Interstar has been awarded a Prize for Excellence

Sherbrooke – The Sherbrooke-based company Interstar has just been awarded the Prize for Excellence in the Canadian exporter research and development division. Interstar is the only Quebec-based company to have been nominated this year.

The Canadian ministry of international commerce has set forth this initiative in order to honour, since 1983, Canadian companies in their initiatives to export and their excellence as they face a competitive market.

Interstar was noted by the ministry for its “exceptional quality, efficiency and performance of their solutions and their products.” Interstar is a pigment, admixture and fibre manufacturer for the concrete industry. Founded in Montreal, they began producing their own line of products in 1994, in their St-Elie-d’Orford facility.

“The export markets account for 53 percent of total sales for Interstar, an important statistic for the company. Already a leader on the Canadian market, Interstar has decided to increase its exports to insure a robust and healthy growth,” declared the president, Zachary Gillman, as he received his award from the sub-minister, Robert Fomberg.

For Mr. Gillman, being chosen as one of the most important exporters in Canada “is an honour that comfirms Interstars’ place on the international market and consolidates its position by adding a larger visibility for our potential Canadian customers. Our company has demonstrated a strong rivalry with important world-renown companies on the international markets.”

Interstar believes that its success is based on the importance it gives to research and development as well as personnel training. The company exports to North America, Mexico and Brazil and employs approximately 80 workers.

As well as the plant in Sherbrooke, Interstar also acquired in 2005 a new facility in Junction City, Illinois. In 2006, the company plans to enlarge its facility in Sherbrooke, in order to add 25,000 square feet of space.

La Tribune (Sherbrooke, Qc)
Economy, Monday January 9th 2006
Gilles Fisette