Abbotsford is home to many exciting manufacturing businesses, and last week three of them opened their doors to give Council, Abbotsford Chamber representatives and community members a look inside.
On Sept. 11 the City of Abbotsford and Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce presented the third annual Manufacturing Industry Tour. Mayor Siemens and Councillor Driessen attended this year’s edition of the tour, which featured stops at Mainland Machinery, Pyrotek Aerospace and Overlanders Manufacturing. The University of the Fraser Valley hosted a lunch and panel discussion in their new Lá:léms Ye EverGreen building.
Each year this important event offers a chance for residents and members of the local business community to learn more about some of the innovative and industry-leading companies operating right here in Abbotsford.
For more than 50 years, Mainland Machinery has been a leader in steel fabrication, providing custom-steel products and services to the agriculture, mining and energy industries, among others.
Another longtime local manufacturer is Overlanders Manufacturing, which was founded in 1978, and boasts almost 50 years of operations. They specialize on custom metal fabrication and manufacturing solutions, including sheet metal, precision parts and custom tubular products. Abbotsford City Council had a chance to visit Overlanders last year as part of our Business Spotlight series
Pyrotek Aerospace is a leader in aerospace manufacturing and advanced heat-treating solutions. Through a combination of precision, technology, and quality control they process high-performance aerospace components.
During the stop at UFV, Mayor Siemens spoke about the significance of Abbotsford’s manufacturing industry and discussed ways City Council is supporting the sector, including the implementation of the new commercial truck parking strategy and advocating to the BC Government to expand Highway 1 through Abbotsford to make industrial transportation more efficient. UFV President James Mandigo then gave a presentation on the ways that UFV is helping to educate and grow the local labour force through a variety of credentials.
Chamber CEO Alex Mitchell moderated a panel discussion featuring Mandigo, StructureCraft Managing Structural Engineering Director Mark Porter, and Dean of the Faculty of Applied and Technical Studies at UFV Teresa Kisilevich. They touched on topics including the future of manufacturing, how students are being trained, and how to make our manufacturers more competitive. It was an interesting talk that emphasized the significance of partnership and alignment between the educational and industrial sectors.
And speaking of partnerships, Council would like to thank the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce for once again partnering with the City on another informative and entertaining manufacturing tour. We appreciate everything the Chamber does to support local businesses and help them thrive. We’re also grateful to Overlanders Manufacturing, Mainland Machinery, Pyrotek Aerospace and UFV for opening their doors to us and participating in this year’s tour.
Abbotsford City Council