We are thrilled to share with you the most recent announcements and developments in the Windsor-Essex region for the month of August. See below to read our top highlights.
Windsor-Essex Career Fair to connect employers with job seekers across the region
Invest WindsorEssex, in partnership with Windsor Regional Employment Network, WEtech Alliance and Workforce WindsorEssex is hosting the Windsor-Essex Career Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, at the WFCU Centre including participants from over 25 top regional employers. With significant investment and growth in our region, this free event aims to support new and existing employers by connecting them with eager job seekers. Candidates at all levels are encouraged to attend and take advantage of full-time employment opportunities. Recruiters from various industries, including automotive, healthcare, agriculture, aviation, tool and mold and manufacturing, will be on-site to connect with potential candidates and discuss available career opportunities and advancements.
NextStar Energy, a leading manufacturer propelling the electric vehicle (EV) industry forward, will also be in attendance to discuss a variety of job openings from factory automation technicians and engineers to IT security jobs. Interested candidates ready to get their foot in the door in the EV sector will have the opportunity to engage with recruiters, ask questions and participate in on-site interviews to expedite the hiring process.
This Employment Ontario project is funded in part by the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada. Attendees must register to attend. REGISTER
NextStar Energy EV jobs: Hiring continues for hundreds of local candidates seeking training, opportunities
NextStar Energy is set to start production on electric-vehicle (EV) battery module operations in Windsor, Ont. this fall, as the company nears completion of its $5-billion battery manufacturing plant. Hiring efforts are ramping up, with 325 of the plants’ estimated 2,500 jobs already filled as of July 2024. The goal is to have 2,500 employees in place for full-scale production of EV battery modules, electrodes and cells beginning for early spring 2025.
To help attract job seekers, Invest WindsorEssex launched the EV Careers talent attraction tool in 2023 — a job portal actively connecting talent with employers in the Windsor-Essex electric vehicle sector. This tool aims to provide the necessary resources and information for building successful careers in this growing industry. It will provide access to job opportunities, company profiles, education, training programs and more. Interested job seekers can visit EVCareers.ca to explore career opportunities in the electric vehicle industry, including NextStar Energy positions.
Through its partnerships, NextStar Energy continues to revolutionize the North American EV industry, playing a key role in sustaining the tradition of automotive production in Windsor for future generations by establishing the region as the leading EV battery hub. READ MORE
LG Energy Solution software detects EV battery defects with 90 per cent accuracy
LG Energy Solution, the parent firm of Windsor’s NextStar Energy battery plant, announced it has developed new safety diagnostics software to detect battery defects with an accuracy rate exceeding 90 per cent. The software will be mounted on the battery management systems (BMS) in vehicles and is also compatible with batteries made by other manufacturers. Cloud technology will be utilized in real-time to diagnose battery conditions more accurately by continuously upgrading its algorithms via artificial intelligence (AI) computing technology. The software analyses the battery for various defects and pre-emptively detects abnormal signs that could lead to potential future issues such as thermal incidents and can predict a battery’s future capacity. Currently, nine global automakers are already using LG’s new battery safety diagnostics software in their vehicles. LG Energy Solution with the system development, plans to create a battery safety diagnostic software business, which will continue to help enhance battery safety and performance through more sophisticated battery algorithms. READ MORE
University of Windsor collaborates with partners to advance electric vehicle motor technology
A partnership between the UWindsor Centre for Hybrid Automotive Research and Green Energy and automotive powertrain manufacturer Vitesco Technologies will work to develop better electric vehicle motors.
Dr. Kar and his team are set to develop an electric drive unit with a rare earth-free or reduced magnet motor. The aim is to produce a more sustainable solution with lower costs, fewer CO₂ emissions, less risk to the supply chain and a better cost-to-performance ratio. The project will also involve Ettractive, a hardware and software developer for electric vehicles based in Tecumseh (Oldcastle), Ont., and Professor Ofelia Jianu from the department of mechanical, automotive, and materials engineering, who will provide expertise throughout the development, integration and testing stages for an integrated thermal management system for the motor.
As Canada looks to become a global leader in the electric vehicle supply chain, the University of Windsor is taking the lead through continuous research and development to support a sustainable local power train. READ MORE
Lakeshore Concrete expansion spurred by optimism over local economy
Lakeshore Concrete Supply Ltd. plans to open a new plant in Amherstburg. The new plant will focus on offering pre-mixed concrete options, with most companies only offering dry mix. The new facility will produce up to 200 cubic metres of concrete per hour at peak times, doubling the company’s current capacity. The decision to build this new plant is driven not just by scaling up production capacity, but also aligns with the company’s effort to reduce its carbon footprint by using electric motors instead of diesel-powered engines in the trucks en route.
With expected employment and population growth in Windsor-Essex County, optimism is mounting, prompting this significant investment as Lakeshore Concrete aims to better service its clients. Recent developments, such as the NextStar Energy Solutions battery plant have provided Lakeshore Concrete with the opportunity to support its cement-pouring slabs project. Other major construction projects are also slated in the near future, with the hospital and near completion of the Gordie Howe Bridge that will benefit the region.
Wendy Stark, director of business retention and expansion for Invest WindsorEssex, states the owner “Vanderwerf is not the only businessperson feeling optimistic about the regional economy.”
“There’s just been so many positive news stories about the region as well,” Stark said, noting that the Conference Board of Canada has projected Windsor to have the strongest growth among major Canadian cities for the next three years.
As the Windsor-Essex region experiences an increase in population growth, Lakeshore Concrete is positioning itself to help meet the growing demands in the area. The plant plans to be operational by 2025 and will provide employment opportunities by creating about 30 to 35 new jobs, mainly truck drivers needed to help with transportation. READ MORE