ELPA invests in heavy-duty Japanese technology

Canada is facing an increasingly competitive marketplace for manufacturing, and it's becoming very expensive to keep up in today's world.

The proof is a $1 million investment at ELPA industries in L'Orignal, which now has a new giant-size industrial lathe.

Carl Hungerbuehler, owner of ELPA, said the new machine will allow the company to bid on new types of contracts, such as building parts for wind turbines.

The new machine - which can build items ten feet by three feet across - was unveiled on November 20, at a press conference attended by local politicians, business owners and ELPA's employees.

Jean-Marc Lalonde, the MPP for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, said the project was awarded $194,175 through the Eastern Ontario Development Fund.
The business is expected to hire seven new employees by 2012 to work the machine.

In his address to the crowd, Lalonde praised the Eastern Ontario Development Fund, and told business owners they should apply.

The fund has previously helped Beau's Brewery in Vankleek Hill and 29 other projects across Eastern Ontario, Lalonde said.

"To those of you who are in business - don't forget about this fund," he said. "Go to my our office, and my staff will help you to fill out the forms. It takes five minutes to find out if you qualify, and we will look over the forms to make sure they are filled out correctly," he said.

The new lathe measures ten by three feet, and was imported from Japan.
On November 20, it was shown to be making a part for the nearby Ivaco Rolling Mills.

ELPA has been in business in L'Orignal since 1979.

On November 20 Prescott-Russell Community Development Corporation General Manager John Candie also announced his office had contributed $11,000, which will help offset the cost of employee training.