new facilities will enable Métal 7 to design and repair heavy and over-sized equipment, giving the company a competitive advantage.

The automation of certain stages of the production chain will help the firm improve its productivity in order to remain competitive, an important condition to securing its growth given the shortage of skilled labour in the Côte-Nord region. The company's customers, who mainly include iron ore pellet plants, pulp and paper mills and aluminium smelters, require equipment that is capable of withstanding heavy use. Established more than 37 years ago, Métal 7, with its current staff force of 95 employees, hopes to achieve a 10% increase in sales as a result of this initiative.

This financial assistance from the Government of Canada has been granted through Canada Economic Development's Business and Regional Growth program.

For more information on Métal 7, visit www.metal7.com.

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