Northstar Network to Secure Industry Certification

Northstar Network Ltd. is receiving $25,000 from the Provincial Government to upgrade its ISO9001:2000 certification to AS9100. The new certification enables the company to expand its technical abilities and quality control to support growth in the global aerospace sector.

�Quality and reliability are critical values for the aerospace industry,� said the Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development. �Industry certification is an exhaustive yet increasingly valuable process. I congratulate Northstar Network on identifying certification as a means of improving its competitiveness in the crowded global aerospace sector � it will help open new doors and opportunities.�

The aerospace sector is continuously seeking to improve quality control standards and AS9100 is the first standard specifically designed for the sector. The standard is universal across the global aerospace community.

�We have been working towards this new standard for the past year and decided that it is an opportune time to fully implement AS9100 procedures and train our employees to the standard,� said Howard Nash, President of Northstar Network. �Given the orders we have recently received we are pleased to see that our sector of the market is escaping the current economic challenges and we expect 2009 to be a banner year. We are very pleased with the support we have received from the Provincial Government and look forward to growing the province�s aerospace sector exponentially in the coming years.�

Northstar Network is a contractor in the aerospace, defence and ocean technology sectors. Combined with its in-house electronic contract manufacturing assembly and system integration capabilities, it has established valuable agreements with more than 20 companies and educational institutions that span the country. These agreements provide clients with seamless access to a range of research and development, engineering, and manufacturing services.

�Northstar Network operates in a highly-technical field and its new certification will strengthen its operations and ability to grow its client base,� said Bob Ridgley, MHA, St. John�s North. �Through increased business success it will help support the local economy through new business opportunities and employment growth.�

The Provincial Government previously provided a $200,000 term loan to Northstar Network through its Small- to- Medium Sized Enterprise Fund. The term loan was used to deliver on the $6-million contract with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, which has now shipped completed wing parts for six of the 48 aircraft they are under contract for.

�This government is committed to making strategic investments and supporting innovative enterprises,� said Minister Skinner. �As part of this commitment, the Provincial Government has introduced a comprehensive suite of business support programs that enable companies to diversify their product line, identify potential export markets, and improve their competitiveness.�

Funding was provided through the Business and Market Development Program (BMDP). BMDP provides new entrepreneurs and expanding small businesses with matching funding to help them acquire the necessary expertise to pursue new business ideas and markets. The $1 million program is intended to support new growth opportunities in the economy, such as value-added manufacturing activities and export-oriented opportunities.

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Media contact:
Scott Barfoot
Director of Communications
Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
709-729-4570, 690-6290
scottbarfoot@gov.nl.ca