NORCAT has a much bigger footprint in northern Ontario with its latest acquisition.
The Sudbury-based innovation mill acquired Thunder Bay's Workplace Training and Safety First to their family, extending their reach into Northwestern Ontario.
“We operate all over the world. The majority of work that we do is in northern Ontario, but it's also important to realize we do work for skilled labour training development around the world. We thought this acquisition was critical to those goals,” said NORCAT CEO Don Duval.
He explained from a strategic standpoint, NORCAT wants to be a global leader in skilled labour training. The majority of work they do today really focuses on mining. Adding Workplace Training and Safety First will bolster their services in the training sector in the forestry industry, which he said is complimentary to much of the work they already do.
“They are very well known for training in the mining exploration area,” he said. “In addition, they bring an array of services in the forestry industry, as well as other skilled labour industries. They also have a geographic reach that is very well entrenched in northwestern Ontario. A lot of complimentary programs and services, as well as a strategic meeting place in the region.”
This gives NORCAT four brick-and-mortar bases, The global headquarters in Sudbury, and locations in Onaping, Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay.
A news release stated over the past five years, NORCAT has seen significant growth in their main sectors if mining, construction, forestry and oil/gas, both in domestic and international markets. NORCAT's flagship programs, including their proprietary supervisor training, train-the-trainer, and equipment simulation training programs, continue to serve as the cornerstone of the business. As well, ongoing investments in NORCAT's underground Centre, the only operating mine dedicated to mine skills training and technology development, testing and showcasing show their dedication to mine training and development.
“I want to commend the leadership of both Workplace Training and Safety First and NORCAT for working hard to bring this deal together,” stated Shayne Wishiewski, chair of the NORCAT board of directors and general manager, mining projects at Glencore.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
