Yves Landry Foundation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 30, 2009

LOCAL MANUFACTURER GETS BOOST FOR INNOVATION FROM YVES LANDRY FOUNDATION

Weber Manufacturing Technologies Inc. Receives $50,000 for Skills Training

Midland – June 30, 2009 – Weber Manufacturing Technologies Inc. received welcome news today. Management and staff joined with the Yves Landry Foundation and MPP David Zimmer to celebrate the announcement of a $50,000 investment in the local mold manufacturer, through a new provincial workforce skills upgrade initiative called Achieving Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence (AIME), administered by the Yves Landry Foundation. 

The investment will be used for training to upgrade the design and mechanical skills of plant employees to strengthen the company’s ability to deliver lower cost, higher quality molds to the global market. 

"Weber Manufacturing Technologies is well positioned in the export market providing precision-made nickel molds to customers around the globe, ” said David Zimmer MPP for the riding of Willowdale. “Weber is a great example of a company that is fighting hard to remain competitive in international markets with products made right here in Ontario” 

“We are thrilled with the grant from the Yves Landry Foundation, through the support of the Ontario government” said Mr. Chris Edwards, President of Weber Manufacturing Technologies Inc.  “Continuous improvements in engineering design and Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) technologies are critical to our competitiveness and growth.”

Karyn Brearley, Executive Director of the Yves Landry Foundation, stated that "We are extremely pleased to partner with the Government of Ontario to help our manufacturers to be more competitive and capable. If our manufacturers are competitive on a global basis we can retain and grow essential manufacturing jobs right here in the province of Ontario."

AIME was introduced by Ontario’s Ministry of Economic Development and Trade to mitigate the financial burden of training costs that manufacturers incur when trying to introduce cutting-edge processes, tools and technologies to their plants. Funding is available to any Ontario manufacturer that requires employee training to support innovation that promises to increase a company's competitiveness. 

The $25 million grant program is being administered by the Yves Landry Foundation, a leading proponent of workforce education for Ontario's manufacturing sector.

About Weber Manufacturing Technologies Inc:

Weber Manufacturing Technologies Inc. is a fully integrated mold manufacturer in Automotive Interiors & Exteriors, Aerospace, and Home & Building products. Founded in 1962, Weber builds tooling for Spray, Slush, Compression, Injection, RTM, Infusion and Autoclave processes. Our in house model shop develops Master Models made from leather wrap or select wood grains, but can also provide low cost tooling and models in silicone, epoxy and urethane tooling board.

Weber also operates the world’s largest Nickel Vapour Deposition facility. This facility is capable of producing nickel shapes in 99.98% pure nickel; to high precision, for molds or complex nickel components, including fine surface detail, grains, and textures. Tools made using NVD nickel shells offer many flexible design options and critical advantages not available with any other tool-making technology.

About the Yves Landry Foundation:

The Yves Landry Foundation provides the opportunity for business, education, and government to collectively be part of the solution to advance technological education and skills training in order to resolve the skilled labour shortages facing Canadian industries. Founded in 1998, the Foundation is based on the vision, principles and hopes of the late Yves Landry, Chairman, President and CEO of Chrysler Canada Ltd. from 1990 to 1998. clients.chromemedia.com/yveslandry.

For more information about the YLF or AIME, contact:
Karyn Brearley
Executive Director
Yves Landry Foundation
Phone: 416 620 5464 X240
Fax: 416 620 9730
email: karyn.brearley@ylf-fyl.ca