Business with the United States is down at Malley Industries, but spirits are up after the launch of a new innovative vehicle. The Dieppe-based company specializes in the manufacturing of ambulances and other specialty vehicles. Over the past few years, it shipped up to 60 per cent of their products to the U.S. “We’re probably dropped by about 70 per cent on that,” said Malley Industries director of sales David Pargiter. “We might have been building 50 or 60, but we’re projected to build 18 vehicles this year.” The Canadian-owned and family-run business employs 82 people at its 92,000 sq. ft. production centre located near the airport. Vehicles are shipped from Mexico and the Unites States to Dieppe and then custom fitted to use as ambulances and mobility assisted vehicles. Malley Industries outfits vehicles for Ambulance New Brunswick and there are buyers in Alberta and recently Quebec, too. Vehicles bound for American markets are not tariffed right now, but the escalating trade war is a big concern. Pargiter said the uncertainty and change in Canada’s trade relationship with the U.S. is affecting some of the market there, and buyers are becoming anxious about how that change might affect them in the future. “The demand, it has been affected by the uncertainty out there and nothing kills business like uncertainty. Although we are still very engaged with our American partners and we’re very happy to do business with them, the demand has gone down and we have to focus on people who want our products,” said Pargiter. That means concentrating more on the domestic market. “It’s more stable and we have to develop products that have a wider appeal across the country,” said Pargiter. On Wednesday, the business launched its new ergonomic and fuel-efficient modular ambulance with a showcase event at the facility. Buyers in Quebec were impressed when they saw a prototype of the vehicle at a conference in June. On Thursday, the vehicle was gone and will soon be in service in Quebec. Pargiter said the company is investing in product development to supply more of Canada to balance the losses in the U.S. “Sometimes that means taking our products and pushing them to a wider market. Sometimes that means developing new products. In this particular incidence, the products that we currently produce are not enough and we need to develop further to keep the fantastic men and women here gainfully employed,” he said. As far as layoffs go, Pargiter said that’s not in the works right now. “We just have to make sure that we keep all of our markets fed. So, that would either mean trimming the workforce with our current products, or, what we’re choosing to do, develop new products, find new markets and develop interest there,” said Pargiter. There are no plans to move the operation to the U.S. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
