20 — Wednesday, October 2, 1991 - North Shore News Surj Rattan BUSINESS BRIEFS SKY HOOK TWO VANCOUVER inventors, James Henke and Brian Richards, have designed, built, tested and patented the prototype of a new helicopter cargo hook that may prove to be safer and more reli- able than existing technology. Sky Hook Systerns Ltd. will receive a $76,000 Ioan from the federal government’s Western Econemic Diversification fund to complete development and move into production. Total costs of the project are estimated at $310,000. The funding will help the com- pany buy quality control equip- ment, build up inventory and market the Sky Hook products as well as complete European pat- enting. Canadian and U.S. patents already have been granted because of the hook’s safety features. One industry that should benefit from the new product is helicopter logging where lost production and down time due to cargo hook malfunctions can cost up to $5 per second. Helicopter logging has in- creased dramatically over the last 10 years because it permits selec- tive logging of mature timber, is more environmentally friendly then conventional logging and eliminates or reduces the need for roads. “We took a working model of the prototype to Airshow Canada in 1989 and were bowled over by the enthusiastic response of both pilots and engineers,’’ said Richards. ‘‘We have already con- firmed interest from several iarge helicopter operators as well as from two international aerospace companies who are interested in marketing Sky Hook products.”’ CANFOR CHANGES SEVERAL SENIOR management changes have been made at Can- for Corp. Canfor chairman and chief ex- ecutive officer Peter Bentiey said Roy Bickel) will be retiring from his position as president and chief operating officer, which he has held since 1985. He will be replaced by Arild Nielssen, currently vice-president of interior operations. Canfor’s operations will also be organized into three different business groups, each headed by a group vice-president, reporting to the president and chief operating of- ficer. In addition, Christer Arnesen has been appointed group vice- president of pulp and paper, Peter Ashby has been named group vice-president of northern wood products, Sheldon Stoiier has been appointed group vice-presi- dent of coastal operations. “We are confident that the new group structure is the best way to meet the challenges of the day, offer optimum development op- TV monitors on-boerd CN TEST cars can provide @ close-up lock at track conditions. portunities for our people and help return Canfor to profitability as soon as possible,”’ said Bentley. LOCAL PRODUCTION A B.C. company is planning to increase sales of its high-tech pro- ducts by doing the manufacturing and assembly here instead of Japan. Nil Norsat International of Sur- rey, one of the leading suppliers in the communications satellite in- dustry, will receive a $1,085,000 loan from the federal government to expand and upgrade its Surrey facility. The new, completely automated plant will incorporate surface- mount technology and constitute the most sophisticated electronics assemby facility in B.C. Tota! costs of the project are estimated at $3,770,000. Norsat recently signed an ex- clusive agreement to supply Min- nesota Mining and Manufacturing Corp. (3M) with between $6 mil- lion and $10 million worth of sat- eilite receiver systems that 3M will use to distribute background audio programming. ‘*We currently import about $8 r track must pass | million worth of products from Japan,’ said Norsat chief finan- cial officer lan Power. ‘‘This pro- ject will allow us to replace those imports with our own manufac- tured products and will also make it easier for us to meet the de- mands of new international con- tracts.”” COMPANY SALE WESTECH INFORMATION Systems Inc., a B.C. Hydro sub- sidiary cesponsible for computer systems, is being bought for $8.4 million by a company currently owned by senior management with an assurance that ali employees will be allowed equal participa- tion. Westech president Bob Steele said the company is being bought by 3600 Investments Lid. The company, with more than 220 full-time employees, was created as a wholly-owned sub- sidiary in 1989 from Hydro’s in- ternal computer and management systems groups. Its mandate was to service Hydro and external client needs for computer system development, maintenance and consulting. | aj Our customers and the general public expect the track in CN’s vast rail network to always be in top shape—ane rightfully so. That's essential to the reliable, damage-free delivery of goods, and maximum safety for everyone. CN has always acknowledged that responsibility. And we constantly strive to find better ways to maintain our track and keep it safe. TEST—an acronym for our new Track Evaluation Systems—is an example of a CN innovation that enables us to monitor track conditions far more frequently and precisely than previous systems. it allows us to employ preventive track maintenance to small probiems before they become big trouble. Safe, reliable track is essential to our performance. CN has three TEST units that constantly travel our rail network. Each consists of two rail cars. One is a ballasted car that can simulate varying weight ioads. That innovative feature enables us to test conditions when our track is subjected to stress from realistic loads up to 100 tons. Sensary equipment on the ballast car feeds information on rail and roadbed conditions to the second car, where on-board computers make data available for immediate analysis. Supervisors scan the reports and even view certain canditions on monitors—relaying prompt instructions to track maintenance people. CN has a history of innovative “firsts” among railroads the world over. TEST is another way we're using the last word in technology to improve productivity and maximize safety. That's to everyone’s benefit. Living up to the comm itment.