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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, September 18, 2015 | 8 Laker's Plant 2 in Oakville is banking on nuclear energy continued from p.1 Laker Energy Products President and CEO Chris Hughes spoke about the calculated gamble he is taking in expanding his business into Oakville. "Procurement of components for the next reactor refurbishment project in Ontario, the Darlington project, has commenced and Laker was fortunate enough to win contracts so far for the feeder pipe, end-fittings and liners. To handle these orders we did need additional equipment and space, but nowhere near this much. The machine behind me, for example, is a $1.5 million investment. It is an amazing machine, but it, along with the purchase of this building, is overkill for one refurbishment project," said Hughes. "The logical question is why did I do it?" Hughes noted a major competitor going out of business, combined with the Ontario Ministry of Energy releasing a Long-Term Energy Plan, which commits to the refurbishment of 10 nuclear reactors over the next 15 years, gave him the confidence to invest and expand. "There is also the opportunity for new reactor sales in China, Argentina, Romania and the U.K.," said Hughes. "It takes government leadership to promote the nuclear industry overseas... the government of the country buying the reactor wants to see the government of the country selling the reactor is firmly behind the technology. These deals are basically government-to-government deals and the provincial government here is getting that and moving solidly behind us to get those sales." Hughes, whose head office and main manufacturing plant is located in Burlington, said he chose the Oakville site because most of his workforce is in the area, two major customers are nearby and the building became available. Laker Energy Products currently has a staff of approximately 40 people, which will double when the second plant in Oakville becomes fully operational. Besides the manufacturing equipment, the features of the facility will also soon include a Ontario economy. "Ontario has become a clean-energy powerhouse and has become North America's leader in the development, use and manufacturing of clean energy, including the robust supply chain of which you are part in the nuclear sector," said Chiarelli. "Canada's nuclear industry, which is nearly all in Ontario, generates $7 billion a year in annual revenues and contributes $1.5 billion to the province. Innovations developed right here in Ontario attract billions of dollars in new private and public sector investment and has created thousands of high-skilled jobs. Laker Energy is a great example of one company doing just that." McMahon weighed in on the Laker Energy Products expansion and on the future of nuclear energy in the province. "It's great to see local companies like Laker Energy Products investing in our community and in our province as a consequence of their innovative approach," she said. "The nuclear industry will continue to be a vital part of our province's economy, particularly with the planned refurbishment of both the Darlington and Bruce generating stations. Companies like Laker Energy Products are destined to play a critical role in this growing sector." Bayh, who is on the leadership council of Nuclear Matters, a group dedicated to informing the American public about the benefits of nuclear energy, cited Laker's experience as an example of what needs to be done in Canada and the U.S. for both nations to be competitive in the global economy. Oakville Mayor Rob Burton said he was happy to see more advanced manufacturing jobs coming to the town. "Ladies and gentlemen you are on the cusp of a great future," said Burton to the audience present. "There is no alternative to the nuclear energy that powers so much of our economy. I have known that since I was a very young man.... You have a great future ahead of you." Duncan Hawthorne Chris Hughes Ladies and gentlemen, you are on the cusp of a great future. There is no alternative to the nuclear energy that powers so much of our economy. I have known that since I was a very young man... You have a great future ahead of you. Mayor of Oakville Rob Burton Mayor Rob Burton 65-foot testing tower, which will be in place in January 2016. "One of the safety systems for the CANDU reactor is shut-off rods. In the event of a problem, these shut-off rods have to drop very quickly into the reactor so they can kill the reaction," said Hughes. "These shut-off rods are held by gearboxes called shut-off drive mechanisms and we are the only qualified manufacturer of that component, but you have to test it and simulate a reactor. These things sit about 65-feet above the bottom of the reactor, so we have to prove that a rod can fall through a column of water at a prescribed speed and that is the purpose of the test." Once complete, Hughes said Laker would be the only manufacturer in the world with this kind of testing capability. Hughes also emphasized the Fourth Line facility is basically a machine shop and as such, there will be no nuclear material present, either in the facility or in the testing tower. Laker Energy Products' announcement was well received by Chiarelli who said the nuclear industry contributes greatly to the www.oakville.ca Downtown Plan Planning & Development Council Meeting -- October 5 Staff reports will be available for review online as of Friday, September 25 at oakville.ca. To comment on these reports, at Council, you can register in advance as a delegate by emailing clerks@oakville.ca, be present at the meeting on October 5, or email your comments to clerks@oakville.ca prior to noon on October 5 to have your comments submitted to Council. For more information, visit oakville.ca. On October 5, Council will receive four staff reports all pertaining to Downtown Plan initiatives: · Downtown Plan Implementation · Downtown Cultural Hub Master Plan · Downtown Parking Strategy · Downtown Retail Action Plan