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A Message from MAAX Bath President Mark Gold All of us at MAAX Bath are very proud to be celebrating our company’s 50th anniversary this year. Together with our associates, customers and supplier partners across North America, we have built a rich legacy over the past half century, which we are excited to be celebrating in this special commemorative magazine. We’ve come a long way since being founded by the Poulin family in the picturesque Beauce region of Québec under the name Modern Fiberglass and Metal Inc. In its early stages, our company offered snowmobile sleighs, molded swimming pools and other products for the transportation industry. Over the years, our product portfolio evolved, diversified and grew, and MAAX ultimately emerged as a North American market leader in the bathware industry recognized for product innovation, quality and customer service excellence. MAAX today has ten manufacturing and distribution facilities, two R&D centre of excellence and over 1,400 talented associates across North America. With over 5,000 points of sale across North America, our products are present in the bathrooms of thousands of homes in Canada and the United States, and every day our customer base composed of distributors, specialized stores and retailers continues to expand. With our three main product lines – bathtubs, showers and shower doors – we have sold over 30 million products to date and have achieved the No. 1 market position in Canada. In 2017, MAAX combined with the American Bath Group (ABG) creating one of North America’s largest Bathware companies. Bringing together these two great companies allows us to realize our mission of Building a Better Bathware Industry by driving Innovation, delivering a best in class Customer Experience all supported by the tireless pursuit of Operational Excellence. Our new expanded capabilities will accelerate our Innovation process so we can deliver more products like the revolutionary U tile wall panel system, which has earned Innovation of the Year. At the center of success is our customer partners. We could not have achieved the success for 50 years without you. We know you rely on MAAX to supply you with highest quality products and best customer service that is why we continuously invest in advanced technologies for manufacturing and ease of doing business so you can take care of your customers. As example is our Customer Portal, which enables customers and members of MAAX’s sales force to obtain the latest updates on order status, product availability, delivery dates, and other vital information. Doing business with MAAX is easier than it’s ever been. In short, we have been able to attain new heights on our journey from modest beginnings in 1969 because we have always had innovation in our DNA and a team of passionate associates who demonstrate exceptional creativity, dedication and a commitment to excellence every single day. Thanks to them, as well as to our valued partners and customers, we have been steadily fulfilling our mission of Building a Better Bathware Industry and providing our customers with an enjoyable experience at every level. I hope you enjoy reading about MAAX’s remarkable story in the following pages, and thank you for helping us make a truly positive impact on people’s lives.
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MAAX COMPANY HISTORY 1969-2019 1969–1979 On December 10, 1969, Placide Poulin, Bertrand Champagne, and Carol Brousseau found Royal Fiberglass. The company’s name is changed shortly thereafter to Modern Fiberglass & Metal. They specialize in the manufacture of snowmobile sleighs. In January 1971, Clément Nolet, a colleague from Carey Canadian Mines Ltd., joins the team as a fourth shareholder. In 1971, they expand their production line to include fibreglass pools. After purchasing a 16-by-38-foot swimming pool mould, the four owners decide to launch a separate manufacturing company: Piscines Modernes.
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Three of the four shareholders of Modern Fiberglass & Metal Inc, Bertrand Champagne, Placide Poulin and Clément Nolet, in 1972.
In 1973, the North American snowmobile market crumbles. Overproduction leads to thousands of unsold snowmobiles, and many companies go bankrupt. Predicted sales for Sno-Jet and Boa Ski products plummet. Faced with this crisis, the four owners are forced to review their business strategy. During a trip to California, company president Placide notices the emergence of a new trend: fibreglass bathtubs and showers. In 1973, Modern Fiberglass & Metal begins to produce fibreglass trailer parts and showers. All other products are gradually discontinued.
Modern Fiberglass production team
Evolution of MAAX’s
manufacturing footprint Over the course of its history, MAAX has owned up to 25 factories and distribution centers in Canada, the United States and the Netherlands, offering its customers a complementary range of products, from bathtubs, showers and spas to shower doors, medicine cabinets, kitchen cabinets, bathroom furniture and taps.
