Recipient: Melitron Corporation
Region: Guelph
Total funding allocated: $2.1 million
If you have ordered from your favourite drive-thru restaurant recently, chances are you came across the technical innovation of Guelph-based Melitron Corporation's outdoor digital signage and menu boards. Now more than ever, digital technology is transforming business in new and creative ways, and Melitron has been doing its part to transform static signage and services to digital, starting with drive-thrus for many of the top quick service restaurants in Canada.
Celebrating 25 years of manufacturing in 2020, Melitron Corporation is a privately owned company that designs and manufactures integrated metal enclosure systems for electronics and electro-mechanical products. In 2017, the company developed a branded line of customizable outdoor digital signage and kiosk solutions in partnership with Samsung Electronics Canada. The weatherproof digital display products, featuring Samsung OHF series display technology, are built for all-season performance, standing up against extreme heat, sub-zero temperatures, pelleting rain, and the wear and tear of everyday use.
In 2019, FedDev Ontario supported a repayable contribution up to $2.1 million towards Melitron’s total project costs of $6 million. This investment enabled the company to acquire and install advanced manufacturing technologies and equipment and scale quickly to meet market demand for its new digital display product line, while keeping its contract manufacturing side of the business running smoothly. The project, supported by FedDev Ontario, helped create over 20 high-quality jobs, bringing Melitron’s total workforce count to over 200.
Today, with its manufacturing facilities totaling 114,000 square feet, Melitron is able to feature some of the world’s leading brands in robotics, automation equipment and high-tech manufacturing systems, while also incorporating environmentally sustainable solutions. The company recently adopted a new eco-friendly approach to pretreating metal that strengthens paint adhesion and corrosion protection. The new technology uses faster, more efficient processes that require less energy, less water, and less waste, and is phosphate-free. As a result, Melitron is rapidly rolling out thousands of eco-friendly digital displays with thousands more in contracts planned through 2021.
In Canada, a significant percentage of restaurant revenues come from drive-thru orders. Now with safer, cleaner contactless options growing in popularity since the pandemic, drive-thru services have become essential, making Melitron’s durable digital displays even more critical to a restaurant’s operational growth. The adoption of Melitron’s products have allowed businesses to remain open while minimizing customer contact points, while following public health guidelines.
For Melitron’s President and Chief Executive Officer Mike Turner, the funding has been a “significant nod to the strength of the company.”
“The Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has helped us grow and scale quickly to meet market demand,” explains Mike. “We used the funding to invest in our people, our workplace, and advanced manufacturing technologies. To date, we have outfitted over 10,000 Samsung displays into our digital signage products and have thousands more planned for rollout through 2021.”
When asked about the future of the company, Melitron is keen on highlighting its plans to expand and implement its new technology in smart cities, campuses, outdoor transit stations and Internet of Things (IoT) sectors both in Canada and abroad. For Melitron, “businesses of all sizes can benefit from transitioning their static signage to more timely, engaging and connected digital services.”
The Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has helped us grow and scale quickly to meet market demand. We used the funding to invest in our people, our workplace, and advanced manufacturing technologies. To date, we have outfitted over 10,000 Samsung displays into our digital signage products and have thousands more planned for rollout through 2021. - Mike Turner, President and Chief Executive Officer, Melitron Corp.
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