B.C. composites manufacturer wins at CME awards

FormaShape, a division of Whitewater Composites of Kelowna, B.C., was one of six award recipients at the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters’ annual Canadian Innovation Awards in Toronto last week.

FormaShape won the Deloitte’s Canadian Innovation Award for Productivity Enhancement, which recognizes innovative excellence in improving overall productivity through the application of LEAN processes.

The title of Canadian Manufacturer of the Year went to Ontario-based Christie Digital Systems Canada, Inc., a projection systems manufacturer with innovative LEAN best practices, workforce development program, and unique business strategies.

“The winners of the Canadian Innovation Awards are models of excellence for others to emulate,” said CME’s VP of public affairs Jeff Brownlee. “We live in a competitive world, but nothing gives Canadians a greater sense of pride when Canadians take the world and win.”

Former Minister of Industry, Finance, Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister John Manley emceed the event.

“Recognizing the innovative excellence of Canadian companies is a critical part of furthering Canada’s innovation agenda,” said Manley. “We need to celebrate Canadian success stories to inspire others to take the necessary risks to bring Canada in the innovative forefront.”

The other winners at the event included Winnipeg’s New Flyer Industries as EDC’s Canadian Innovation Award for Global Business of the Year; Orton, Ont.-based JAY-LOR Fabricating Inc. for BDC’s Canadian Innovation Award SME Innovator of the Year; Quebec’s PyroPhotonics Lasers Inc. as the NRC/IRAP’s Canadian Innovation Award for New Technology; and Markham, Ont.’s IBM Canada, Ltd., for the Business Takes Action’s Canadian Innovation Award for Innovator of the Year.