In this edition:
Feature article
ICS Breaks Ground on New Facility
Industrial Contracting Solutions is excited to announce that we have broken ground on a brand-new facility. Years of growth and the acquisition of ICS by Tri-Mach Group of Companies has culminated in the purchase of a 6-acre plot of land for the new build. This new and future home of ICS is located just down the street from our current location in Stratford, Ontario.
The facility will boast 20,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space, complete with one dock loading door, a vehicle wash bay, and six bay doors with the capability for vehicle storage inside the building, perfect for keeping our trucks warm and adding an extra level of security when parked overnight.
We will also be expanding our panel building capacities with a new 5000 sq.ft. panel building shop. In addition to our panel building expansion, the new space will allow for the hiring of many new positions in the coming years as we continue to grow and develop our team.
The remaining 5000 sq. ft. of space will include a multi-level office with two large boardrooms, two kitchenettes, and an employee gym. This expansion will allow ICS to develop its panel innovation and improve its overall operations.
Currently, the expansion is on track to be completed by June 2021, at which point the operations will move into the new space. Follow each of our social media pages, which can be found on our website homepage, to view continual updates, photos, videos, and learn more about our growth.
Industry Trends
Government Contributes Funds to Agriculture
2020 has been a turbulent year for the agricultural commodity industry, and the world at large. When the immediate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic showed themselves in March of this year, the agricultural market felt the disruption. With the market uncertainty and additional risk surrounding the pandemic, the Government has continued to provide grants and funding designed to support and help grow the agricultural sector.
Originally launched in 2018, the Canadian Agriculture Partnership aims to provide programs and services that are easy to access and will help farmers manage risk while strengthening the capability of the farm.¹ This five year, $3 billion investment is funded on the federal and provincial level to bolster the agricultural sector. These programs focus on growing trade, expanding markets, innovation, and supporting diversity.
Program such as AgriScience and AgriInnovate highlight innovation and sustainable growth. AgriInnovate allows funding to be used for innovative products, technologies, processes or services that improve sustainability or competitiveness. These include manufacturing, automation, and robotics upgrades or applications that improve production efficiency.
The Government of Canada has also recently announced the Emergency On-Farm Support Fund that involves a $35 million investment in response to the spread of COVID-19. This fund will support direct infrastructure improvements to living quarters and work stations, including temporary or emergency housing (on or off-farm), and will also provide funding for personal protective equipment (PPE), sanitary stations, and any other health and safety measures to safeguard the health and safety of workers.
Industrial Contracting Solutions can assist you with applications for funding of new equipment, robotic upgrades, and automation projects. Contact us at sales@ics-ind.com to learn more and to let us help you get started.
1. Government of Canada
New at Advance Millwrights
ICS Welcomes New Senior Programmer
Industrial Contracting Solutions is pleased to welcome John J. Moore onto our growing team as Senior Programmer, spearheading innovative programming.
John brings over 20 years of experience in robotics and engineering, specifically in PLC and HMI programming, and DCS systems. His education includes the completion of Electrical Engineering Technician and Robotics Technologist programs, an Industrial Electrician Licence 442A with Certificate of Apprenticeship and a Master Electricians Licence. John has spent many years developing control system designs, and leading teams in PLC and HMI program creation, including Safety PLC programming, VFD drives and complex device functions.
The addition of John to our team comes after years of growth and in anticipation of continued growth as we increase our custom panel building, programming and automation capabilities, and expand into robotics. With his combined wealth of experience and education, John will serve to mentor our junior programmers and develop the department as we take on larger-scale projects, and move into our new facility.
This department expansion will allow ICS to take on more complex custom panel projects, and provide innovative integrated programming and automation solutions to better serve our customers.
Product Innovation
TY8000: Solution for Reading Thermocouple Temp Cables
Industrial Contracting Solutions is thrilled to now offer an in-house solution for reading thermocouple temp cables, the TY8000. Our temperature control units will offer customers a Canadian-made, cost-effective solution for monitoring temperature in silos and storage units to mitigate the risk of spoilage and fires.
These off-the-shelf units are automated and consolidated standalone systems that do not require the use of an external computer; the program has been integrated directly into the panel for efficiency, flexibility, and ease of use. The integrated system can be pre-programmed to the users’ specifications including colour-coded readings, making hot spots easily visible and trackable. Scheduled automated reports can also be set up to email users periodically to allow for remote product monitoring and troubleshooting, saving time and reducing the risk of product loss.
Previously sourced primarily from the United States, this proudly Canadian alternative requires significantly less shipping time and cost, and allows for access to timely support.
Let Industrial Contracting Solutions assist you with your automated temperature control needs. We can help program these units to your specific requirements and keep your silos and storage facilities at the temperature that you need them. Contact our sales department at sales@ics-ind.com to learn more and get started today.
Project Showcase
Goderich Elevator Installation Project
Our team recently completed a half year project at Goderich Elevator on the shores of Lake Huron in Goderich. This facility is a mid-sized terminal with a 1250,00 metric ton capacity for corn, soybeans, and wheat.
After the 2011 Tornado destroyed many of the trees in the valley along the shore, dust from the pier was making its way onto residential properties. This led Goderich Elevator to invest in upgrades, including the removal of the three existing loading spouts and the installation of one tower, complete with new conveying equipment. The new spout is a fully automated system with a telescopic hood that lowers onto the ship to catch dust as the product is offloaded.
ICS outfitted the project with its automation system for the conveying equipment and integrated it with, as well as installed, the loading spout automation system supplied by Neuero based in Germany.
Our incredible team of electricians at Industrial Contracting Solutions can provide full service electrical installations and help you complete your project with both quality and efficiency. Contact our sales department at sales@ics-ind.com and find out how we can help, whether it be new builds, upgrades, special projects or maintainance projects.
A Message From Our President
I would like to start by expressing my sincere thanks and gratitude to all of our incredible employees who have been with us through this turbulent time and who will continue with us as we journey forward. This year would look different for ICS as a company had it not been for the dedication and commitment that saw us through this pandemic so far.
As I look back and reflect on the challenges and changes that 2020 has afforded us, it has been transformational, to say the least. We had our busiest year yet, hired several new employees, had a record sales year, and broke ground on what will be our new home. As our new facility begins to take shape, we are very excited about what 2021 holds. We look forward to continued growth as we move into our new building and take advantage of its space and potential. We are starting this year on a high note as we venture forward into this new year.
Thank you all for being a part of this journey and for reading this version of IMPACT.
Kert Coffey
President
Industrial Contracting Solutions Inc.