Success Stories
Novo Plastics
Creating a Niche in the Global Auto Industry
Novo Plastics Inc. is an Ontario company specializing in the manufacturing of engineered components and assemblies for the automotive and consumer/commercial industries. For the automotive sector, Novo specializes in under the hood components and assemblies with a particular focus on HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), Motor Acoustics and NVH (noise, vibration and harshness).
The company was created in 2006 and, from the start, the strategy was to be more than a contract manufacturer. The goal was to engineer and manufacture its own innovative line of products.
It was a tall order in the ever more competitive global auto industry.
“I knew that to succeed we’d have to create a niche for ourselves,” says Novo president and CEO Baljit Sierra.
That’s just what Novo has done. The Markham-based company is gaining a reputation for its innovative line of environmentally friendly products called Novo ECO2.
Among them is the ECO2 plastic muffler system, which offers a number of important advantages over traditional steel mufflers, including reduced weight and size, low heat and fewer emissions.
“The potential market for our plastic muffler system is tremendous both here, at home, across North America and globally,” says Sierra. “Automotive manufacturers worldwide are focused on improving fuel economy, reducing weight and lowering emissions. Our system addresses all of these key needs.”
Novo’s plastic muffler prototype systems are currently being tested with major North American auto makers, as well as overseas car, truck and motorcycle companies, including those in emerging markets.
Novo’s system recently received recognition from the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA) for the most innovative new technology-based product or service.
What’s next for Novo? The company will continue to develop its ECO2 line of products including its plastic muffler system. The Ontario government, through the Innovation Demonstration Fund, has provided a loan facility to Novo to a maximum of $1 million to assist the company in progressing its technologies.
“Recent investments by OEMs and the provincial government demonstrate that Ontario will continue to be a hub for automotive manufacturing.” Novo Plastics is fortunate because we can tap into the world class universities and colleges here in Ontario to access a great talent pool for research and development as well as manufacturing expertise,” says Sierra.
“We are also fortunate to have a government focused on green auto R&D. “
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