IOC invests in RAIL Centre of Expertise at CEGEP de Sept-Îles

The Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) has announced that it will invest $750,000 CAD over three years to support research and training at the CEGEP de Sept-Îles’ RAIL Centre of Expertise.

IOC has been working in close collaboration with the CEGEP de Sept-Îles for several years, providing equipment that is now used to train students. Notably, IOC has donated a train-handling simulator and committed to providing the CEGEP with signalling equipment, switch motors, two railcars and track detectors, for a total estimated value of more than $850,000 CAD.

This new partnership aims to strengthen the position of Sept-Îles as a hub for railway training by tailoring its offering to the needs of the rail transport industry, which is already well established on Quebec’s North Shore. The investment will enable students, employees of IOC and other companies in the region to improve their technical skills in various fields, including rolling stock and railway maintenance.

IOC and the RAIL Centre of Expertise are also working together in the areas of technical assistance and applied research. These projects involve developing innovative technologies for heavy transportation and preventative maintenance protocols designed to make railways safer and more efficient.

IOC general manager of Rail, Port & Energy José Riopel said: “At IOC, rail transport has always been an integral part of our operations. By getting involved in the development of the CEGEP de Sept-Îles’ RAIL Centre of Expertise, IOC has three major goals in mind: to improve the safety, reliability and productivity of our operations, to facilitate the training, recruitment and retention of qualified employees, and to contribute to the economic vitality of the North Shore.”

CEGEP de Sept-Îles acting director general David Beaudin added: “Over the last 15 years, the CEGEP de Sept-Îles has cultivated a unique expertise in the rail industry by developing training that matches not only the industry’s needs but also those of technical consulting and research. The financial support that our Railway Centre of Expertise is receiving from IOC today will be decisive for the continuation of our work in this area of expertise. The involvement of this mining giant makes it all the more pertinent to establish an innovation zone in the Sept-Îles–Port-Cartier region. Today, IOC leadership has clearly demonstrated its confidence in the CEGEP de Sept-Îles and our research units, and for that we are extremely grateful.”

RAIL Centre of Expertise director Luc Faucher concluded, “This major involvement from IOC supports the RAIL Centre’s vision of becoming a Quebec hub of excellence in railway training, technical assistance and research. We are delighted by this major contribution and the positive impact it will have on our company and on the entire region. This investment will allow us to expand the Centre’s influence eastward in the country.”

IOC uses the QNS&L Railway to transport premium iron ore concentrate and pellets across the 418 km between its Labrador City and Sept-Îles facilities.