Bombardier Transportation has created 120 skilled positions at its Millhaven facility since setting out to capture two big monorail contracts in Saudi Arabia and Brazil.
“Since June 2009, we have gone from 180 people to over 300 people,” said Delbert Adams, Bombardier Transportation’s Manager of Product Development, Processes and Funding.
Four new projects are underway at Millhaven:
- Development of the new BOMBARDIER* INNOVIA* Monorail 300 prototype vehicle
- INNOVIA Monorail 300 systems are being designed for Sao Paolo, Brazil and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Development of the BOMBARDIER* INNOVIA* Metro 300 prototype vehicle, the new generation of BOMBARDIER* INNOVIA* ART advanced rapid transit system
- BOMBARDIER* EnerGstor*, a technology that captures and reuses energy when a transit vehicle activates its brakes
The Millhaven facility was chosen for the investment because of the competitive advantages of the location and the special expertise that exists there, Adams said.
The facility’s competitive position was improved through two provincial government grants in 2010 and 2011 from the Eastern Ontario Development Fund that totaled $2.25 million. They helped fund the new projects and contributed to site infrastructure improvements.
The infrastructure improvements brought the facility up to new environmental standards and improved the energy efficiency of buildings and the existing rail system test track.
Millhaven’s competitive position was also helped by the fact that it is Bombardier Transportation’s “Centre of Competence” for the Mass Transit Systems. As a Centre of Centre of Competence, Millhaven is centralizing Engineering, R&D and Testing for Mass Transit Products.
“That’s quite a good designation to have because it means no one else can do it as well as you can,” said Adams.
The facility at Millhaven is 480 acres, so there’s plenty of room to grow, he said.
“Bombardier brings significant innovation and job creation to our area,” said
Stephen Paul, Manager of Economic Development for Lennox and Addington County.
“We are proud that our community is home to a global centre of transit excellence.”
