Long mono-industrial, Drummondville has become one of the most important manufacturing centers in the province. The City is now seeking to become a benchmark in innovation. Thanks to the network between businesses and colleges and universities on its territory, but also thanks to the establishment of a single laboratory, the municipality and its region are winning their bet.
Per capita, Drummondville – and its 85,000 residents – has twice as many manufacturing companies (651 in total) as any other city in Quebec. 50 years ago, the economy of the capital of Centre-du-Québec was based on the textile industry. Today, its factories specialize in 10 sectors, ranging from machinery to composite materials, including food and furniture.
The municipality’s new objective: to become a model in innovation, more particularly in terms of automation, new technologies, in short artificial intelligence in an industrial context. Moreover, in 2024, Drummondville will host the International Summit on Innovation in Mid-Cities.
“Our goal is to become an industrial cluster where we value data,” explains Gerry Gagnon, general manager of Drummond Économique. This new universe gives us confidence in the sustainability of our economic development. To achieve this, we have scientists and businesses working hand in hand. »
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Gerry Gagnon, general manager of Drummond Économique
This is how the City, several industrial partners, as well as the Drummondville CEGEP and the university campus of the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), created the National Integrated Center for Intelligent Manufacturing (CNIMI).
The CNIMI is a research and training laboratory where employees, students, researchers, technicians and engineers come together. On site, there is a mini 4.0 factory equipped, among other things, with robotic tools for logistics and inspection. In short, business employees can familiarize themselves with the digital world through immersion. Companies are scrambling to take advantage of such an initiative.
The National Integrated Intelligent Manufacturing Center has been in operation for three years, but has just moved into a new $30 million building near the UQTR campus.
“We are the missing piece of the puzzle. Instead of each company having its own laboratory, we have created a center where the driving forces work together. There is no equivalent in Quebec. It’s original, very well thought out. Our goal is to multiply our model,” says Hussein Ibrahim, new director of CNIMI.
A very concrete case
There are numerous examples of innovative businesses in Drummondville. Whether they collaborate with the CNIMI or not. The case of Patio Drummond is particularly interesting.
Founded in 1970, the SME presents itself as the largest manufacturer of concrete slabs in North America. Based on the work of doctoral students at McGill University and their start-up CarbiCrete, Patio Drummond has succeeded in producing on a large scale and marketing a so-called “carbon negative” masonry block.
These gray concrete blocks do not contain cement powder, which is the second largest emitter of CO2 in the manufacture of cement, recalls Philippe Girardin, co-owner and innovation director of Patio Drummond.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Philippe Girardin, co-owner and innovation director of Patio Drummond
“The powder is replaced by blast furnace slag, which is a residue from metallurgical factories,” he explains. We therefore avoid sending this residue to landfill sites. But in addition, when the concrete hardens, it is injected with CO2 who remains trapped in the block and never comes out. Hence the name carbon negative. »
According to Mr. Girardin, each set of 20 concrete blocks produced represents the equivalent of one tree planted.
The Patio Drummond/CarbiCrete concrete block was launched in the fall of 2023. The objective of CarbiCrete, indicates Philippe Girardin, co-owner and innovation director of Patio Drummond, is to sell licenses (in short, the recipe) of the product to the international.
“What we developed in Drummondville will have repercussions all over the world,” he boasts.
Two major challenges
However, challenges of a different nature await Drummondville, according to Gerry Gagnon, of Drummond Économique.
The housing crisis and labor shortage top the list, he says. “But the battery sector is another issue that we must take an interest in,” believes Mr. Gagnon. It will create a stir. Bécancour is less than 50 minutes by car. Yes, some of our companies could become subcontractors in this sector, but many of our workers could be attracted there. »