Craig Manufacturing Awarded $25,000,000 Contract
Craig Manufacturing (Hartland, NB) announced today, it has been selected and awarded a $25 million contract by Marshall Land Systems (Cambridge, UK) to produce 845 loadbeds under Canada’s Medium Support Vehicle System (MSVS) – Standard Military Pattern (SMP) project. Marshall Land Systems is a tier one supplier to Mack Defense (Allentown, PA), the Original Equipment Manufacturer of Canada’s SMP vehicle. Craig Manufacturing’s work on the SMP project will span four years and create 26 full time jobs.
Craig Manufacturing is thrilled to have been selected by Marshall as their manufacturing partner on the MSVS program. Many of us at Craig have friends or family serving in the military and we are honoured to build products for them. Being a part of the MSVS program allows us to create new jobs in New Brunswick both at our facility and within our supply chain. It also allows us to build a proven supply chain not only for this program, but to leverage other future defence programs such as Canada’s upcoming Logistical Vehicle Modernization program, right here in New Brunswick.
In 2015, Mack Defense was awarded $834 million by the Government of Canada to deliver 1,587 trucks for the Medium Support Vehicle System (MSVS) – Standard Military Pattern (SMP) program along with an initial five years of In-Service Support. Mack Defense will also provide 318 trailers and 161 armour protection systems (armoured cabs) as part of the contract.
A key condition of this contract also included a strong commitment by Mack Defense to meet the Industrial Regional Benefits (IRB) requirements of this contract and as such Mack Defense developed and implemented a strong Canadian Supply chain for many of the components of the MSVS-SMP system including working with its key suppliers. Marshall, as a key supplier for this program, was contracted with responsibilities to develop a Canadian supply chain capable of developing the loadbeds required for this program. After an extensive evaluation of Canadian manufacturers, Marshall selected Craig as their manufacturing partner for the steel components of the program. Marshall provided design, logistics, quality and program management to Craig for the fulfillment of this program.
Our government supports small businesses throughout the country. With the Industrial and Regional Benefits Policy we require contractors to make investments in Canadian small businesses, facilitating access to new markets and creating well-paying middle-class jobs in Canada. Through this investment, Craig Manufacturing is creating 26 new jobs and building its supply chain in New Brunswick.
As a major partner and tier one supplier to Mack Defense on the MSVS – SMP program, Marshall Land Systems was contracted to develop a Canadian supply chain in manufacturing the loadbeds required for the program. After an extensive search and capabilities analysis, Craig Manufacturing was selected as the preferred supplier to build, manage and deliver the loadbeds for Mack’s SMP vehicle.
In support of Canada’s defence policy, Strong Secure, Engaged, Mack Defense and our project team led by Alain Gauthier, is proud to deliver the MSVS SMP trucks to the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces. Logistics vehicles like these trucks are used to move critical equipment, personnel and supplies and form the backbone of ground transportation capability of the Canadian Forces fulfilling a critical capability need at an important time for our customer.
Craig Manufacturing is producing loadbeds for the SMP Cargo, Mobile Repair, Gun Tow and the Material Handling (Crane) variants of the vehicle. These loadbeds bolt directly to the truck frame supplied by Mack Defense which allows the truck to perform the diverse function of each variant.
Marshall is proud to be part of the MSVS team supporting the Canadian Armed Forces. Our proven capability in designing the vehicle components for defence forces across the globe, our project management abilities and our supply chain management skills in selecting great companies to support us were integral parts of achieving success in winning this contract. The appointment Marshall Aerospace Canada Inc as the Programme Office for our part of the upgrade for the Canadian Armed Forces assets demonstrates our commitment to work with customers to deliver against their requirements.
In addition, the company has received funding from the Government of Canada to purchase a robotic welding system that supports new manufacturing techniques, and enables Craig Manufacturing to increase productivity and meet client demands including those under the MSVS – SMP project.
The Government of Canada is committed to making strategic investments in companies like Craig Manufacturing as it expands here in Hartland, building on the expertise and opportunities for skilled work it has brought to our region for so long. I am pleased that our government, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, has been able to support Craig over the years with various growth and expansion projects, including a recent $76,455 repayable contribution toward the purchase of a robotic welding system.
CRAIG MANUFACTURING
Craig Manufacturing, a 72-year-old, 4 generation, family business based in Hartland, NB with locations in Cambridge, ON and Blackfalds, AB currently employing over 150 employees. Craig Manufacturing specializes in the design and fabrication of attachments for off highway equipment and the production of large custom requirements made from steel.
MARSHALL LAND SYSTEMS
Marshall Land Systems Limited (Cambridge, UK), a subsidiary of Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group (MADG), designs, manufactures, and delivers land systems for security, non-government, and commercial markets. Its products range from shelters and deployable systems, to vehicle systems, such as medical, security, and special mission vehicles, as well as vehicle survivability solutions; and integrated logistics support services.
Marshall Land Systems have designed, engineered and manufactured over 6,800 vehicle cargo beds for a number of customers, including the UK and New Zealand forces and is one of the largest privately owned and independent aerospace and defence companies that delivers innovation and excellence in engineering and support solutions in the air, on land and at sea.
MACK DEFENSE
Headquartered in Allentown, PA, Mack Defense is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mack Trucks, which is responsible for the sale of heavy duty trucks to federal- and ministerial-level customers globally. Today, Mack is one of North America’s largest producers of heavy-duty trucks, and Mack® trucks are sold and serviced through an extensive distribution network in more than 45 countries. Mack Defense is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment and marine and industrial engines.