16 February 2017

The expansion plans for Verbom’s Sherbrooke plant have rallied support from various levels of government: after the announcement of financial support from the federal government in January, Québec has given the business a loan of $3.6M.

Verbom is expanding its plant on Industriel Boulevard to accommodate the installation of a new automated production line for car body parts using thermoforming. These parts are intended for Tesla’s Model X, a fully electric SUV.

“This new chain will make Sherbrooke’s plant the only one in the world to use a high-speed automated aluminium thermoforming process,” pointed out Dominique Anglade, Minister of Economy, Science, and Innovation and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy, who made the announcement alongside Luc Fortin, MNA for Sherbrooke and Minister responsible for the Estrie region, Karine Vallières, MNA for Richmond, and Bernard Sévigny, Mayor of Sherbrooke.

The $15.1M will create 25 jobs and consolidate 200 more at the Sherbrooke and Valcourt plants. In only one year, the Sherbrooke plant’s staff has increased tenfold, from 10 employees to currently almost 100.

The loan has been allocated through the ESSOR program and is part of the 2015-2020 Transportation Electrification Action Plan.

Sources: Gouvernement du Québec and La Tribune
Photo Credits: @DomAnglade

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