18 August 2016

PRESS RELEASE – Sherbrooke Innopole is pleased to announce a fourth major construction project following the development of the new Robert-Boyd/de Portland Boulevard sector of the Regional Industrial Park. This project adds to the growing number of new constructions in this new section of the Park, confirming the need for new industrial land underlying its development, and the vitality of Sherbrooke’s industrial sector.

Cooper Standard will gradually move into its new building on Robert-Boyd Street over the coming months. The American-based company, specializing in sealing, fluid transfer, fuel and brake delivery, and anti-vibration systems, is strengthening its presence in the Sherbrooke area and providing a long term stable environment for approximatively 250 employees.  This project enables the Company to consolidate three plants into one world-class manufacturing facility.

Throughout this process, Cooper Standard has received logistical and technical support from Sherbrooke Innopole, including assessment of the many options available and the selection of the best scenario both for the Company and for the region. For Nathalie Prince, Director, Business Development for the Advanced Manufacturing key sector at Sherbrooke Innopole: “Cooper Standard’s expansion project is great news for Sherbrooke’s industrial economy.”

Established in Sherbrooke in 2013, when it acquired Jyco Sealing Technologies’ facilities on Industrial Boulevard, Cooper Standard now operates a second plant on Brodeur Street and also owns a warehouse on Industrial Boulevard. Over the following months, these three facilities will be united under the same roof in the new 138,000 sq ft building owned and built by Broccolini. “The project is already underway, says Roger Plamondon, Vice-President Real Estate Development and Acquisitions at Broccolini, real-estate promoter for the project. “Construction should be completed in approximately six months and represents an investment of nearly $11M.”

The Company is expanding its product offerings in Sherbrooke. Locally, it currently specializes in thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV) for the automotive industry.  “We will continue our current TPV activities while also adding new expertise in the extrusion of rubber (EDPM) sealing,” says Bill Pumphrey, president North America, Cooper Standard. “Most of the Company’s global plants focus on high-volume production for the automotive industry. Other types of customers need smaller production runs, which is the emphasis of our Industrial and Speciality Group and the Sherbrooke plant.”

By specializing in small-volume production in Sherbrooke, Cooper Standard intends to serve the non-automotive customers with greater levels of efficiency and flexibility. The new plant will also serve as a distribution center for the Company’s Industrial and Speciality Group in North America.

The project will be completed in about 12 months since the relocation of each of the three existing facilities will be done successively, starting in March 2017.

Other than the plants’ physical relocation, the Company is currently putting the finishing touches on a new ERP system in Sherbrooke which will include Cooper Standard’s new activities. It is also planning an employees’ skill enhancement program for rubber extrusion.

About Sherbrooke Innopole
Sherbrooke Innopole is the City of Sherbrooke’s economic development organization. Its mission is to ensure innovative, dynamic, and consistent economic growth by leveraging the start-up of companies that are the product of Sherbrooke research and ingenuity; by attracting new businesses; by supporting the expansion, innovation, and globalization efforts of existing manufacturers; by putting the multidisciplinary expertise of our team to good use; and by focusing on our five forward-looking key sectors: Life Sciences, Cleantech, Micro-Nanotechnologies, Information and Communication Technologies, and Advanced Manufacturing. www.sherbrooke-innopole.com

About Cooper Standard
Cooper Standard, headquartered in Novi, Mich., is a leading global supplier of systems and components for the automotive industry. Products include rubber and plastic sealing, fuel and brake lines, fluid transfer hoses and anti-vibration systems. Cooper Standard employs approximately 30,000 people globally and operates in 20 countries around the world. www.coopers tandard.com.

About Cooper Standard Industrial & Specialty Group
Cooper Standard’s Industrial & Specialty Group is managed by an experienced and dedicated Cooper Standard leadership team to capitalize on growth opportunities in the power sports, marine, agriculture, construction, restoration, commercial vehicle and recreation vehicle markets. www.cooperstandard-ISG.com.

About Broccolini
Broccolini is a single-source provider of construction, development and real-estate services. As a construction firm and real estate developer, Broccolini serves the residential, commercial and industrial markets of Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. www.broccolini.com

Sources: Sherbrooke Innopole, Cooper Standard and Broccolini