Martin Pochtaruk, (centre front left) and Sault MP Terry Sheehan (front right) at the Heliene Inc. news conference 2 Aug. 2017 surrounded by Heliene staffers.
Martin Pochtaruk, (centre front left) and Sault MP Terry Sheehan (front right) at the Heliene Inc. news conference 2 Aug. 2017 surrounded by Heliene staffers.
Martin Pochtaruk, president of Heliene Inc. (right) explains to Sault MP Terry Sheehan (left) how Heliene's new fully automated soldering machine will improve plant operations.
Martin Pochtaruk, president of Heliene Inc. (right) explains to Sault MP Terry Sheehan (left) how Heliene’s new fully automated soldering machine will improve plant operations.

More federal funding for local solar panel manufacturer Heliene Incorporated.
Sault MP Terry Sheehan made a return trip to the local manufacturer this morning to announce a FedNor interest-free loan of more than 199-thousand dollars to cover half the costs of a fully automated soldering machine that has been installed as well as provide related staff training for the more than 70 people currently employed.
Sheehan talks about Heliene taking advantage of its border location…

The new fully automated soldering machine now installed replaces 4 soldering machines and company President Martin Pochtaruk  says it produces more modules per hour, better quality at a reduced cost.
Pochtaruk says it will not mean any more jobs than the more than 70 currently employed but it better secures the employment level.
The company has seen a transition over the last few years with more dependence on the US market as its primary market…

The funding announced this morning is on top of the almost 1.5-million dollars in federal funding announced by our local MP at Heliene a little over a month ago to support research and a pilot project in partnership with the Sault PUC targeting the fast growing Smart Grid market that company President Martn Pochtaruk says will meaningfully diversify their business model.