Farm equipment manufacturer Bourgault Industries Ltd. is expected to spend $50 million over the next year and a half to expand its production facilities at St. Brieux, Sask.
Company officials say strong markets for existing Bourgault products and growing demand for larger seeding machinery require additional space and more efficient manufacturing processes.
The expansion will add nearly 200,000 sq. feet of manufacturing area to Bourgault’s largest building, nearly quadrupling its existing floor space.
Production of the company’s Paralink hoe drills, air hoe drills and tillage equipment will be consolidated in the enlarged building, which will encompass nearly six acres of manufacturing space under one roof.
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The expansion, slated for completion before the end of next year, will accommodate the production of larger machinery and improve overall plant productivity.
“We’re still growing as far as our sales numbers, but over and above the demand for our products is the fact that the product itself is getting larger,” said Robert Fagnou, a marketing specialist with Bourgault.
“At this time, we’re not properly equipped to be able to deal with some of the sizes that we’re producing.”
Bourgault’s 86-foot drill entered its first phase of limited production last season. Production of those machines will increase to meet market demand.
Interest in the company’s new 950 bushel seed tank is also growing.
“We’ve got a limited number of 86 foot drills out on the market … and we have trouble getting it out the doors,” Fagnou said.
“We also have our 7950 air seeder, which is becoming very popular, and again, a 950 bu. air seeder is a challenge to get through the plant.”
Bourgault’s biggest sellers included a 450 bu. air seeder and a 60 foot drill when the company last expanded its production facilities in 2008.
Today, 700 bu. tanks are becoming the norm, and demand for 950 bu. seeders is rising.
Fagnou said the larger facilities will accommodate new technologies such as a full powder coat painting system for larger machine frames and enhanced material handling systems.
The company is also looking at new robotic welding technologies for larger machinery components as well as innovative systems for improving machine assembly.
The new technologies will increase productivity without the need for additional staff, Fagnou said.
“We’re looking at trying to do as much as we can with our existing workforce because that’s one of our ongoing challenges is trying to get enough people,” he said.
“It’s always difficult to find workers so we’re focusing on improving our productivity and our workflows.”
The company now employs 550 to 600 people at its St. Brieux plant.
Bourgault’s expansion is the latest good news story from Saskatchewan’s farm manufacturing sector.
Earlier this month, Seed Hawk announced plans to increase its manufacturing facilities at Langbank, Sask.
The two-phase expansion will add nearly 100,000 sq. feet over the next three years.
Seed Hawk is selling more equipment in Europe, Australia and the Soviet Union and has recently partnered with Swedish manufacturer Vaderstad-Verken AB.
Expanding the complex in Langbank will allow Seed Hawk to carry and assemble more of Väderstad’s products.
It will also provide the space needed to support a new corn planter and expand the lineup of zero-till seeding implements.