2002 Aker Plastics (Plymouth, IN, and Martinsburg, WV)
2000 SaniNova B.V. (Heinenoord, Netherlands)
1999 Groupe Modulaire Novax and C.E. Cabinets (Laval, QC) Imperial Woodcraft (Cookshire, QC)
1998 Coleman Spas (Chandler, AZ) KSD Industries (Southampton, PA) Novi American (Atlanta, GA) and Novi Canada (Mississauga, ON) Savannah Spa Manufacturing (Maple Ridge, BC) Shostal Ltd (Lachine and Dorion, QC; and Calgary, AB)
1996 Acryx (Beamsville, ON) Bremen Glas (Bremen, IN) and Cedar Glass (Marion, IA) Manhattan Products (Anjou, QC) and distribution centers (West Berlin, NJ; Lakewood, NJ; and Columbus, OH) 7
1995 Hydro Swirl Manufacturing (Bellingham, WA) and distribution center (Sacramento, CA) Valley Fiberbath (Armstrong, BC) and distribution centers (Langley, BC and Airdrie, AB)
1994 Pearl Baths (Minneapolis, MN)
1993 Axam (Sainte-Marie, QC) Glastec (Valdosta, GA)
1988 Multifibres (MontrĂŠal, QC)
1987 Xatec (Tring-Jonction, QC)
1986 Acrylica (Sainte-Marie, QC)
1981 Archimède (Tring-Jonction, QC)
1971 Piscines Modernes
1969 Modern Fiberglass & Metal (Tring-Jonction, QC) 8
Acrylica production team
1980–1989 In 1980, Piscines Modernes is sold to Piscines SainteMarie. Following the adoption of Bill 101, francization measures require that Modern Fiberglass & Metal be renamed to Fibre de Verre Moderne. From then on, the company is solely dedicated to the development and production of bathroom products.
In 1986, Fibre de Verre Moderne counts 56 employees and has recorded sales of $4 million. On February 28, 1987, MAAX—an amalgam of Fibre de Verre Moderne, Archimède, and Acrylica—is created.
On June 4, 1981, the four shareholders inaugurate Archimède, a company manufacturing modular houses on stilts. On September 28, 1981, a dozen employees begin work at the new Archimède plant in Saint-Frédéric de Beauce. In March 1984, Carol Brousseau sells his shares, which are repurchased by the company. On October 23, 1985, Bertrand Champagne and Placide Poulin buy out Clément Nolet and become the last two company stakeholders. Bertrand is responsible for production at Archimède 2000, and Placide gives up his role as general manager to act solely as company president and CEO. In 1986, Placide purchases a 10,000-square-foot building on Route Cameron in Sainte-Marie. It provides direct access to Autoroute 73. Bertrand and Placide turn the building into a production plant for their newest company, Acrylica, which is launched on June 2 of that year. They also begin construction of a new 8,500-square-foot warehouse next to the plant.
On June 23, 1987, MAAX is listed on the Montreal Exchange. The company makes its initial public offering of 1.4 million shares at a price of $2.50 each. In August 1987, MAAX acquires the remaining 75 percent of all business shares of Xatec (having previously held 25 percent), a composite part manufacturing company in Tring-Jonction. In June 1988, MAAX acquires Multifibres, a business based in Montreal. In May 1989, Bombardier orders 12,000 Sea-Doo hulls from MAAX, leading to the creation of a new company called Promax. All Promax products are manufactured in the Fibre de Verre Moderne no. 4 plant. 9
1990–1999 On February 12, 1991, Bertrand Champagne sells his shares, making Placide Poulin the sole owner. On August 14, 1992, MAAX is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. In August 1992, MAAX builds a new plant in SainteMarie called AXAM, creating 15 jobs. On August 4, 1993, MAAX buys its first company: the Glastec division of Eljer Manufacturing, based in Valdosta, Georgia. On October 5, 1993, the Fibre de Verre Moderne no. 1 plant catches fire, resulting in $2.5 million in damages. Nonetheless, production resumes the following day. In February 1994, MAAX acquires Pearl Baths of Minneapolis, Minnesota. In August 1994, a new building in Tring-Jonction is acquired and expanded, creating 25 new jobs. In February 1993, AXAM begins production of ABS showers. On June 28, 1995, Placide announces the acquisition of Valley Fiberbath in Armstrong, British Columbia. At the end of September 1995, MAAX acquires Hydro Swirl Manufacturing in Bellingham, Washington. Located on the U.S. West Coast, the company specializes in the manufacture of acrylic bathtubs and showers. The acquisition of Hydro Swirl Manufacturing and Valley Fiberbath is a major step in MAAX’s growth strategy. The company is now a national manufacturer. Later that year, MAAX is named one of Forbes’ 100 best small companies of 1996. On January 21, 1997, MAAX buys Manhattan Products Ltd. in Anjou. The company also has a division in Beamsville, Ontario, called Acryx. Manhattan manufactures shower and medicine cabinet doors, while Acryx builds spas.
