Memex Automation Qualifies for up to $800,000 in Funding From FedDev Ontario

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FFJournal – March 19, 2015 – Burlington, ON.

Astrix Networks Inc. (“Astrix”), (operating as Memex Automation (“Memex”), the global leader of manufacturing Machine to Machine (M2M) productivity software, has qualified for up to $800,000 in Government of Canada funding directed specifically towards the continued development of its flagship product, MERLIN (Manufacturing Enterprise Real-time Lean Information Network) software. The funding announcement took place today at the company’s Burlington head office in a joint press conference with Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, Gary Goodyear, and local Burlington Member of Parliament, Mike Wallace, along with senior company executives.

The Government of Canada’s repayable contribution, through FedDev Ontario’s Investing in Business Innovation (IBI) initiative, is aimed at strengthening the innovation ecosystem in southern Ontario by supporting new entrepreneurs, early-stage businesses and angel investors.

IBI provides a repayable contribution of up to one-third of eligible costs of a project. A key element to the Memex Automation’s qualification for this initiative was the successful completion of its $2 million non-brokered private placement completed last August, representing two-thirds of the project cost. The company will be responsible for repaying all funds advanced without interest commencing in 2017.

“Advanced technologies are increasingly being adopted by our manufacturers as they seek to improve their competitiveness,” said Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for FedDev Ontario. “This investment is an example of how our Government is helping manufacturers stay in the region to create new jobs and foster innovation.”

“Memex Automation is changing how manufacturers operate by providing ways to maximize the efficiency of existing machines on the shop floor,” said Mike Wallace, Member of Parliament for Burlington. “Our Government is proud to support this innovative technology that will help businesses in such a key sector of our economy.”

“We are grateful for the support from the Government of Canada’s Investing in Business Innovation initiative from FedDev Ontario” said David McPhail, President and CEO of Memex Automation. “Memex Automation is a high-growth company that is adding knowledge-based jobs in Canada while we transform the productivity of global manufacturing firms with our shop- floor-to-top-floor communications technology. This important funding will be invested in accelerating the development and world-wide customer adoption of our MERLIN (Manufacturing Enterprise Real-time Lean Information Network) software solution.”

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$800,000 in Fed Funding for Memex Automation

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Shop Metalworking Technology – March 19, 2015 – Burlington, ON.

Memex Automation, a Canadian supplier of manufacturing M2M productivity software, has received $800,000 funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. The repayable loan will allow for accelerated development of the company’s flagship product, MERLIN, and create 16 new jobs at the Burlington, ON, company.

 MERLIN is a shop floor communications platform that enables “shop floor to top floor” monitoring of machine tool performance. The company claims it can increase machine utilization by an average of 10 to 50 per cent, and related income from operations by 20 to 60 per cent.

“Our Government is proud to support this innovative technology that will help businesses in such a key sector of our economy,” said Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency that is providing the loan through through FedDev Ontario’s Investing in Business Innovation (IBI) program. The program is aimed at strengthening the innovation ecosystem in southern Ontario by supporting new entrepreneurs, early-stage businesses and angel investors.

The Government of Canada’s repayable contribution, through FedDev Ontario’s Investing in Business Innovation (IBI) initiative, is aimed at strengthening the innovation ecosystem in southern Ontario by supporting new entrepreneurs, early-stage businesses and angel investors.

IBI provides a repayable contribution of up to one-third of eligible costs of a project. A key element to the Memex Automation’s qualification for this initiative was the successful completion of its $2 million non-brokered private placement completed last August, representing two-thirds of the project cost. The company will be responsible for repaying all funds advanced without interest commencing in 2017.

We are grateful for the support from the Government of Canada’s Investing in Business Innovation initiative from FedDev Ontario” said David McPhail, president and CEO of Memex Automation. “Memex Automation is a high-growth company that is adding knowledge-based jobs in Canada while we transform the productivity of global manufacturing firms with our shop- floor-to-top-floor communications technology. This important funding will be invested in accelerating the development and world-wide customer adoption of our MERLIN (Manufacturing Enterprise Real-time Lean Information Network) software solution.”

