Vanguard Magazine

tECh wAtCh www.vanguardcanada.com OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 37 President & CEO, Smart Galley Designs Inc. Vice President of Procurement, Almaco moniCA JAnsen JuHA PAkomAki use new technologies such as for com- munications and acoustic attenuation. This, together with the need to minimize weight and passive fire protection, makes for new materials, which are lighter, non- combustible, and with good acoustic be- haviour to be increasingly used. Pare: Rousseau invests time and money in new technology every year. That's part of our DNA. We always want the most flex- ible and ultra-precise equipment possible to guarantee industry-leading quality. Longo: The 3D modelling technology is becoming an indispensable method for developing products in general. It saves on development costs, design change in- vestigation and ultimately achieving cus- tomer satisfaction. Hermida: Our strategy in Canada focuses on two main businesses: the military and the LNG sector. Within both sectors, we are a company with vast experience, in terms of the execution of these projects in different parts of the world. The search for the appropriate industrial partners and lo- cal Canadian suppliers, including innova- tive technologies to share that experience with, would make it possible for us to achieve that growth in a much faster man- ner, both in the Atlantic Coast, where we are already established, and on the West Coast, where there are new naval and LNG construction projects being born. Pakomaki: We're preparing to expand further into the defence and marine sec- tors in Canada and we are very excited to continue to visit Canada. Q What is your true competitive advantage that you bring? And how will Canada benefit by working with you? Hermida: The main advantage is experi- ence. Naval construction in Canada has just started and the demand for skilled and qualified personnel is very important right now due to the projects by the Govern- ment of Canada. These programs require long-term learning and Canada and its companies could benefit from the experi- ence to reduce learning time. Pare: Flexibility. Our products are built from the ground up to be flexible, which means we can customize them to meet different requirements. Whether it's a tight space, a boat, or a truck, they can be adapted. If we don't have the exact product the customer needs, we can customize it for them. Longo: Our customers would benefit from our can-do, never give up and dedi- cated attitude. IMS is a dynamic, flexible and vertically integrated engineering and manufacturing company. Jansen: We specialize in ergonomic, smart galley and kitchen designs by combining traditional with modern equipment con- figurations. We also provide consultancy and design services, turn-key solutions and a line of electrical adjustable Ergo Workstations that are designed to prevent workplace-related injuries. Pakomaki: The year 2018 marked the 20th anniversary of Almaco. We've recently restructured into three new divisions that form the core expertise of our company: accommodation systems, catering systems, and service. So that's where our focus is and that's where we're doing a lot of work. Final thoughts As someone working the front lines talk- ing to Canadian suppliers, there is always an interest in both the direction of the general industry and how to partner with foreign companies building in Canada. It has been a pleasure to highlight some in- novative companies operating in the ship interiors space, both foreign interiors businesses and local Canadian suppliers for this issue of Tech Watch. Megha Khirwal is Account Manager, Customer Success at OMX. Jansen: We need to focus more on peo- ple, in our case, the crew and the people that work in the galley to offer them a safe and comfortable work environment that adjusts to their needs. Q How can we apply the latest technologies to your business, which typically has been viewed as traditional? Do you see a role for technology in the outfitting business? Hermida: We have supplied accommoda- tions with bulletproof protection systems, improved ergonomics throughout, and Jansen: Height adjustable workstations and equipment choices that are safe for marine applications combined with the advantage of using WiFi in the galleys to increase the possibility of knowledge transfer. This would not only be for the good of the people but also would benefit the costs for the foodservice processes on board. Q Can you talk more about your strat- egy in Canada, in particular as it relates to partnering with the local Canadian industry? As someone working the front lines talking to Canadian suppliers, there is always an interest in both the direction of the general industry and how to partner with foreign companies building in Canada.

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