Todd Cormier runs Eastern Fabricators, which makes food-processing equipment and high-pressure piping on Prince Edward Island. Active Communities financing helped him buy essential equipment. About 75% of his work comes from off-island customers, and he's pushing into U.S. markets, but finding skilled welders remains his biggest challenge.
Chapters
Hi, I'm Todd Cormier, President of Eastern Fabricators. We specialize in manufacturing of food processing equipment and process piping. Other services we offer is high-pressure piping and service to local food plants here in PEI. It was sheer luck. Getting involved with Active Communities. You know, initially I put a lot of work into a business plan, looking for financing and trying to get this business off the ground. I had a meeting with a local businesswoman in Charlottetown and she gave me a referral. Active Communities really made it happen. They were the first organization to really jump on side with us and first real bit of concrete financing that allowed us to move forward with this business. Business. By receiving this funding, we were able to purchase our manufacturing equipment. One of the biggest challenges is employees. This type of business takes a certain level of professionalism to work the trade, to be a fabricator, not only a welder, but a fabricator/welder with the experience to build the equipment. Some future plans for us would be to pursue new U.S. markets. I'd say 75% of our work is off-island. We're trying to focus in the exports. The growth in the business has been unreal. Every month, every 20 days, it's something else new. It's a new customer, it's a new phone call. Always looking forward to the next opportunity. Well, I think the main focus is to be a team ship. You know, this business isn't just about the business, it's about everybody out there. They are the most important element of this business. This business wouldn't exist without the men and women out there on the fabrication floor.
