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www.insidehalton.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, October 19, 2 0 1 7 | 24 Canadian Sm all BusinessWeek" A u to m a tio n helps m anufacturer ride o u t econom ic storm It was a trip to a local submarine sandwich shop that showed Ray Turner how he could speed up a key process in his factory. Turner's company, Lenmak Exterior Innova tions, makes building cladding and roofing in Edmonton. A few years ago, it began injecting foam insulation into curtain wall metal panels, but Turner was frustrated by how long it was taking for the foam to expand and stabilize. That's when he had a brainstorm while waiting for his lunch. It came as he watched his chicken sub roll down a con veyor belt into an oven and emerge cooked on the other side. Why not cure the foam in the same way? "I raced back, and we designed a machine that afternoon," Turner says. The company went on to develop the equipment and software for a fully automated production line to inject and cure the foam. Technology has incredible effect tivity, opening new markets and serving customers. Turner says the downturn in the Alberta economy hit his company hard, forcing layoffs. But investment in automation, in cluding computer numerical control (CNC) machines and robots helped Lenmak ride out the economic storm and positioned it for renewed growth. Investments make company a leader " I invest until it hurts," Turner says. "This is not a game. You've got to get better at what you're doing. If there's something that w ill make you better, you attack it. Then, instead of being a follower, you can be a leader." The ultimate goal o f all the investments is to add more value to the products the company produces both to generate income and become more competitive, Turner says. An added bonus o f high-tech machinery is the edge it gives Lenmak in attracting the best skilled workers from the millennial generation. "You give them high-end stuff that has noth ing but computers, and it talks to them." "That's my Porsche," he says. "You wouldn't believe how technology can help you step up your game." Automation based on digital technologies is one of the most important trends facing PHOTO: CPiMAGES/BDC Canadian entrepreneurs, according to a new Business Development Bank o f Canada (BDC) study entitled Future-proof Your Business: Adapting to Technology and Demographic Trends. Automation is allowing companies to take huge steps forward in improving produc BUSINESS SOLUTIONS We believe our people should be as reliable as our network. 8 out of 10 sm all business cu s to m e rs GUY p- amesKv ws c o n s id e r Cogeco a tru s te d a d viso r.1 Let us help y o u r business succeed. D isco ve r w h a t p e rso n a lize d se rvice and re lia b le s o lu tio n s can do fo r y o u r business. cogeco.ca/business coGeco Switch on amazing 1. According to a telephone survey conducted between June 1 and August 31, 2017 by Cible Recherche / Vox Opinion from Cogeco Business Solutions customers in Quebec and in Ontario. Weighted data by province and number of semces held.