Grand Expansion Opening
On March 20, 2024, Westinghouse hosted a grand opening of the Burlington office expansion with Westinghouse Canada leadership and Bill Walker from the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI). The expansion will enable job creation in support of Westinghouse’s continued contributions to the future of Canada’s nuclear sector.
Quadrupling our total office space, this expansion will co-locate our Operating Plant Services (OPS), Global Engineering Services (GES), eVinci™, Global Markets, Marketing, Project Management and Quality teams under one roof. This facility allows our expert teams to embrace flexible work schedules while providing a collaborative environment for our CANDU services and new reactor offerings including the eVinci™ Microreactor, AP300™ SMR and AP1000® PWR.
“We are excited to advance Westinghouse’s growth in Canada across multiple fronts; CANDU Services and New Build Opportunities – eVinci microreactor, AP1000 PWR and AP300 SMR,” remarked Eddie Saab, President of Westinghouse Canada. “This is the first of two planned expansions in Canada this year as we look forward to our state-of-the-art engineering hub in Kitchener opening in May in support of our projects in Canada and globally.”
“OCNI welcomes this growth which will support the existing CANDU fleet as well as new reactors like the eVinci ™ Microreactor, AP1000® PWR and AP300™ SMR, ultimately creating long-term, high-quality jobs in the Canadian nuclear industry,” said Bill Walker, President & CEO of OCNI.
eVinci Investment
In 2022, Westinghouse received an investment from the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund, which has been critical to the advancement of the eVinci microreactor. The Burlington-based team driving the eVinci development is leading work for the installation of a Nuclear Test Reactor at Idaho National Lab including the tooling for fueling and defueling of the reactor. The Burlington office expansion enables dedicated collaboration areas for the eVinci team, as well as anticipated growth of the engineering staff in the months ahead.
Material Handling & Tooling Accommodation
Over the last three years, we have seen substantial engineering growth through adding new competencies in mechatronics and nearly doubling the size of the local team to meet the demands of our business.
Given the nature of material handling and tooling, a facility that allows for both computer-based and hands-on work is crucial to Westinghouse’s innovative offerings in this area. The legacy space will be converted to expand our integration lab, which is used for assembly and testing work.
OPS Developments
The Burlington expansion will also support projects in Engineered Solutions (ES) and Outage and Field Services (OFS) in support of the CANDU fleet. ES and OFS are expanding their services, including engineering studies, innovative system designs and advanced tools used for inspection and maintenance activities.
“This office expansion event reinforces our commitment to provide proven solutions in support of the CANDU fleet and reflects our continued ability to attract top talent in the region,” said Fabricia Piñeiro, Vice-President of Operating Plant Services Canada.
Westinghouse Canada is committed to leveraging our local CANDU capabilities together with our global nuclear expertise to bring valued solutions to our clients. This expansion is a testament to our growth and longstanding commitment to the Canadian nuclear industry.
Looking Ahead to Future Growth
On June 5, 2023, Westinghouse announced a commitment to open a new engineering hub in Kitchener, Ontario to further expand our offerings in Canada. With occupancy expected in May 2024, this site will be a state-of-the-art facility focused on growing our engineering baseload to support Canadian and international Westinghouse projects for both new and existing nuclear facilities.
Starting with 16,000 square feet and sufficient room for future expansion, the Kitchener hub will accommodate up to 210 employees. Certified by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, the facility will include a Fire Protection Lab, training facilities and sizable open plan workspaces.
From the Burlington office expansion to the future Kitchener facility, this sustained growth represents a loyal commitment and investment in the future of Westinghouse Canada.
Header image caption - Left to Right: Bill Walker, President & CEO, OCNI, Fabricia Piñeiro, Vice-President, Operating Plant Services Canada, Eddie Saab, President, Westinghouse Electric Canada