The BC Metal Manufacturers Group (BCMMAG) fund continues to receive support from leading Canadian and North American industry leaders, including Motion Industries, whose portfolio ranges from machining to equipment leasing and rentals, as well as fabricated metals, and lumber and wood, to name a few.
Bearings & Transmission Supply and Owen-Richards Company merged to form Motion Industries in 1970 and entered the Canadian market in 1994. Since then, Motion has grown to over 500 locations in North America and billions of dollars in annual revenue.
Since jumping on board to support the BCMMAG, Motion Industries has contributed thousands of ball bearings at no charge for use in the BCMMAG’s fidget spinner projects. The fidget spinner project is used as an introduction to machining for both students and educators.
“We had some good discussions with BCMMAG founder Udo Jahn about the fund he developed,” said Motion Canada Operations Manager, Sandy Anderson. “We discussed the lack of young talent in the industry and we felt the same way him and the BCMMAG do. Udo explained their approach and what they were doing and how they were setting up these CNC machines at the high school level and we jumped all over it and asked what we could do to help.”
While the bearings themselves are small in literal size, Motion’s contribution to the BCMMAG’s efforts have a massive impact.
“We’re happy to do it,” said Anderson. “It’s the key component to the fidget spinner project. The bearings are very recognizable and it’s what Motion is known for. We’re very happy to contribute them.”
The benefits of the BCMMAG’s efforts to add CNC machines and reintroduce machining and trades education to students at the high school level begins with the fidget spinner project and extends to long-term, positive effects through early education.
“I think it’s important to educate our young people, they are our future,” added Anderson. “It’s always nice to have skilled labour and a mechanical aptitude. Not everybody has to have one in our industry, but it helps to understand how things work. We’re going to need those people in the future and initiatives like the BCMMAG fund will contribute to developing those people.”
Anderson reiterates the positive impacts she thinks can occur as a result of the BCMMAG efforts.
“If these kids can see a CNC machine at a younger age, then five to ten years down the road they are going to be unstoppable.”
About Motion
With annual sales of over $6.3 billion, Motion is a leading industrial distributor of more than 12 million items, including, bearings; mechanical and electrical power transmission products, industrial automation and robotics; hose, belting, and gaskets; hydraulic and pneumatic components; process pumps; industrial and safety products; seals and accessories; and material handling products and solutions. To increase customers’ productivity, the Company offers many value-added services, including engineering, fabrication, repair, and Industry 4.0 solutions across these product groups. In addition, Motion Automation Intelligence (Motion Ai), Mi Conveyance Solutions and Mi Fluid Power Solutions were formed to offer a wide range of specialized, related products and innovative solutions for many applications.
Motion North America expanded its footprint in 2022 to include Kaman Distribution Group and now has over 700 branch and service center locations and 20 distribution centers. Mi Asia Pacific has 150 locations and nine distribution centers in Australasia. Motion serves more than 170,000 OEM and MRO customers in the equipment and machinery, food and beverage, pulp and paper, iron and steel, chemical, mining and aggregate, petrochemical, automotive, semiconductor, wood and lumber, medical and pharmaceutical industries. Motion is a wholly owned subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC). Visit our website at www.Motion.com.]
About BCMMAG
The British Columbia Metal Manufacturing Advisory Group (BCMMAG) is comprised of local leaders in manufacturing, machine tool distribution and education, who in partnership with the Construction Foundation of BC, are finding ways to inspire and educate students about CNC machining through initiatives in secondary schools. Our goals are to increase participation in the CNC machining trades and reduce the skills gap in manufacturing, BC’s 4th largest sector as a percentage of GDP. https://www.bcmmag.ca
About CFBC
The CFBC builds community through charitable initiatives and a commitment to industry-focused education and research that benefits all British Columbians. The Foundation’s fundraising campaigns have raised millions of dollars since it’s inception in 2012, outfitting British Columbia shop classes with new equipment, providing driver training to youth in and from care, connecting educators with professional development opportunities, awarding young people with bursaries to continue their trades education, and providing much-needed support to educational programs.
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