IPL starts production of heated skate blade

Saint-Damien, Que.-based IPL Inc. started the production of the Therma Blade heated hockey skate blade on December 4. IPL president Serge Bragdon, Que.-based Therma Blade president Dhiren Master and Quebec minister Raymond Bachand were on hand for the launch.

The skate blade will be manufactured at IPL’s St-Damien plant in a production area shaped like a hockey rink. More than $1.3 million was spent to develop the space.

The $10 million contract from Therma Blade will help IPL create more than 40 jobs. According to the company, the work cell will function 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“The fabrication of this heated hockey skate blade, which constitutes a remarkable innovation in the hockey world, sits perfectly with the spirit of innovation that IPL has shown throughout time,” said IPL’s Bragdon.

The heated hockey skate blade was invented by Tony Weber of Alberta, and is currently being tested by the National Hockey League.

“Therma Blade uses state-of-the-art technology allowing each blade to slightly heat the hockey skate blade thanks to electric energy which is supplied by a battery,” explained Weber.