GE Canada and Export Development Canada (EDC) are hosting a supplier day to introduce innovative and globally-minded Canadian companies into the supply chain of GE’s new facility in Welland, Ontario, opening in 2018.
Over 30 suppliers are participating in the session, with introductions being facilitated by EDC and the Niagara Industrial Association. Contributing stakeholders for the event include the City of Welland, the Regional Municipality of Niagara, and Niagara College.
The new multi-modal Brilliant Factory located in Welland, will initially manufacture GE Power’s gas engines, components for compression, mechanical drive, and power generation and manufacture components for GE Transportation diesel engines.
The business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking session, held at Niagara College’s Welland campus, is focused on finding companies with leading edge capabilities to supply reciprocating engine parts. Examples of sought parts and services include precision machined components, rubber gaskets, tubing, pipes, and painting.
“This is a great opportunity to meet with businesses throughout the region to help build GE’s supply chain for our new facility”, said Bradley Smith, Vice President of Regional Programs, GE Canada. “We appreciate the support from EDC, and all the contributors who have helped make today’s event possible. We look forward to developing new, successful relationships for years to come.”
The introductions are being made as part of an ongoing partnership between GE Canada and EDC aimed at developing access for Canadian small- and medium-sized technology companies to the global marketplace. GE Canada benefits from stronger ties to Canadian companies with expertise aligned to its strategic business interests.
GE Canada and EDC partnered on similar initiatives with B2B matchmaking sessions including:
- Connecting leading Canadian suppliers in tooling and automation with GE Aviation in Bromont, Quebec in February 2014;
- Connecting small manufacturing and services companies to GE Power Conversion and GE Hitachi Nuclear Canada in Peterborough in July 2014;
- Connecting and promoting collaboration between Canadian high-tech firms during an Industrial Internet event at GE Canada’s headquarters in Mississauga in May 2015; and
- Connecting Canadian IT companies with leading edge capabilities and solutions in pipeline design and operation in November 2015.
EDC provides financing solutions for GE Canada based upon the quality of its Canadian footprint and the prominence of exporting in its business model. GE Canada has been a strategic partner for EDC due to its strong track record of growing exports from its Canadian operations and nurturing Canadian suppliers into dynamic exporters.
“The supply chains of global companies like GE are critical to Canada’s exporting story, because smaller Canadian companies have the opportunity to grow alongside GE as it extends its reach into global markets” said Mairead Lavery, Senior Vice-President, Business Development, EDC. “An important part of EDC’s job is to match the right global Canadian companies with the right supply chains, and these kinds of introductions are instrumental in creating valuable business opportunities for both parties.”
Canadian companies with leading edge expertise and the ability or willingness to export that are interested in being considered for future EDC trade development opportunities can email B2BMatchmaking@edc.ca.
