Princecraft Boosts Its Productivity with Careful Guidance from Talan
Princecraft: Canada’s Leading Aluminum Boat Company
Based in Princeville, Quebec, Princecraft stands as Canada’s only major aluminum boat manufacturer, with a significant presence in the American market as well. Specializing in rowboats, pontoons, and deck boats, the company has built a reputation for quality and durability. Its flagship Vectra Series Pontoon has seen remarkable growth, often positioning Princecraft as a competitor to trailers, cottages, and other weekend activities.
“Buying a pontoon boat is a family decision these days,” says Jean-Philippe Martin-Dubois, Customer Experience and Marketing Director.
Founded in 1954 by the Baril family, Princecraft has maintained its local identity and family spirit despite acquisitions by Alcan in 1975 and Brunswick in 2001. The company employs around 400 people and collaborates with numerous local suppliers, reflecting its commitment to the community. Its four production plants specialize in different types of boats and pontoons, ensuring high-quality manufacturing tailored to its product lines.
Meeting Market Demand with Optimized Solutions
The outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 created a surge in demand for local leisure activities, significantly increasing interest in pontoons. Lockdowns and low interest rates fueled a boom in visits to Princecraft’s website and dealerships. This unprecedented demand drove the company to rethink its production capacity and seek external expertise to boost productivity while maintaining product quality.
Princecraft partnered with Talan to address key challenges:
- Identifying bottlenecks and implementing methods to increase productivity
- Doubling plant capacity
- Automating repetitive tasks to attract younger workers
- Optimizing the production rate to meet growing customer demands
Why Princecraft Chose Talan
Between 2018 and 2020, Princecraft collaborated with multiple companies but failed to find the right fit. Talan, with its expertise in automation and strategic partnerships like Automatech, stood out. Talan’s rigorous execution, experienced specialists, and understanding of Princecraft’s specific needs reassured the company that its objectives would be met.
Tailored Solutions for Lasting Impact
Talan began by diagnosing key issues and implementing solutions to meet Princecraft’s goals. The first step was deploying a DMS to optimize management processes, followed by strategic initiatives to automate welding and increase production capacity. The introduction of robotic automation addressed labor shortages, created new roles, and ensured knowledge transfer as senior employees retired.
“The parts for the first robot are now being put in place, marking the beginning of one of our major projects,” explains Jean-Philippe Martin-Dubois.
Talan’s clear roadmap and collaborative approach facilitated a seamless transition to new workflows, ensuring a positive and productive working environment.
Concrete Results
The partnership with Talan delivered measurable results:
- Improved schedule forecasting and visibility
- Increased productivity, with an additional ten pontoons produced weekly
- Productive capacity gains from 50% to 65%
- Streamlined operations and reduced line stoppages
The use of the DMS improved communication, task completion monitoring, and goal-setting, laying the foundation for applying these tools to other product lines.
Thanks to Talan’s support, Princecraft is exploring further opportunities for innovation and efficiency, solidifying its position as an industry leader in aluminum boat manufacturing.