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In February 1997, MAAX purchases Bremen Glas, a fibreglass bathtub equipment manufacturer in Bremen, Indiana, as well as its Cedar Glass division in Marion, Iowa. Early in 1998, MAAX purchases KSD Industries, a shower and medicine cabinet door manufacturer in Southampton, Pennsylvania. With this acquisition, MAAX begins distribution to hundreds more Home Depot stores and strengthens its position within the retail market. On March 25, 1998, an agreement in principle is signed to acquire the main assets of Shostal Ltd.—namely, the plants used for the manufacture of Spartan & Fasco bathtubs and showers located in Lachine, Dorion, Quebec City, and Calgary. Following this purchase, MAAX becomes the no. 1 sanitary ware manufacturer in Canada. In late July 1998, MAAX acquires Savannah Spa Manufacturing in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, and, in September of that same year, Coleman Spas in Chandler, Arizona. In 1999, MAAX buys Cuisine Expert, a manufacturer of high-end kitchens and bathroom vanities in Montreal. On October 13, 1999, Cookshire-based Boiseries Impérial Woodcraft, a wood kitchen cabinet manufacturer, joins MAAX. This new acquisition contributes to the growth of Cuisine Expert. The business is subsequently renamed Groupe Modulaire Novax. On December 15, 1999, MAAX earns 19th place in Les Affaires’s top 30 list of most successful companies, which ranks businesses based on growth, profitability, and job creation.
Rotterdam
17
5 19
23
6
24 13
1
Calgary
2
21
Vancouver
3
12 11
Montréal Toronto
15 26
Québec
18 10
Minneapolis
4 22
9
25
Chicago
Columbus
Sacramento
16
Philadelphia
14
Los Angeles
20
Aker Plastics Company (3 plants)
Phœnix
Atlanta
8
7 Miami
Bathroom Products 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
MAAX, Sainte-Marie, QC (3 usines) MAAX, Tring-Jonction, QC MAAX, Lachine, QC MAAX, Anjou, QC MAAX, Airdrie, AB MAAX, Armstrong, BC MAAX, Riviera Beach, FL MAAX, Valdosta, GA MAAX, Southampton, PA (2 usines) MAAX, Bremen, IN MAAX, Marion, IA
Kitchen Cabinets 12 13 14 15 16 17
MAAX, Minneapolis, MN MAAX, Bellingham, WA MAAX, Ontario, CA MAAX, Plymouth, IN (2 usines) MAAX, Martinsburg, VA MAAX, Heinenoord, Hollande Spas
18 19 20
MAAX Spas (Ontario), Beamsville, ON MAAX Spas (B.C.), Maple Ridge, BC MAAX Spas (Arizona), Chandler, AZ
21 22
MAAX, Laval, QC MAAX, Cookshire, QC Distribution Centres
23 24 25 26
Airdrie, AB Langley, BC Berlin, NJ Sacramento, CA Bathroom products plant et centre de distribution
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2000–2009 On February 25, 2000, MAAX purchases the Dutch company SaniNova BV, an acrylic bathtub and shower manufacturer based in Heinenoord, near Rotterdam. SaniNova has footholds in four European countries. On July 16, 2002, MAAX acquires Aker Plastic, a company with divisions in Plymouth, Indiana, and Martinsburg, West Virginia. This is the most important transaction since the creation of MAAX. Aker manufactures fibreglass bathtubs and showers. It’s a well-known brand, with interesting market shares in the American Midwest and Northeast.
Placide begins to think about succession. “If MAAX had been a privately held company, and we were its controlling shareholders, I would naturally have left it to my children. But MAAX was a public company, and we held only 14 percent of shareholdings. Our goal was to hit $1 billion in sales by 2007. With over half a billion in sales, 2,700 employees, and 23 plants, we still had a ways to go.”
In December 2003, U.S. private equity firm Rinse Holding signs an exclusive option to purchase MAAX. Rinse Holding includes three major investment groups: J.W. Childs Associates LP, Borealis Private Equity LP, and the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS).
revenue growth
1987 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
On June 4, 2004, MAAX is sold for $575 million. In 2008, Brookfield Asset Management acquires 100% of Maax Bath, Inc through its private equity division Brookfield Business Partners and appoints Pierre McNeil as President.
Modern Fiberglass and Metal Inc.
