News Story Details

June 21, 2012
MINISTER BERNARD VALCOURT CONGRATULATES BATHURST COMPANY FOR INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT

MONCTON (N.B.) - The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and La Francophonie, today congratulated officials from Industrial Rubber Company Ltd, a Bathurst, New Brunswick company that has entered into an agreement with German defence firm FFG Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft mbH (FFG) The two companies worked on this agreement during Eurosatory 2012, an international exhibition dedicated to land-based defence and security.

“It is well known that our Government’s top priorities are creating jobs, growth, and long-term prosperity,” said Minister Valcourt. “This agreement is excellent news because it will create a number of high value jobs at Industrial Rubber Company, and will generate economic spin-offs that will benefit all of Atlantic Canada. This success is the perfect example that our businesses missions all around the world produce concrete results for people in our region.”

The agreement between FFG and Industrial Rubber Company was made possible after the German firm was awarded a contract in excess of $100 million for the conversion of the Leopard 2 main battle tanks into AEVs. FFG subsequently selected IRC as its main Canadian partner on the project and the Bathurst company will perform a significant amount of high-level work in New Brunswick. Industrial Rubber Company has vast experience manufacturing parts for military vehicles.

Over the years, Industrial Rubber Company has become an important supplier of rubber tracked pads for military vehicles used by the Canadian Armed Forces, as well as by our NATO allies. The agreement will allow Industrial Rubber Company to tap into FFG’s know how and build valuable expertise in the assembly and modification of military vehicles. This transfer of knowledge will help build regional capacity for land vehicle systems in Atlantic Canada.

Eurosatory 2012 took place in Paris, France, from June 11 to 15, 2012. The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency led a business mission of 12 companies and organizations to Eurosatory 2012.

FOR BROADCAST USE:

Minister Bernard Valcourt today congratulated officials from Industrial Rubber Company Ltd, of Bathurst, New Brunswick for entering into an agreement with a German defence firm to convert 18 Canadian Leopard 2 main battle tanks into Armoured Engineering Vehicles.

This agreement is excellent news for our region because it will create a number of high-quality jobs and will generate economic spin offs that will benefit Atlantic Canada. This success is the perfect example that our businesses missions all around the world produce concrete results for people in our region, said Minister Valcourt.

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INFORMATION:

Andrea Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Bernard Valcourt
613-790-3637
andrea.richer@acoa-apeca.gc.ca

Robert Bourgeois
Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
506-851-6394
robert.bourgeois@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
 

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