11 December 2015

PRESS RELEASE – The adapted business Défi Polyteck will shortly move in a brand-new building located at 1255 Queen-Victoria Boulevard in Sherbrooke. The building, with an area of 100 000 square feet, will enable the business to double its available space. The investments made by the business will amount to approximately $4.5 million, including the building, land, and facilities.

The new building, which is nearly finished, will enable the two recently merged Sherbrooke divisions Défi SM and Atelier Polyteck to be under one roof. Therefore, starting in mid-December, the employees of Léger Street and Deschaillons Street will be progressively moving into the new factory. The business received support from Sherbrooke Innopole to find the new location.

The business seeks to create a meaningful living environment for its employees who are facing daily difficulties such as poverty and social isolation. To do so, it will set up a green and healthy cafeteria, a greenhouse, community gardens, permaculture facilities, a gym, sports facilities, and an aviary.

“The idea is to create an environment that will enable the employees to thrive, because it has a real impact on their work performance. It all depends on the way things are done,” indicated Serge Sylvain, General Manager at Défi Polyteck.

Défi Polyteck is planning on developing a new sector of activity that will enable it to reach the Canadian and American markets: ceramic cutting and mosaic assembly. Investments of $300 000 have been made to acquire the machinery required for this new field of expertise. In addition, the company is considering developing a reuse centre, in particular for electric appliances, in collaboration with Estrie Aide.

The new projects implemented by Défi Polyteck will result in the consolidation of 155 jobs and the addition of 12 additional resources over the next year.

Défi Polyteck is a business providing a work environment adapted to people who have functional limitations. It was founded in 2014 following the merger of three adapted businesses, i.e. Atelier Polyteck and Défi SM in Sherbrooke, and Défi Récup-Air in Coaticook. Its field of expertise includes confidential document shredding, ceramic cutting and mosaic assembly, woodworking, industrial subcontracting, and vinyl article manufacturing.

Sources: Défi Polyteck and Sherbrooke Innopole