Global company combines operations and expands to meet growing demand
KANATA, ONTARIO – October 25, 2007 --- SMART Technologies unveiled its purpose-built, 260,000 square-foot facility on Palladium Drive in Kanata, Ontario, to federal, provincial and municipal politicians, suppliers, customers and the media today. The building is now fully operational as the company’s largest assembly and warehousing center for global markets. Attendees were treated to a tour of the production floor to see the state-of-the-art assembly operation.
During its 21-year history, SMART has been steadily expanding its Kanata-area operations to meet increasing global demand for its wide range of popular education, training and collaboration products. SMART is best known for its flagship product, the SMART Board™ interactive whiteboard, which the company introduced in 1991 as the world’s first interactive whiteboard. Over 800,000 SMART Board interactive whiteboards have since been installed in over 100 countries around the world, and SMART’s product range now includes interactive whiteboards, interactive pen displays, interactive overlays, wireless slates, software applications and a wide range of content resources.
The Kanata area has consistently been the largest assembly and distribution location for SMART. The Palladium Drive building brings together current operations that had been spread across three locations, and adds considerable space and capacity to handle future growth. The building includes space for assembly, warehousing, research and development, and administration, along with staff amenity space. SMART is also expanding its world headquarters in Calgary, Alberta, with construction of a new 200,000 square-foot building that began in September 2006 and is slated for completion in the summer of 2008. SMART is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Award for Hardware (2007) and a Lifetime Achievement Canada Export Award (2004). SMART was also recognized for eight consecutive years as one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies (1998–2006).
“Our government has set the stage for businesses to succeed by implementing the right policies,” says the Federal Minister of Industry, the Honourable Jim Prentice. “We can all witness here today the enormous potential that is possible when Canadian companies focus on innovation. It is companies like SMART that turn innovative ideas and technologies into commercial successes, turn patents into products, turn investments into profits.”
“In strengthening its assembly, warehousing and distribution base in Ontario, SMART continues to contribute greatly to the province’s technology sector,” said Member of Provincial Parliament for Carleton-Mississippi Mills, Norm Sterling.
“Technology is an integral part of the province’s economy and infrastructure, and we are proud to continue to offer SMART a progressive environment in which to meet its needs for its global customers.”
“With local residents working for SMART and the company’s plans for continued growth, we are proud to offer a community of skilled and capable people for the company to continue to grow and succeed,” said the Mayor of Ottawa, the Honorable Larry O’Brien.
“As global demand for SMART products continues to grow, we recognized the need for a much larger and purpose-built facility in Kanata,” said Nancy Knowlton, SMART’s CEO and co-founder. “We are committed to bringing the best technology and innovation to the world market and this building allows us to enhance our Kanata operations for the benefit of our staff and our customers.”
Photos available on request.
