3D seems to be the tech topic of the year in Canada's western provinces and the nation's own Javelin Technologies is leading the charge, partnering with creative engineers in sectors such as agriculture, oil and gas, water purification, manufacturing, health care, and education.
Known across Canada for working alongside designers to help turn their concepts into reality, Javelin has gathered its nationwide team this week to learn, network, strategize, and socialize, and to celebrate all it has achieved since the purchase of Automated Design Systems (ADS). That move, in April 2013, gave Javelin four new locations and an established team in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg. Javelin's head office is just west of Toronto in Oakville, Ontario and it has an eastern Canada hub in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
Intensely focused on training and ongoing support, Javelin is a Certified Reseller for SolidWorks® computer-aided design (CAD) software and a full range of Stratasys 3D printers that can produce finely detailed, true-to-life models, prototypes, and parts for engineers, manufacturers, physicians, and dreamers of all kinds.
John Carlan is managing director of Javelin Technologies. He says people in western Canada are eager to learn more about 3D design and 3D printing, why it's so popular, and what it can do for them in their own businesses.
"We've been keeping very busy telling the story of 3D to companies in the west and we're always happy to tell it," Carlan says. "Our printers give you the fullest possible idea of how your end product will look, feel, and perform. Designers can navigate the software easily and quickly, so they just run with their creativity. And prototypes cost less to produce and test, so you get to market faster than ever before - faster than your competitors."
Carlan says Javelin's acquisition of ADS, also a Canadian reseller for SolidWorks software, opened up western markets for Javelin and allowed the company to take advantage of the bigger trend toward ever-increasing adoption of high-tech tools in the west.
"ADS was a service-oriented company already established in major business centres in western Canada," he says. "When we first looked at them from the outside, we saw great talent looking after great customers in regions and sectors we were itching to explore. Now that we're all on the inside together, we're continually buzzing about the cool work being done and how we can help people do more of it."
In Saskatchewan, Brandt Industries recently invested in a full SolidWorks software solutions platform. This major investment in technology includes more than 200 various licenses of SolidWorks products, making Javelin the company's preferred CAD software provider. Although most know Brandt for its ties to agriculture, they also manufacture equipment for construction, forestry, mining, oil and gas, and road and rail. In 2013, Brandt marked a new milestone, with company revenues exceeding $1 billion for the first time.
As economic development efforts in Canada's western cities focus on encouraging diversification and innovation in their local business community, Javelin is perfectly positioned to contribute.
"Because we help inspire creative 3D projects across so many critical sectors of the local economy, I think we make a pretty good neighbour," Carlan says. "There are so many opportunities for us to enable better productivity and business growth for our customers because we now have solid roots all across Canada. The will is definitely there - we just need to show people the way."