Archimède Inc. 12
Acrylica Inc.
Mathematical symbol representing the company’s anticipated growth
2010–2019 Rebirth of MAAX The Great Recession was a difficult period for many companies in the new home construction and remodeling industry. Like most companies, MAAX was negatively impacted and needed to make adjustments to manage through the downturn. With the support of Brookfield and the effort of Maax’s passionate and loyal associates the company was able to successfully navigate the recession but required a fresh look at its current situation and strategic plan.
By aligning the organization around these fundamental strategies and institutionalizing the MAAX Talent Development Process the company was able to begin the turnaround. Over the course of the next 7 years the team delivered impressive results:
In April 2010, Mark Gold is appointed President & CEO with the mandate to create a plan to reinvent Maax with the objective to return Maax to its former lofty performance.
In January 2017, Brookfield sold 100% of Maax to The American Bath Group (ABG). The combined entity created one of the preeminent bath and shower solutions companies in North America with the largest domestic manufacturing/distribution footprint and an expansive distribution network.
In 2011 the organization galvanized around a new approach which placed the customer at the center of the strategic plan. This “Customer Centric” mindset would be foundational in Maax returning to its former industry leading position. This vision was supporting by 6 fundamental pillars: 1. Drive New Product Innovation 2. Deliver on the MAAX Brand Promise 3. Become Easy to do Business with 4. Unrelenting Operational Excellence 5. Deliver a Best in Class Customer Experience 6. Hire, train and retain Passionate People who live the companies “Rules of Engagement”
• • • •
Sales growth +47% Profitability growth +436% New Product Vitality Index 40% of total revenue #1 market share in Canada
From 2017 to today Maax has continued to outpace market growth through the same Customer Centric approach and enabled by the best team in the bath products industry. With the support and additional expertise, ABG brings to the organization this trend will surely continue.
MAAX Lachine team at the IN3 event in Montreal for the presentation of U tile and ModulR products 13
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE A long-standing commitment to operational excellence Operational excellence is one of the pillars of MAAX’s success. With more than 1.2 million units produced annually vs 2018 alone, the company’s manufacturing team is working hard to deliver quality products to its thousands of North American customers. Over the years, MAAX has become a leader in the North American bathware industry. The company started production of fiberglass showers in 1973 and decided to focus its operations on bathware products in 1980. Thanks to the expertise and commitment of its team, MAAX now stands out through the quality and innovative features of its products. “We have developed a comprehensive vision which drives the MAAX team in regards to safety, people, molds, quality, delivery, costs (lean), processes and customers,’’
explains Marc Medza, MAAX’s Director of Operations and Human Resources, Québec. The company has established robust practices and processes in all its manufacturing facilities strategically located to serve its customers in Canada and the United States: Lachine, Ste-Marie and Tring-Jonction in Québec; Armstrong in British Columbia; as well as Bellingham, Washington; Martinsburg, West Virginia; Plymouth, Indiana; and Valdosta, Georgia. Much has been done in recent years to modernize equipment, automate certain activities and strengthen manufacturing, quality and EH&S processes. MAAX teams have worked hard to implement the company’s vision of operational excellence.
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For example, the Armstrong team reviewed its operational strategy and achieved a major transformation. “Through the application of Lean principles, Armstrong is now able to produce twice as many units with the same team,” says Tony Senger, Regional
Operations Manager, who led this major initiative. “Supply and inventory management is a daily focus at our Lachine facility,” notes Evelyne Belleau, Lachine Plant Manager. “The establishment of flexible manufacturing processes and the leveraging of workforce versatility have enabled the plant to expand its capacity based on customer demand. More than 800 units are assembled every day at our facility.”
In operation since 1987, the Martinsburg (WV) facility manufactures Aker-branded products, including tubs, tubshowers and showers, as well as MAAX’s latest innovation, U tile. The 900 units produced each day are shipped across the United States from its distribution center. “Our team has put robust processes in place including 6S, work instructions and procedures, continuous improvement programs (Kaizen events), standard work, best practices, and cross training programs to continuously improve our quality performance,”
says Jim Vander Weide, Regional Operations Manager and Plant Manager, Martinsburg. MAAX has pioneered many innovations in the bathware industry and within its own operations, which led to thermoforming, to make an acrylic-based shell, and gelcoat application, as well as the launch of breakthrough products.
