While the company has yet to make a final decision regarding location, it has identified Abbotsford as its preferred location with the intention of being ready to start operations by the end of 2025. The new facility will create valuable domestic capacity to meet growing global demand for Marshall’s industry-leading maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) and aircraft modification capability.
Marshall CEO Kathy Jenkins explains: “Marshall has been operating a very successful Aerospace business in Canada since 2006 so opening an aircraft maintenance facility is a natural next step, enabling us to provide a greater level of support to our growing global customer base.
“Later this year we are also looking forward to opening the doors on our new Land Systems facility in Moncton, New Brunswick which will manufacture a wide range of deployable infrastructure for the Canadian and export markets.
“In addition, Marshall Skills Academy recently launched a new partnership with industry and academia to deliver a program of ‘Earn as you Learn’ qualifications to attract new talent into the engineering and manufacturing sectors. This will help address the well-documented skills gap in Canada, and is something we are well placed to expand beyond New Brunswick over the months ahead.
“I believe our increased presence across these three critical sectors of the defence market makes Marshall Canada a very compelling and exciting proposition which will create a wealth of export, employment, and education opportunities in our second home market.”
Mary Ng, Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business & Economic Development, welcomed the move, saying: ”Canada is a top investment destination because we have a proven track record. Last March, Kathy and I spoke about the benefits of investing in Canada – and today it’s terrific to see that Canada has been chosen as Marshall’s investment destination! It is thanks to our Canada-UK trade partnership that international economic opportunities like this one are so successful. I look forward to seeing Marshall grow in Canada.”
British High Commissioner to Canada Susannah Goshko commented: “I welcome Marshall’s decision to expand its Aerospace operations in Canada. As a company with British roots and a thriving Canadian operation, the Marshall Group is a great example of the strong and productive business and defence ties between our two countries.”
Today’s announcement comes just a few weeks after Marshall announced plans for a new US maintenance and engineering facility in Greensboro, North Carolina, underpinning the company’s growth strategy in North America.