Orphan Industries, a member of the D.F. Barnes Ltd.
group of companies from St. John�s, is this year�s winner of the
Business Development Bank of Canada�s Canadian Innovation Award for
Productivity Improvement. The company received the honour at the 2007
Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) Canadian Innovation Awards
gala ceremony at the St. John�s Convention Centre Monday evening.
Orphan Industries is renowned for its manufacturing of
Launch and Recovery Systems (LARS). These are large mechanical devices
used to launch and recover Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) for use in
the offshore oil and gas industry.
"I congratulate Orphan Industries and its parent
company D.F. Barnes Ltd. on this outstanding national recognition from
their peers," said the Honourable Kevin O�Brien, Minister of Business, a
co-presenter at the awards ceremony. "This is a company that
demonstrates the kind of excellence and innovation that is showing
Canada and the world that Newfoundland and Labrador companies remain on
the cutting edge of business innovation."
"I thank the Business Development Bank of Canada and
CME for this award. It is both recognition of the work our staff have
done over the past year and encouragement to continue working in this
direction," said Sean McCarthy, Orphan Industries operations manager.
"On behalf of Orphan Industries President Art Garland, D.F. Barnes Ltd.
President Gerry Byrne, our executive, and especially our staff, thank
you for the recognition and the motivation to continue our efforts to
create a continuous improvement culture inside the D.F. Barnes group."
Orphan Industries was one of two Newfoundland and
Labrador companies recognized during the Canadian Innovation Awards.
North Atlantic Refining of Come by Chance was a finalist for the
Industrial Accident Prevention Association�s Canadian Innovation Award
for Promotion of a Healthy and Safer Workplace.
"It was only fitting that this awards ceremony to
recognize innovation excellence took place in the Marconi Hall of the
St. John�s Convention Centre, named for the inventor of wireless
communications and one of the world�s most innovative thinkers," said
Minister O�Brien. "These awards provide Newfoundland and Labrador
companies such as Orphan Industries and North Atlantic Refining a
well-deserved opportunity to showcase their impressive achievements on
the national stage. They are showing Canada and the world what
innovation can achieve right here."
The awards ceremony was the gala event during the
meeting of CME�s board of directors that took place in St. John�s
October 22. Board members are also participating in Eastern Excellence:
Best Practices in Atlantic Canada, a conference hosted by CME�s
Newfoundland and Labrador division. The conference runs October 23-24 at
the convention centre.
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