Province supports Quinte West manufacturer to produce critical medical supplies
April 9, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022
QUINTE WEST – Todd Smith, MPP for Bay of Quinte, announced the Ontario government is investing $1,030,000 from the Ontario Together Fund (OTF) in support of GlobalMed Inc.’s investment of over $2.2 million in facility modernization and expanded production in Quinte West.
The project will create 15 new jobs while offering opportunities for skills development and advancement for current employees at GlobalMed Inc.
“Through the pandemic, we have seen increasing demand for products related to ventilation, particularly for at-risk patients with respiratory illness,” said Smith. “GlobalMed is rising to meet that market demand, here and around the world. Its innovation keeps Ontario residents healthy and it provides good, stable jobs in our Quinte economy. I’m pleased our government is investing in its growth.”
Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, indicated the OTF is focused on supporting homegrown manufacturing and innovation to combat COVID-19, and providing other goods critical to the health, safety, and security of Ontarians beyond the pandemic.
“The Ontario Together Fund is helping Ontario businesses to fully develop their ideas to innovate in our diverse life sciences sector,” said Fedeli. “Our government is proud to partner with GlobalMed Inc. as they help make Ontario the home for next-generation medical technologies.”
GlobalMed Inc., established in 1999 with 50 employees, manufactures corrugated and collapsible medical respiratory tubing. The company’s single use, non-invasive plastic medical tubing and injection moulded medical fittings are used in a vaiety of medical applications using anaesthesia, respiratory, and other custom medical applications. The company’ 76,000 sq. ft. facility in Quinte West and has seen a number of expansions of its footprint and capabilities over the years. This new investment will see four new production lines added to the Quinte West manufacturing facility, increasing capacity by up to 50 per cent. New technology and automation will increase line efficiencies and reduce process waste.
Alan Flieler, Vice-President and General Manager at GlobalMed Inc. welcomed the support, noting it will allow for advanced ERP operating systems, automated processes and manufacturing technology for precision production of devices. It will also provide for enhancements in medical manufacturing clean space and the ability to expand overall capacity to accommodate new developed products.
“GlobalMed has been in the Quinte area for over 20 years. We are very excited and pleased to be receiving the support funding from the provincial government to assist us with our growth. These funds will allow us to accelerate the development and implementation of multiple improvements to the operation,” said Flieler. “We are very well known in the market segments we service for being a leader in product development, and this will definitely accelerate our ability to achieve the continued growth and success for the operation.”
Local economic developers also applauded the announcement.
“The Quinte Economic Development Commission recognizes the importance of the manufacturing sector for the region and Ontario. This new investment by GlobalMed, with strategic support from the Province of Ontario, will strengthen the economy, create quality new jobs, and add new capabilities to supply in-demand medical products,” said Chris King, QEDC’s Chief Executive Officer. “We express our thanks to Minister Smith and the Province of Ontario for the investment in this project and we appreciate GlobalMed’s confidence in our region by expanding their operations in our community.”
This investment in GlobalMed Inc. aligns with the province’s recently announced Life Sciences Strategy, a plan to make Ontario a global hub for biomanufacturing and life sciences and improve our preparedness for future challenges. It will create high-paying jobs, strengthen our healthcare system – and make it clear that Ontario is a world-leading partner in developing the medicines, vaccines and health technologies of the future.
Supporting innovative projects like GlobalMed Inc.’s is why Ontario has invested an additional $50 million in the renewed OTF in 2021–2022. The fund continues to support local innovators and businesses to further enhance Ontario’s domestic supply chain capacity, promote Ontario’s medical technology ecosystem and build up our manufacturing sector to ensure the province is well prepared for future challenges.
QUICK FACTS
The government recently announced Taking Life Sciences to the Next Level, the province’s plan to grow Ontario’s life sciences sector and secure new investments in next-generation health technologies, medicines and vaccine manufacturing. The strategy sets out ambitious goals over the next decade, including growing Ontario’s biomanufacturing and life sciences sector to employ 85,000 Ontarians in high-value jobs by 2030, a 25 per cent increase from 2020.
Ontario’s Action Plan: Protecting People’s Health and Our Economy brings total investments to $16.3 billion to protect people’s health and $23.3 billion to protect our economy.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Ontario Together Fund program guidelines
- 2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: Build Ontario
- See how your organization can help fight COVID-19
