Backgrounder: Nova Scotia’s aerospace and defence companies reach new heights

December 18, 2023 · Halifax, Province · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

Nova Scotia’s aerospace and defence community has become an important source of economic growth and opportunity for the province. The Government of Canada is investing $4,144,807 through ACOA’s Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program to help five Nova Scotia companies scale up, automate and attract new customers.

Firms receiving repayable contributions are:

ESL Technology Inc. (ESL Labs) received:

·         $1,293,000 to undertake a major expansion of its testing facilities.

·         $1,288,750 to acquire state-of-the-art equipment which will allow the company to broaden its testing capabilities of A&D materials, helping more regional manufacturers meet regulatory requirements.

Located in Dartmouth, ESL Labs has been a leading provider of product and material performance and compliance testing for over 40 years. ESL Labs is a partner in the design and development process for products and materials that are often destined for harsh and demanding environments in industries such as aerospace, defence, marine, mining, and oil and gas.

Aerotec Engines Limited received $500,000 to acquire two new engine test cells, which are used in a variety of ways to develop and test engines. Aerotec will also engage an industrial engineer to implement the re-design of its plant floor. This is expected to greatly improve the company’s production capacity, helping it meet current and growing industry demands.

Originally founded in 1996 and operating with a staff of only two, Aerotec Engines has become one of Canada’s leading aircraft piston engine overhaul shops. Now located in Beaverbank, it maintains engines for an ever-growing fleet of aircrafts, including Cessna Aircrafts. In 2019, the company built and shipped an engine that flies medical evacuation missions in Haiti. Today they manufacture over 225 engines per year.

I.M.P Group Limited received $478,557 to purchase a computer numerical control (CNC) component profiling and drilling machine. IMP will also implement AI software which more accurately communicates operating performace, helping the organization improve its processes.

I.M.P Group is a Nova Scotia-based company founded in 1967. It currently employs over 3000 people. Its aerostructures division, located in Amherst, manufactures and repairs flight-critical aircraft components for major aerospace and defence companies, both domestic and international.
 

Modest Tree Media Inc. recieved $334,500 to engage business development, marketing and human resource expertise to help grow the company efficiently. This will also help the company meet client demand for its 3D training simulations, and for its digital solutions for maintenance and operations of complex equipment.

Located in Halifax, Modest Tree is an award-winning integrated digitalization company. It specializes in providing digital solutions for training and service support to help operators and maintainers of complex equipment train staff and streamline operations. Modest Tree now offers a suite of services and software for a variety of industries such as defence, healthcare, law enforcement, manufacturing, and aerospace.
 

Spiri Holdings Inc (Spiri robotics) received $250,000 to increase expertise in engineering, research and computer sciences to improve capacity and meet growing demand for its products and services.

Spiri companies were incorporated in 2015, after developing from Pleiades Consolidated Inc. The companies are based in the Halifax Regional Municipality. Spiri develops unmanned, fully programmable drones, designed to collect and analyze data, for a range of scientific and security applications, including water samples. The drones have a battery life of up to 30 minutes and can travel distances up to 16km. Its clients include government departments, universities, and private industry.