Technology

Paul Laplante, renovator and businessman, was putting up drywall and completing the job by taping the joints when he thought to himself “There must be an easier way to do this.

By ANDREW WAREING For IT strategies consulting company Collective Minds Consulting in North Bay, breaking into a new market south of the border is a process that is requiring equal portions of persistence and patience.

By ANDREW WAREING Architectural and engineering firm B.H. Lawrence Consultants in Timmins, have hired three individuals to explore new opportunities in exporting. The company’s exports are only about five per cent of its total business.

Donald Champagne knows what keeps customers happy. Deliver what they want days and weeks ahead of the competition.

By IAN ROSS The head of NorWa Manufacturing and Distribution Co. knew two things when he launched his business three years ago: Northern Ontario forestry mills generate tons of wood waste and horses have a propensity to defecate - a lot.

By ANDREW WAREING An online listing of project tenders is proving an invaluable tool for Thunder Bay’s Tangent Stair Manufacturing with exports to the U.S. expected to expand considerably in the coming year.

By ANDREW WAREING For Granite Tops Inc., there was a whole market within three to six hour’s drive and a chance to grow. The question was how to tap into it. John Hakala, manager of sales and marketing for Granite Tops Inc.

By ANDREW WAREING Steve Matusch is co-owner of Ionic Engineering with Steve Reichle. Ionic Engineering specializes in automation and robotics in the mining sector.

By IAN ROSS Build upon what you do best and stay there. “Find a niche and do the best that you can do,” says Keith Robinson, co-owner of Souris River Canoes, an Atikokan builder of high-quality composite canoes.

By ANDREW WAREING Tony Marinaro, director of operations for Kish-Gon-Dug Canada in Devlin, Ont., says the $1,000 they spent on post cards to lawn and garden retailers in the U.S. is proving to have been a wise investment.