To see the full article, please click here.

FedDev Investments Boost Growing Burlington Companies

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AM900 CHML News Talk Radio – March 19, 2015 – Hamilton, ON.

A Burlington company hopes to create 16 jobs, and almost double its workforce, thanks to an 800 thousand dollar federal investment.

Burlington M-P Mike Wallace was joined by FedDev Ontario Minister Gary Goodyear, in announcing the support for Memox Automation on Thursday morning.

Memex will use the repayable loan to commercialize the latest version of its product which helps manufacturers improve productivity through technology that allows machinery to communicate with each other.

It has about 80 customers, 80% of which are outside of Canada.

Wallace says the investment is about helping companies to be “global competitors”.

A second Burlington company, AdFlow Networks, which specializes in digital signage has received a 100 thousand dollar repayable loan through the same federal program to expand its facilities.

To see the full article, please click here.

Mike Wallace helps federal Minister deliver cheques for $899,093 to innovative Burlington corporations; is there an election coming?

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Burlington Gazette – March 19, 2015 – Burlington, ON.

The federal election is expected to take place in the fall – the campaigning has already started.

MP Mike Wallace was in town with FedDev Ontario Minister Gary Goodyear talking about the funds they had made available to two Burlington corporations – Memex Automation, a publicly traded company and Adflow, a very smart technology company that many Gazette readers see and use regularly.

The funds distributed were part of a federal Business Innovation initiative. The funds are repayable and are aimed at strengthening the innovative eco-system of south-western Ontario; a part of the province that took a huge economic hit in 2008 when world financial systems looked like they were going to melt down completely.

Memex was loaned $800,000 and Adflow was loaned $99,093. Why that wasn’t rounded up to the next logical number only a bureaucrat somewhere can explain.

Both companies are rather small but clearly leaders in their fields – Memex has 22 employees – they expect to hire an additional sixteen people with the funds received. while Adflow has 28 employees and will use their funds to expand into larger space.

The Gazette will do full length features on both companies in the near future.

The take away message from the $899,093 the federal government spread around today was that the federal election is beginning to heat up.

Is there more federal money to come?

feddev announcement - burlington gazette

Dave McPhail on the right explains that the piece of equipment others are holding is the device that captures information executives can use to fully understand what is happening on the shop floor of their plants. Mike Wallace, Burlington’s MP admitted that he didn’t fully understand the stuff but was fascinated. Federal Minister Gary Goodyear explained the intricacies to Mike Wallace.

To see the full article, please click here.

CME Congratulates Burlington, ON-based Memex Automation on FedDev Ontario Investment

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Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters – March 19, 2015 – Burlington, ON.

Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters congratulates Burlington, ON based Memex Automation on the expansion of their advanced manufacturing software business with $800,000 in funding announced March 19 by FedDev Ontario Minister Gary Goodyear.

“We are grateful for the support from the Government of Canada’s Investing in Business Innovation initiative from the FedDev Ontario,” Memex President and CEO David McPhail said in a release. “Memex Automation is a high-growth company that is adding knowledge-based jobs in Canada while we transform the productivity of global manufacturing firms with our shop-floor-to-top-floor communications technology,” McPhail added.

CME is working with Memex to help them achieve their goal of assisting Canadian manufacturing firms improve their shop floor productivity‎ using MERLIN solutions.

“Manufacturers need to know how productive their systems are on a real-time basis. Memex’s MERLIN software is being used by world leading manufacturers to connect and manage production systems, drive 10 to 50 per cent efficiencies and increase margins,” said Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters President and CEO Jayson Myers. “Ontario manufacturers can access CME’s SMART program to support implementation of ‎data-driven manufacturing software like Merlin.”

For more information on CME’s SMART Advanced Technologies for Global Growth program visit cme-smart.ca

To see the full article, please click here.