25 September 2016

PRESS RELEASE – The Sherbrooke company Publiforme is about to begin construction of a new plant that will be located on Robert-Boyd Street, in the new extension to Sherbrooke’s Regional Industrial Park. The building, with a surface area of 16 500 sq. ft., will meet the business’s growing needs in terms of space, especially for production related to their new major contracts.

Founded in 1996, Publiforme is a family business offering services in sign production, lettering, road marking, digital printing, silkscreen printing, and graphic design. In the coming years, the company plans to carve a niche for itself, both provincially and nationally.

“New projects are currently pouring in at Publiforme, making our current premises tight for space. The new building will meet all of our needs in terms of space for our new contracts, and be fully adapted to our activities, in addition to providing us with an interesting showcase for potential industrial clients,” explained Jean-Guy Boisvert, President of the company.

In collaboration with the Comité de promotion industrielle de Brompton (CPIB – Brompton’s industrial promotion committee), the business will be investing $1.5 million, which includes the cost of the land, building, and equipment.

The new plant, covering double the current work space, will enable Publiforme to expand its production capacity. Having recently obtained major Canadian contracts, notably with Molson-Coors Canada, the company was beginning to feel cramped in its premises on Des Écossais Road. This growth phase for Publiforme is expected to result in the consolidation of 25 current jobs, and potentially the addition of four new positions in the near future. The façade of the new establishment promises to be very eye-catching. “We work in the field of signage, so our relocation provides us with an opportunity for us to practise what we preach,” added company President Boisvert, whose plans are to move in next spring.

In undertaking this major project, Publiforme has been able to count on support from Sherbrooke Innopole in its efforts to find a new location. The CPIB, which will construct the building and rent it to the company with an option to buy, will also play a significant role.

“Publiforme will be able to buy the plant when its management is ready. In the meantime, the company will be paying us rent, enabling it to accumulate capital, which would not have been the case if they had been required to borrow from a financier. This is how we have been operating for nearly 30 years. Our goal is to help businesses so they don’t have to touch their operating funds. In the past, our activities were limited to the Brompton area, but we are now expanding our services to cover greater Sherbrooke,” noted Paul Proulx, CPIB President.

Sources: Publiforme, CPIB and Sherbrooke Innopole