The Honorable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, on February 5 announced the awarding of $90,375 in non-repayable funding to S.T.L. Lubrifiants. Granted under the Community Adjustment Fund, this financial assistance will enable the firm to produce ENVIROSYS, a lubrication system for use in the forest industry. This project will lead to an investment of $180,750 in the Domaine-du-Roy Regional County Municipality (RCM).
The ENVIROSYS concept centers on the use of biodegradable vegetable-based grease to lubricate the moving parts (chain guides, sprocket wheels and cutting chains) on feller heads. Developed by Robert Soucy, commercial attache for S.T.L. Lubrifiants, and Ghyslain and Roger Bouliane, owners of both this firm and Arbrofer, ENVIROSYS generates less pollution and is more economical than conventional lubrication methods: It reduces 90 percent of the oil discharged into the environment and cuts lubricant costs by 65 to 70 percent. The system makes it possible to operate the machinery for 36 to 48 consecutive hours with only one filling.
"S.T.L. Lubrifiants is a company that, like so many others in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region, stands out by virtue of its dynamism. The ENVIROSYS concept it has developed not only makes use of state-of-the-art technology, it also promises to help the region's logging companies become more competitive and to open up new growth opportunities for the Domaine-du-Roy RCM. Canada Economic Development is proud to support this project, especially in that it will help stimulate an industry that has been hard hit by the economic slowdown," explained the Minister of State.
The Government of Canada established the Community Adjustment Fund as part of its January 2009 Economic Action Plan to support the transition toward new avenues of development. This measure seeks to help communities severely affected by the economic situation and forestry crisis harness new business opportunities create jobs and ensure their prosperity. The S.T.L. Lubrifiants project is entirely in line with these objectives.
The funding from Canada Economic Development will allow the company to acquire manufacturing equipment, register the ENVIROSYS trademark and obtain the applicable patents. This project will result in the creation of three full-time jobs in the area as well as in the maintenance of one full-time and one part-time position.
