On Tuesday, the Government of Canada, Province of Ontario, Niagara Region, City of Port Colborne, St. Lawrence Seaway Management and other private sector partners came together to welcome Asahi Kasei to announce a $1.56 billion investment in the lithium-ion battery supply chain in Ontario.
The announcement marks a significant milestone in the Niagara region’s economic development as Asahi Kasei’s new wet-process separator manufacturing facility will undoubtedly shape Niagara’s local economy for years to come. In addition, this investment represents the culmination of collaboration and partnership between the federal, provincial, and municipal governments at both the region and city levels.
“Today’s announcement in Port Colborne marks a transformative moment for not just the city, but the entire Niagara region” stated Jim Bradley, the Niagara Regional Chair. “This investment underscores the importance of collaboration among all levels of government and industry partners. When Niagara works as a team, we can be justifiably proud of the sustainable and innovative outcomes that we achieve together. This investment will drive economic growth and environmental stewardship for generations to come, acting as a catalyst for future prosperity across the region.”
Located along Highway 140, south of Highway 58A (formerly known as the Nyon Lands) in Port Colborne, the new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility represents the largest investment in Niagara to date.
Port Colborne Mayor William Steele stated, “I am so thrilled to welcome Asahi Kasei as we celebrate this tremendous investment in Port Colborne and Niagara. This success would not have been possible without the incredible cooperation of all levels of government, the collaboration with our private business development partners, and the vision of the Asahi Kasei team. This investment is transformational for our region and I want to extend my sincere congratulations and appreciation to everyone involved in bringing it to fruition.”
“This historic investment by Asahi Kasei is a testament to Niagara’s attractive and competitive business environment. Today’s announcement shows that Niagara can attract global investment and is strategically positioned for growth. We are committed to continue working with governments, businesses and community partners to ensure a prosperous future for Niagara,” Said Niagara Director of Economic Development George Spezza.
Thermon Group Holdings Expands Facilities In Orilla and Oakville
Thermon Group Holdings, Inc. a global leader in industrial process heating, announced that it is bolstering its customer response times and capabilities with the completion of its recently modernized and expanded manufacturing facilities in Orillia and Oakville, Ontario.
“As the industry continues to transition to carbon-neutral energy, the decision to modernize and streamline manufacturing operations is an expectation of global demand for technologies and solutions that enable electrification and further decarbonization of carbon-intensive process heating systems,” said Mark Roberts, Senior Vice President of Heating Systems Business Line and Global Engineering for Thermon. “Along with operational improvements, we are enhancing research and development by doubling the lab’s footprint and adding revolutionary testing capabilities. This supports our long-term goal of proactively serving customers who are embracing electrification of heating systems that help them to achieve their decarbonization goals.”
The enhanced facility offers distinct advantages to Thermon’s customers, who will experience a greater level of operational, manufacturing, logistical, research and development, and technical support from staff and equipment based there. It will continue to provide systems to create heating solutions for a wide range of industries, including those that operate in the energy, chemicals, food and beverage, rail and transit, construction, and pharmaceutical sectors, among others.
Thermon knows that R&D will play a pivotal role in this energy transition and understands the importance of safely introducing new technologies, which push the operational limits of temperature, voltage and wattage necessary to address these electrification trends.