Modern Fiberglass plants, 1979
Where it all began MAAX’s story dates back to 1969 in Tring-Jonction, a village in the picturesque Beauce region of Quebec. In the beginning, MAAX specialized in the manufacture of pools and components for snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles. In 1979, MAAX built its last pool and decided to focus its activities on designing and manufacturing bathtubs and showers. In August 1994, the company invested $1.5 million to build a new 39,000-square-foot unit which boosted the plant’s total area to 95,000 square feet. It was equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, including the addition of two robot production lines in 1999. 25 new jobs were created in Tring-Jonction in the Modern Fiberglass Division. Over the next two decades, the team embarked on a process of continuous improvement that led it to automate part of its manufacturing activities. The expertise and creativity of the Tring-Jonction team allowed the company to bounce back after the loss of a major contract in the early 2000’s. The introduction of new products brought growth back to Tring. In 2011, a group of employees took the initiative to develop and produce a surface that delivers a real stone and tile experience. The result was impressive. MAAX’s management decided to set up a dedicated working group to lead the project on a larger scale. After some trials and errors, U tile was born in 2014. “From 2010 to 2018, sales tripled with the launch of new products and the workforce increased to close to 200 employees,” says David Guimont, Tring-Jonction’s Plant Manager. “Today, Tring-Jonction is the only site that manufactures our 3 major families of products: U tile, fiberglass backed gelcoat (AcrylX) and acrylic. Tring-Jonction is recognized for the quality of its molds. In fact, our local staff developed and built a large proportion of the thermoformers that we use today in our plants. We are proud of our progress and are looking forward to the future with confidence.”
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MAAX’s technological transformation Over the years, MAAX’s management team has steadily invested to modernize its facilities. New technologies and equipment have been implemented to enhance productivity and improve employees’ working environment. For example, spraying robots were introduced for the first time at the Ste-Marie plant in the early 2000s. Automated rails were also installed to move parts more easily. Employees on the shop floor now have access to information in real time. Tring-Jonction automated two of its production lines during the same period. Throughout this transformation process, Kaizen events were held and best practices were shared across facilities. The Plymouth (IN) facility – which joined the MAAX family in 2002 following the acquisition of Aker – has taken the 4.0 shift in the past four years. “We introduced computer and PLC controls to improve the robustness and repeatability of our processes, namely to monitor resin mixes and AcrylX application on parts,”
explains Steve Callas, Plymouth (IN) Plant Manager. “This ensures that each unit receives the right amount of AcrylX via indicator lights and RFID chips. We are also able to track the number of turns the mold is used automatically, which helps us proactively plan repairs and better understand which repair techniques hold up the longest. We plan to launch our first robotic project in 2020.”
Major investments have been made in all facilities to automate manufacturing activities. Technology has helped to make the processes repeatable and improve quality output. The facilities have moved from paper and pencils to Excel spreadsheets, to shared databases, and then to SAP. Information is now available to all employees in real time. Training programs have been implemented to upgrade the knowledge and skills of the teams.
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An unwavering focus on health & safety Health and Safety is part of the top priorities of the eight fundamental elements of MAAX’s Operational Excellence strategy, namely Safety, People, Molds, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Process and Customer. Over the past years, MAAX has made remarkable strides in implementing and sharing best practices across all its plants. “We work diligently to ensure that our employees work in a safe environment so that they go home after their shift in the same condit ion as when they arrived,” says Marc Medza,
Director of Operations and Human Resources, Québec. “A thorough analysis of the working environment and its equipment have allowed us to identify safety and ergonomic hazards and to build an action plan that we update on a regular basis in light of corrective actions and suggestions put forward by our teams.”
As part of this approach, the MAAX team has implemented a series of initiatives including: rotation of positions to avoid repetitive movements; the introduction of retractable utility knives or other safe cutting tools; the installation of heavy material handling equipment; pedestrian walkways; access to free physiotherapy treatments; exercise sessions and EH&S briefings at the beginning of shifts; ergonomic workstations; and awareness campaigns. “In Plymouth, safety blitzes have proven to be an excellent way to identify current and potential safety issues. On a regular basis, cross-functional teams take the time to observe a department, document safety hazards and brainstorm solutions together,” says Plymouth Plant
“The severit y and frequenc y of accidents has significantly decreased thanks to the accountability and commitment of all MAAX employees,”
notes Jorge Frias, Senior Advisor, Human Resources responsible for Labour Relations and Health and Safety matters. Our total recordable (TIR), days away (DART) and severity rates are well below industry standards.
Several important milestones have been achieved.
