Plant

Canadian manufacturers are investing in digital technologies, but many remain in the early stages of their digital transformation journey, according to a new report from the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) and Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen).

A new era of manufacturing at Martinrea International Inc. was celebrated last week with the introduction of its new 3,000-metric-ton SIMPAC transfer press in its $35-million expanded facility. Martinrea management and staff, along with local government officials and guests, were on hand for the dedication ceremony last Thursday at the Golf Course Line plant.

The funding, provided through the Regional Tariff Response Initiative, will support projects aimed at increasing production capacity, improving efficiency and strengthening supply chains. Steel fabricator AI Industries will receive $1 million to install automated fabrication and welding equipment to increase production capacity and expand into new markets.

[Photo credit: lovelyday12 via Adobe Stock] Electricity planning, grid capacity and long-term energy strategy were the focus of discussion at Plant‘s inaugural Energy Summit: Energy Strategies for Smarter Manufacturing, held virtually on June 17. The event brought together manufacturers, utilities, consultants and energy specialists to discuss how rising electricity demand, changing market conditions and evolving energy policy are affecting industrial operations and investment decisions.

July 3, 2026 By Kirstyn Brown Business Operations Production Manufacturing Energy The new 250,000-square-foot facility more than doubles the company's previous Burlington footprint and is expected to create more than 100 jobs. Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, speaks at the grand opening of Tempel Canada’s new 250,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Burlington, Ont.

Canada’s manufacturing sector expanded for a third straight month in June, but rising costs and worsening supply delays are complicating the picture, according to S&P Global’s Canada Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI). The PMI posted 53.0 in June, little changed from May’s 52.9, marking a third consecutive month above the 50.0 no-change mark. Beneath the headline number, the details are mixed.

According to a company press release, the facilities include approximately 42,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing and production space in Toronto, 200,000 sq. ft. at an armored vehicle production facility in Charlotte, N.C., and 31,000 sq. ft. at a new facility in Fort Pierce, Fla. The company said the facilities are expected to be fully operational by July 31, 2026, and will more than double its production space across North America.

Plant is launching its second annual Top 10 Under 40 program, calling on peers, mentors and industry leaders to nominate the young professionals driving the future of Canadian manufacturing. Building on a strong inaugural class in 2025, the program returns this year to recognize 10 outstanding individuals under 40 who are making their mark on the sector through leadership, innovation and a commitment to excellence. Nominations are now open and will close at 11:59 PM ET on July 31, 2026.

NextStar Energy has begun production on its new battery pack manufacturing line at its facility in Windsor, Ont. As per a June 25 press release, the expansion adds a third production stage to the site’s existing cell and module operations, enabling full vertical integration from battery cell to finished pack.

June 26, 2026 By Justin Yule Industry Manufacturing In this episode, the podcast hosts are joined by the Editor of Manufacturing Automation, Jared Dodds, to discuss the latest numbers from the S&P Global PMI for Canadian manufacturing, and they dig deeper into where the industry is headed the rest of the year.