Saskatoon has evolved into a major manufacturing centre, with 364 companies employing a workforce of 9,900 people, or 6.7 per cent of the region's total employment.
The largest three sub-groups within the manufacturing centre are machinery manufacturing, fabricated metal product manufacturing and food manufacturing.
"It's a big driver in the economy, contributing approximately $1 billion to Saskatoon's GDP, and $2.8 billion to the provincial GDP," said Tim LeClair, executive director of the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA).
Saskatoon has been identified as one of the world's most competitive manufacturing centres, in a recent competitive analysis by KPMG. These advantages include access to a highly-trained workforce, a highly competitive provincial and federal taxation regime with special consideration for manufacturers, a City of Saskatoon incentive policy, proximity to resource sectors in Western Canada and a strong transportation network including rail access to two ocean ports.
The range of products being manufactured in the Saskatoon region is diverse - from mining and oil extraction equipment, to computer and electronic products, to food and beverage processing.
JNE Welding is one of Saskatchewan's largest full service steel fabricators, employing 150 people at two locations in Saskatoon.
Established in 1980, the company serves the mining, environmental, construction, oil sands and power-generating sectors in Canada and the United States. The company's products are diverse, ranging from power poles for SaskPower, to the air traffic control tower at the Saskatoon airport, to specialized tanks, bins, dryers, chutes and pumpboxes for the resource sector.
Jim Nowakowski, president of JNE Welding, says that his company and other long-time local metal fabricators have been integral to the growth of Saskatchewan's resource industry, including potash, uranium and oil production. "We've been part of the innovative team that has helped the industry develop some of its strength and some of its depth. We've grown up with the industry."
Saskatchewan's vibrant economy has attracted out of region competitors who are vying for manufacturing contracts with mining and energy companies. "Some of those companies came and took on work very cheaply. There have been positive and negative experiences for all involved," said Nowakowski.
"There is great value in working with a local manufacturer. Once a capital project is done, we will still be here. Somebody from outside of the region is not going to have the same level of interest in providing the support that we and other local companies will."
Nowakowski is excited about the opportunities that are being created as the resource sector expands across the province. "Is there great opportunity for us because of how we're positioned, because of our reputation in the industry? Absolutely, because of the people and the facilities we have in place. We have great people. I'm incredibly proud of the people who make up our team. It's something that comes together over a period of time, based on the culture that you're building. It's an advantage we enjoy."
JNE Welding completed a major expansion in 2006. "We are seriously considering another expansion within the next 18 months, expanding our new facility once again," said Nowakowski.
There's no place he'd rather do business than in Saskatoon, said Nowakowski. "What we're seeing - as far as Saskatchewan-based work - looks like it's going to be pretty strong for the next five to ten years. I think the majority of the growth is yet to come."
He added, "The world needs what Saskatchewan has. I think we have the expertise required to deliver on those world expectations."
Lionel LaBelle, CEO and president of the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP), says that Saskatchewan's export market continues to outperform all other provinces in the country.
Saskatchewan manufacturing shipments were up 18.1 per cent in July 2011, over July 2010, the largest increase of any province in Canada. Nationally, manufacturing shipments were up only 6.9 per cent over the same period.
"It's shaping up as a pretty terrific year. We're on track to have $28 billion worth of exports in 2011," said LaBelle.
STEP assists Saskatchewan manufacturers in realizing global marketing opportunities. LaBelle said, "We have a number of strengths in the manufacturing sector. One supports agriculture, the other supports the mining industry. Both of those sectors are quite strong, locally and globally."
Short-line farm equipment was once the primary focus of Saskatoon's manufacturing sector. Now, the sector has a much broader base, including the manufacture of specialized equipment for the mining and energy sectors. "What most people don't realize is that Saskatoon is now the largest steel fabricating city west of Toronto," saidLaBelle.
These innovative products are in demand in around the world. "Some of the unique technologies utilized in Saskatchewan's northern mines have translated into global technologies that we are able to market in other parts of the world. "Cameco's mine in Kazakhstan was almost 100 per cent designed and developed in Saskatoon," said LaBelle.
"On the agricultural side, we sell products in Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Ukraine and Russia. We sell millions of dollars of products in those countries."
The Canadian dollar's strength against the U.S. dollar has been of concern to exporting manufacturers across the country. "The benefit for us is that our products are so unique, the exchange rate hasn't been as much of a deterrent as we thought it would be," said LaBelle. "And our currency spread is actually parallel to European and Asian currency."
Of all Canadian provinces, Saskatchewan is the least dependent on the U.S. market. "The U.S. market is still important to us, representing 61 per cent of our total exports, but we sell more to other countries percentage-wise than any other province," said LaBelle.