MAAX’s efforts to provide a safe and healthy environment for its employees have been recognized by the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail du Québec (CNESST). The Lachine, Ste-Marie and Tring-Jonction plants have received many awards in recent years, notably in 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2015.
Manager, Steve Callas.
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INNOVATION AT THE CORE OF OUR DNA A proven track record in product development and innovation “Innovation has always been part of our DNA and central to our success,” says André Deland,
General Manager and Vice President, New Product Development. “We are
The Ste-Marie R&D center focuses on baths, showers, bases and U tile while Lachine is dedicated to doors and showers. “Our teams work
forever seeking to find better ways of doing things. At the same time, our people are the fuel of this innovation. They are always listening to our customers, learning about their needs, and using their expertise to find solutions.”
together to design the best products aligned with our customers’ needs. The product development methodology and processes have evolved and matured, enabling us to bring products to life more rapidly and efficiently,” says Kerwin
MAAX prides itself on offering complete bath and shower product solutions in four areas of priority: design, comfort, convenience and value. It is quick to seize on a trend, or even create a trend, and innovate so that customers can have what they perceive as their dream bathroom. A pioneer in introducing acrylic technology to bathware, MAAX consistently pushes the boundaries. Over the years it has introduced dozens of new products and secured over 80 registered patents. One of the latest innovations is the revolutionary U tile, a shower wall solution that offers an alternative to tiles, creating an entirely new product category.
Over the years, MAAX has introduced state-of-the art software and equipment to better assess and understand product life cycles and their endurance in real life. “Our capacity to develop prototypes today
MAAX’s two research and development centers, located in Lachine and Ste-Marie-de-Beauce in Québec, Canada, and its dedicated team of engineers in the United States, play a central role in its success.
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Braddock, Vice President of R&D, Baths & Showers.
is clearly a game changer in the way we design new products,” says Deland. “We now have the ability to work in collaboration with our suppliers during the development stages and make adjustments as we progress. U tile is a great example of teamwork among our teams, customers and suppliers. By getting everyone involved, we were able to create this breakthrough product – and solve a real challenge – and make it the commercial success it is today.”
Deland adds that MAAX can count on robust processes and structures to ensure that its design teams, R&D experts, marketing and production personnel work closely together to achieve optimal results.
The birth of MAAX’s first R&D center In 1988, MAAX established a research and development center in Ste-Marie under the leadership of Jean-Marie Eeckhoudt to maintain its competitive edge. By 1993, a team of 20 people worked at the center, keeping a constant eye on market trends. More than 25 new products were developed, of which many are designed to meet the needs of people living with reduced mobility or a loss of autonomy. In September 1997, the company announced an investment of $2.1 millions at its Acrylica plant, located in Ste-Marie. This major expansion increased the facility’s footprint to 132,000 sq. ft. and allowed the creation of a 6,000 sq ft state-of-the-art research and development center. At that point in history, MAAX employed 1,075 people, including 600 in Canada and 475 in the United States. In Beauce, 375 people worked for the company, including 75 at the Sainte-Marie head office. MAAX owned 13 plants, 7 distribution centers and 3 research and development centers. During the following year, 42 new products were put on the market.
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Molds… still at the heart of MAAX’s success MAAX is a true pioneer in the use of fiberglass and acrylic. Since its earliest days, MAAX’s teams use molds to produce bathware products.
MAAX and ABG now have six mold shops in North America. They are working as a team to ensure that the molds can be produced on a consistent and high-quality basis. “We are putting in place processes to ensure optimal
“Molds are at the core of MAAX’s business. They are critical to the future success of any new product,”
productivity and continuous improvement. We are also looking at 3D printing to reduce lead times and improve costs moving forward,” Braddock explains.
says Kerwin Braddock, Vice President of R&D, Baths & Showers . “We have over 200 different types of molds and produce about 800 to 1,000 per year for new products or replacement. We can do about 10,000 parts with a single mold.”
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The mold shops also play a vital role in MAAX’s innovation process by producing product prototypes for further market evaluation. “One of the best things about my job is working with customers to understand their needs and transform that into a tangible – a mold and a prototype,” says Braddock. “This enables us to verify with customers whether we have a winning design and also demonstrate that the product can be produced repeatedly at a viable cost.”
