Poitras

Poitras, located in L’Islet, Quebec, specializes in the production of drivetrain castings and components, focusing on grey and ductile iron. The company employs over 150 plant workers and an additional 40 production and office staff. Spanning 70,000 square feet on a 14.8-acre site, Poitras uses lean manufacturing principles and advanced metallurgical techniques to engineer iron castings with precise microstructures. The plant is equipped with 2 DISAMATIC D1 machines and 1 DISAMATIC 131-A (D3) machine, high-pressure green sand molding machines, and 2 Laempe LL10 coldbox machines for core making. Iron is melted using four electric induction furnaces, including 2 ABB coreless induction furnaces of 9 tons each and 2 of 3 tons each. The facility includes a fully functional metallurgical lab for chemical analysis, mechanical testing, and microstructure analysis, utilizing a spectrometer and Faro arm with Polyworks software for dimensional analysis. Poitras serves markets such as light vehicles, commercial vehicles, agricultural applications, off-highway, and buses, with a metal capacity of 25,000 tons. The company has invested over $20 million in technological advancements since 2000 and employs automated finishing processes, robotic equipment, and vision-assisted inspection. Poitras holds certifications including IATF 16949:2016, C-TPAT, PEP - PIP, Ductile Iron Society, and American Foundry Society. The company uses Solid Edge for 3D design and SolidCast® 3-D Solidification software for simulating fluid flow and casting solidification. Established in 1920, Poitras originally focused on railroad repair and later produced wood machinery before relocating to its current site in 1973. The company obtained ISO 9002 certification in 1996, ISO/TS16949 certification in 2005, and installed its first robotic grinding cell in 2015. Advanced thermal arrest systems are used to establish the properties of iron during the cooling process.