Deja freakin' vu! Damn those manufacturing job killing resources!
The largest three sub-groups within the manufacturing centre are machinery manufacturing, fabricated metal product manufacturing and food manufacturing.
"It's a big driver in the economy, contributing approximately $1 billion to Saskatoon's GDP, and $2.8 billion to the provincial GDP," said Tim LeClair, executive director of the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA).
Saskatoon has been identified as one of the world's most competitive manufacturing centres, in a recent competitive analysis by KPMG. These advantages include access to a highly-trained workforce, a highly competitive provincial and federal taxation regime with special consideration for manufacturers, a City of Saskatoon incentive policy, proximity to resource sectors in Western Canada and a strong transportation network including rail access to two ocean ports.
The range of products being manufactured in the Saskatoon region is diverse - from mining and oil extraction equipment, to computer and electronic products, to food and beverage processing.
JNE Welding is one of Saskatchewan's largest full service steel fabricators, employing 150 people at two locations in Saskatoon.
Established in 1980, the company serves the mining, environmental, construction, oil sands and power-generating sectors in Canada and the United States. The company's products are diverse, ranging from power poles for SaskPower, to the air traffic control tower at the Saskatoon airport, to specialized tanks, bins, dryers, chutes and pumpboxes for the resource sector.
Jim Nowakowski, president of JNE Welding, says that his company and other long-time local metal fabricators have been integral to the growth of Saskatchewan's resource industry, including potash, uranium and oil production. "We've been part of the innovative team that has helped the industry develop some of its strength and some of its depth. We've grown up with the industry."
Saskatchewan's vibrant economy has attracted out of region competitors who are vying for manufacturing contracts with mining and energy companies. "Some of those companies came and took on work very cheaply. There have been positive and negative experiences for all involved," said Nowakowski.
"There is great value in working with a local manufacturer. Once a capital project is done, we will still be here. Somebody from outside of the region is not going to have the same level of interest in providing the support that we and other local companies will."
Nowakowski is excited about the opportunities that are being created as the resource sector expands across the province. "Is there great opportunity for us because of how we're positioned, because of our reputation in the industry? Absolutely, because of the people and the facilities we have in place. We have great people. I'm incredibly proud of the people who make up our team. It's something that comes together over a period of time, based on the culture that you're building. It's an advantage we enjoy."
JNE Welding completed a major expansion in 2006. "We are seriously considering another expansion within the next 18 months, expanding our new facility once again," said Nowakowski.
There's no place he'd rather do business than in Saskatoon, said Nowakowski. "What we're seeing - as far as Saskatchewan-based work - looks like it's going to be pretty strong for the next five to ten years. I think the majority of the growth is yet to come."
He added, "The world needs what Saskatchewan has. I think we have the expertise required to deliver on those world expectations."
Lionel LaBelle, CEO and president of the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP), says that Saskatchewan's export market continues to outperform all other provinces in the country.
Saskatchewan manufacturing shipments were up 18.1 per cent in July 2011, over July 2010, the largest increase of any province in Canada. Nationally, manufacturing shipments were up only 6.9 per cent over the same period.
"It's shaping up as a pretty terrific year. We're on track to have $28 billion worth of exports in 2011," said LaBelle.
STEP assists Saskatchewan manufacturers in realizing global marketing opportunities. LaBelle said, "We have a number of strengths in the manufacturing sector. One supports agriculture, the other supports the mining industry. Both of those sectors are quite strong, locally and globally."
Short-line farm equipment was once the primary focus of Saskatoon's manufacturing sector. Now, the sector has a much broader base, including the manufacture of specialized equipment for the mining and energy sectors. "What most people don't realize is that Saskatoon is now the largest steel fabricating city west of Toronto," saidLaBelle.
These innovative products are in demand in around the world. "Some of the unique technologies utilized in Saskatchewan's northern mines have translated into global technologies that we are able to market in other parts of the world. "Cameco's mine in Kazakhstan was almost 100 per cent designed and developed in Saskatoon," said LaBelle.
"On the agricultural side, we sell products in Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Ukraine and Russia. We sell millions of dollars of products in those countries."
The Canadian dollar's strength against the U.S. dollar has been of concern to exporting manufacturers across the country. "The benefit for us is that our products are so unique, the exchange rate hasn't been as much of a deterrent as we thought it would be," said LaBelle. "And our currency spread is actually parallel to European and Asian currency."
Of all Canadian provinces, Saskatchewan is the least dependent on the U.S. market. "The U.S. market is still important to us, representing 61 per cent of our total exports, but we sell more to other countries percentage-wise than any other province," said LaBelle.
Deja freakin' vu! Damn those manufacturing job killing resources!