Designing with the customers’ voice in mind New product ideas need to be thoroughly evaluated before significant investments are made to bring them to market. This is where the marketing team at MAAX comes in. Working with a wide range of colleagues, from product developers, R&D engineers and technicians to financial analysts, team members are tasked with building a solid business case for a proposed product to ensure it will be appealing to bathware professionals and consumers. “This process requires a tremendous amount of teamwork,” says Aude Simard, Director, Product Management for Bathware Solutions. “We need to benchmark the proposed product with the competition and validate its design, quality, price and profitability, to name just a few steps.”
Obtaining feedback from potential customers is also crucial. MAAX conducts web-based surveys, performs market research and speaks directly with customers to gauge potential demand and customer reactions to proposed designs. “It’s important to ensure that the selected designs will be accepted by a majority of customers,” notes Simard. “We consulted with more than 2,000 people – including plumbers, wholesalers, designers, architects and consumers – before moving ahead with U tile patterns, for example.”
Another essential component of a strong business case, of course, is whether the product can be produced with the quality and cost efficiency that all MAAX customers have come to expect. This is where the mold shops play a key role.
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MAAX in the
!
limelight
MAAX has received numerous recognitions over the years to celebrate its innovative spirit and design. These are a testimony to the remarkable creativity of its team recognized by renowned business and trade organizations in Canada and in the United States. MAAX’s teams and products were recognized by prestigious organizations in different categories, including: A’ Design Award & Competition , Awards of Design Excellence (ADEX), Association québécoise de la quincaillerie et des matériaux de construction (AQMAT), Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Québec, Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating, Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST), Forbes magazine, Gala des Entrepreneurs, Gala des Perséides de Sainte-Marie, Grands Prix du design, Home Depot, Les Mercuriades, Lowes, National Home Show and Olympiades de Thetford Mines.
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INDUSTRY EVOLUTION Always one step ahead of the market… MAAX innovated in 1973 with the launch of the first model of fiberglass shower, Biarritz No 40. It measured 30 by 32 inches and was made available in a wide range of colours with a lacquered finish.
The team from Tring-Jonction and Ste-Marie were producing showers and baths in all kinds of colours at the time. This wide variety led to inventory management challenges.
Bathroom products in a wide variety of colours continued to predominate in the 1980s. Baths and showers could be seen in different shades of green, yellow, pink, red, blue, etc. Black was particularly popular in the Middle East, especially in Saudi Arabia, where a gold faucet completed the ensemble.
“I was hired in the early 1990s to develop shower kits, a set including a base, walls and a door, at a competitive price,” recalls
Steve Donnelly, R&D Senior Industrial Designer, MAAX. These were manufactured at the new Axam facility in Ste-Marie, right next to the Acrylica plant.
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During this decade, whirlpools and therapeutic baths were a great success. They have since been replaced by the sleek bath styles seen today. “This product line has declined with the advent of spas and the proliferation of spa centers,” says Donnelly. Corner and
rectangular baths then appeared on the market.
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In 1996, Quebecers invested significant amounts in home renovation. They spent $5 billion on renovations, money spent partly on kitchens and bathrooms; this was twice as much as the money spent in the Québec market for new home construction. The first freestanding bathtubs appeared on the market in the early 2000s, together with multifunctional showers. Clear glass came into favour. No more textures on the glass doors of the showers. These were available with, among other things, therapeutic multi-jet shower heads, chromotherapy systems for a dramatic luminous effect paired with steam, and integrated shower systems imitating tropical rain. Preassembled showers were also popular. Easy to install, they included a jet, valve, showerhead, etc.
“Consumers are now looking for products that are cocooning, clean and stylish,” says Kerwin Braddock, Vice President of R&D, Baths & Showers. “White, beige and gray are the preferred colours. The bathroom is an important part of the house, synonymous with comfort and well-being. This trend is more pronounced in Québec than in the rest of Canada and even in the United States.”
Over the last few decades, product variety has expanded significantly in this market segment to meet evolving customer needs. The product lines are diverse and tailored to every market. Comfort is an important element in the final choice of a product, especially in Québec. Freestanding baths are experiencing a new boom. Consumers prefer more minimalist baths with rounded or square shapes. Showers now surpass baths in number of units sold. This transition is continuing to gain momentum. The launch of U tile is part of this trend. Its easy-to-install and maintain shower panels are an innovative alternative to traditional ceramic tile while enhancing the décor of any bathroom. More than 1,000 basic configuration choices are available to facilitate the transition to this revolutionary product.
The MAAX team has not finished surprising and influencing bathroom product market trends.
There’s more to come! 25
Exploring the bright side of the Moon...
