Doug Sharpe
President of Elasto Proxy
Does your company do business with Canada’s aerospace and defense industries? Then you’ll want to read the latest news about how the Industrial Technologies Office is supporting large-scale collaborative research and development (R&D) projects that could benefit your business. There are aerospace opportunities for Canadian companies of all sizes, especially small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs).
Earlier this month, Industry Minister James Moore announced the launch of the Aerospace Technology Demonstration Program, a four-year, $100-million initiative that will support technology demonstration projects with strong commercialization potential. For SMEs who struggle to prove the viability of their designs, this new program bridges the gap between conceptualization and bringing products to market.
Product Life Cycles and the Valley of Death
As Jim Quick, president of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC), told the Montreal Gazette, the Aerospace Technology Demonstration Program will help SMEs answer a critical question: “How do you prove that your product can go onto an aircraft?” Today, this challenge is so costly and considerable that Suzanne Benoît, president of Aéro Montréal, calls it “the valley of death”.
In joining these and other industry leaders at the Aerospace Technology Demonstration Program announcement, I was also excited about the possibilities. The aerospace engines that were on display were impressive, but smaller companies typically produce high-quality components instead of complete systems. Engines require engine seals, however, so there are custom fabrication opportunities.
Collaborative R&D and Defense Industry Experience
Part of what makes the Aerospace Technology Demonstration Program so important is that it requires the integration of multiple technologies and coordination between many different partners. All projects must be led by an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or Tier 1 integrator, but Canada’s SMEs will also play an important role by strengthening supply chains and sharing application knowledge.
As an SME with a long history of working with Tier 1 and Tier 2 defense contractors, Elasto Proxy understands the importance of providing high-quality sealing solutions for cost-effective military programs. Since our founding in 1989, we’ve worked hard to earn the trust of the defense community, developing strict quality-control procedures and earning a Controlled Goods Certificate (CGC).
Tier 1 Integrators and SMEs
Working with airframe manufacturers such as Bombardier, Boeing, and Airbus SAS would offer a new set of challenges, of course, but Elasto Proxy is ready to embrace opportunities. From our headquarters in Boisbriand, Quebec, we work with partners around the world and meet sealing challenges in a variety of industries, including automotive, electronics, mass transit, and mobile specialty vehicles.
Canada’s new Aerospace Technology Demonstration Program offers incredible opportunities to Tier 1 integrators, OEMs, and SMEs alike. By working together, enterprises of all sizes can prove the viability of new technologies and help Canada stay competitive in key industrial sectors that employ over 170,000 people across the country.
Would you like to discuss ways that your company could partner with Elasto Proxy and serve Canada’s defense and aerospace industries? Please comment on this blog entry, connect with me on LinkedIn, or contact us at any of our offices. How can we help you?
