Vortex Aquatic Structures International is diving into acquisitions for the first time: the Montreal manufacturer has just purchased the Dutch company Watergames & More (no, it’s not Dutch), which specializes in the distribution and manufacturing of aquatic games.
“We are completing the acquisition this week and are ready to advertise it,” said Stephen Hamelin, President and CEO of Vortex International, on June 25.
He founded Vortex in 1995 to make urban water toys, such as his iconic Splashpad, a playground with colorful projection systems whose water can be collected, filtered and reused.
Founded in 2008 by Paul van den Berg, Watergames & More was initially a distributor of water games, before manufacturing them itself. The family business with around fifteen employees produces water slides, among other things, which caught the interest of Stephen Hamelin.
“These are bulky products that are expensive to transport,” he says. “This allows us to be more competitive in these product ranges in Europe.”
Another advantage is that the Dutch manufacturer has dug deep distribution channels in the Netherlands and Germany.
“Germany and the Netherlands are very active in water games and these two markets are essential for our development in Europe,” says Stephen Hamelin.
Vortex had already been present in Germany for several years, “but it is not an easy market to penetrate as an importer, especially in manufactured products,” he says.
“The people at Watergames & More are well-known in this market. They have good contacts, a sales network, and that allows us to go further in Germany.”
In the same waters
The initiative for the transaction was taken by the smallest and youngest company, Watergames & More.
“We met them at fairs and we had been in contact with them for several years,” says Stephen Hamelin. “They perceived that there was a synergy with Vortex to allow them to gain more market share, because our product range complements their offering.”
The conversation began slowly over the course of last fall and took a more serious course starting in December.
“It went well, quite quickly too,” comments the president of Vortex.
“People in the Netherlands are very frank in their discussions. They are transparent. This makes negotiations easier and faster.”
Especially since the two companies were swimming in the same cultural waters. “They have the same core values that we do. These people are professional and reliable. They are focused on the customer and quality. Those are things that resonate a lot with Vortex.”
Odmar van den Berg, current chairman of Watergames & More and son of the founder, will continue to manage the local team.
An upward slope
The acquisition of the Dutch slide manufacturer proves that Vortex is on an upward trajectory after the pandemic slump.
“We lost a bit of revenue after 2020, but since then, we’ve been growing,” confirms Stephen Hamelin. “Last year, we saw a sales increase of over 25%, and this year, we’re probably aiming for 15 to 20%.”
Prior to this acquisition, Vortex had experienced essentially organic growth, particularly in the United States, which is its main market.
Vortex had set foot on European soil by opening a small office in Spain, which gradually transformed into an assembly, distribution and engineering center that employs around fifteen people.
“Our strategy is not just to export products,” explains Stephen Hamelin. “To be successful, you have to have value-added services. The design, the engineering, the water management system, it has to be localized.”
Vortex has 220 employees. Over the years and through water, the Pointe-Claire company has completed more than 9,000 aquatic installations in some fifty countries on five continents. None in Antarctica yet.
Distech Controls in controlled expansion
IMAGE PROVIDED BY DISTECH CONTROLS
An illustration of the Distech Controls headquarters expansion project in Brossard
Distech Controls’ headquarters and market are both expanding. The intelligent building control systems specialist will be able to apply its expertise to itself by adding 43,000 sq. ft.2 to its Brossard building. “We are focused on expanding our addressable market by increasing where we are competitive and what we can control,” said Distech Controls President Martin Villeneuve. Earlier this year, Distech Controls expanded its European headquarters in Brignais, near Lyon, France, increasing production and warehousing space by 200 percent and office space by more than 125 percent. “This expansion positions us well to meet the needs of our growing global customer base,” added Villeneuve. The Brossard-based company, owned by Acuity Brands, employs approximately 450 people.
LJ Déry unfreezes funds to expand
PHOTO LUDOVIC GAUTHIER, PROVIDED BY LJ DÉRY
From left to right, Antoine Déry, Director, Transport and Logistics of LJ Déry, Gabrielle Déry, Director of Operations, Lynda De Carufel, Co-Founder and Secretary-Treasurer, and Jean Déry, Co-Founder and President of LJ Déry.
LJ Déry, the food storage and distribution specialist, is also expanding. The Quebec company has announced the construction of a 32,000 sq. ft. distribution center.2 for refrigerated and frozen foods in the François-Leclerc Nord industrial park in Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures. The $12 million project is scheduled for completion on March 1er February 2025. Built on a 160,000 sq. ft. plot of land2 in collaboration with Hochelaga Construction and Acero, the new centre will have seven dock doors. They will be able to accommodate the approximately 25 trucks and 30 refrigerated trailers that make up the company’s fleet in a cold manner. The LJ Déry head office will also have a (heated) space there. Founded in 1997 by Lynda De Carufel and Jean Déry, the family business also announced the appointment of Gabrielle Déry as Director of Operations and Antoine Déry as Director, Transport and Logistics. It has 45 employees.
Point Laz extracts $1.2 million
IMAGE PROVIDED BY POINT LAZ
Point Laz’s Lazaruss device performs automated inspection of mine shaft walls. Its 3D scanner produces continuous data that is faster, more accurate and more reliable than visual inspection.
The Lazaruss mining technology of the young Quebec company Point Laz has allowed it to extract $1.2 million in financing. With a little luck and a lot of work, these funds should open up to a larger deposit: they will be used to commercialize the device worldwide. Lazaruss performs an automated inspection of the walls of mine shafts. Its 3D readers produce continuous data, faster, more precise and more reliable than a visual inspection. It also increases the safety of miners by detecting changes that are usually imperceptible by traditional methods. The technology has already attracted the interest of large mining companies, informs the Quebec SME. Point Laz was founded in Quebec City in 2020 by Alexandre Grenier, who holds a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering. The innovation was the subject of an article by Hélène Baril in the PME Innovation section, on July 3, 2023.
Read “Intelligence for Mines”
The number
15,000
Montreal-based Connect&GO will distribute 15,000 of its smart bracelets to athletes and their supporters at the Paris Olympic Games, making it easier for them to travel and make purchases in the Olympic Village.