Local manufacturers opened their doors for a bus tour earlier this month as the Delta Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Manufacturers Exporters British Columbia marked Manufacturing Month.
The tour, which took place Oct. 15, started and finished at municipal hall, visiting Marcon Metalfab, Unifiller, SEI Industries, Avcorp and BCIT Delta Test Centre during the day.
CME-BC vice-president Marcus Ewert-Johns, speaking outside Avcorp's approximately 350,000-square-foot facility near the Alex Fraser Bridge, said the aim of the tour was to raise the awareness of the economic contributions that manufacturing makes and to introduce job seekers to employers.
He said manufacturing is the fourth largest industry in the province after construction, retail and real estate.
"When you talk to most manufacturers, they'll tell you that their biggest challenge is finding skilled labourers," Ewert-Johns said.
The chamber and the industry association also announced the signing of a three-year cooperation agreement to mutually support Delta's manufacturers and exporters.
"Manufacturing is a vital component of Delta's thriving business community," said chamber chair Orv Nickel.
