Local tech company celebrates milestone, continued innovation

Barrie-based tech company celebrates milestone Innovation Automation has been building customized machines and robotics for 35 years in Barrie.

Innovative Automation in Barrie celebrated 35 years in business this fall, as they continue building customized machines and robotics while providing careers for some of the brightest minds in the region.

“If you have a product that you’re the only one that makes, you would come to someone like Innovative Automation to actually generate a solution for your manufacturing and quality of product,” said Steve Loftus, chair of The Innovative Group of Companies.

Innovative Automation started in a small rented space but has since moved to a 62,500 square foot facility on Welham Road, aiming to stay ahead of the technology curve for its many customers worldwide.

“We use motion control robotics, we use the vision systems, we use AI to generate strong solutions for our customers,” explained Loftus.

The tech company’s feature technologies are RoboTape and RoboCLIP.

Innovative Automation also employs more than 150 fulltime workers in Barrie, many of whom began out Georgian College and local high schools.

Young recruits often get invited to the tech company’s facility to showcase their brilliance.

Earlier in November, a robotics team from Banting Memorial High School in New Tecumseth was invited to demonstrate a prototype they will be using to compete with in their upcoming robotics competition.

“It picks up the rings, uses cameras to automate everything,” explained Isaac MacKenzie, one of the students on the team.

“Us being here is showing us as the next generation, how we’re ushering in our own technology,” said Thomas Forfar, another student on the team, of their chance to show Innovative Automation what they are capable of.

The two local MP’s were also invited to the facility earlier in November to have a firsthand look at how Innovative Automation has grown in the last three decades.

“It’s extremely important that we help and support companies like this,” said John Brassard, Barrie–Innisfil MP. “Not just because they’re located in Barrie, but [for] what it means to the Canadian Economy.”

“It's great news for Barrie, it's great news for Simcoe County, it's great for the economy both locally here and far,” said Doug Shipley, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte MP.

Innovation Automation executives say their ability to leverage AI will be key in allowing them to innovate and expand even further.