Moonlight 26
Roman 27
Viaggi
Viaggi Wooden Bathtub
The Viaggi wood tub is an eggshaped freestanding that comes on a wood base.
Always on the lookout for the latest trends in bathware design Innovation at MAAX begins with a creative process that is designed to spark the imagination and, under the right conditions, lead to breakthrough products in the bathware industry. It involves exploring emerging market trends, carefully observing professional and consumer behaviour, and closely listening to customers. Early conceptual design work is carried out in large part by the company’s industrial designers who work at MAAX facilities in Ste-Marie (Beauce) and Lachine, Québec. “We monitor social media, attend trade shows, and meet with bathware professionals and consumers to understand what consumers are looking for in terms of style and functionality,” says Steve Donnelly. “We then come up with ideas which can be passed on to our marketing, engineering and production colleagues for further evaluation. If given the green light by the team, this could lead to eventual manufacturing and marketing.” Observing how bathware professionals
work and finding “a better way” can sometimes lead to breakthrough products. A prime example is the F2 Drain, a plumbing fixture that enables freestanding bathtubs to be installed without demolishing flooring or ceiling. Coming up with innovative concepts that meet a need in the bathware marketplace has become a hallmark of MAAX. “Our ideas do not always translate immediately into actual products – sometimes the market is not mature enough or the timing isn’t right,” notes Donnelly. “But we have had so many successes that it’s undeniable our innovation approach is a winner.”
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always moving forward From paper to digital Making a successful transition to digital is one of the biggest challenges that businesses face today. “At MAAX, we’re proud to have made the shift,” says Julie Caron, director
of Channel Marketing for Canada, American Bath Group, and MAAX Bath. “Now, the company’s customers and partners have quick access to quality information in real time with just a few clicks.”
The company’s sales, merchandising, and marketing strategies have evolved significantly over the years to better meet the needs of its vast customer base across North America. MAAX products are now available in stores and home centres, as well as through wholesalers and construction professionals.
Toward a digital transformation During the 80s and 90s, MAAX’s offering was divided into product lines according to different distribution channels. Each product line had its own style and dedicated promotional and sales material. Some products, sold exclusively through certain distributors, had their own brand identities and merchandising strategies. A lot of ground has been covered since the early 2000s. Back then, the product managers and the graphic design team were being asked to produce up to 32 different price lists per year. Each document was manually updated to reflect price increases and to include new products launched by the company. The price lists were then printed and distributed to sales reps, who would give them out to customers. Price lists were stored at the Sainte-Marie distribution centre or at other specialized distribution centres, and sales reps could order them via an online portal.
The number of product lines has since decreased, which means fewer documents. Price lists are now distributed electronically in PDF format and include digital features, such as links to the MAAX website. Printed material is reserved for promotional tools like brochures, in-store posters, and product packaging. Product photography did not escape the digital revolution. Bathrooms are now designed virtually in 3D. We no longer need to build whole sets to showcase our products.
Major investments in information technology In 2010, MAAX transitioned to a content management system (CMS). This major IT upgrade led to multiple improvements, notably automated price lists. “We migrated data from three different sources to a single platform, giving us access to up-to-date information at all times,” says Julie Caron. “With the new CMS, the team became more efficient and productive. Today, they can create a layout in minutes by simply entering the products, templates, photos, and technical drawings.”
From 2016 to 2018, MAAX completely overhauled its digital ecosystem by deploying a global web platform for its American Bath Group (ABG) divisions. As a result, the company was able to create brand-dedicated websites in record time.
MAAX’s journey toward an increasingly digital environment has only just begun—there are many more projects on the horizon!
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Next-gen products and trends What are the major trends that will mark the bathroom world in the coming years? To answer this question, the magazine’s editorial team met with Steve Donnelly, R&D Senior Industrial Designer, MAAX, to learn about his vision. “We are seeing a trend towards more delicate shapes and geometries. For example, the shapes or structures of showers are increasingly thin and refined, with sharp edges. This helps to highlight the transparency of the glass,” says Donnelly.
Faucets also have more refined shapes. Same approach for freestanding bathtubs whose contours continue to be thinner and rounder to better fit into the bathroom décor that is tending to shrink. These are real decorative objects, jewels in a sense. The same goes for the washbasin design that is today similar to that of a real miniature bathtub.
For their part, showers are increasingly being equipped with easily accessible and dismountable hardware to facilitate easy maintenance of the shower. “There is also a migration to natural materials,” says Donnelly. “The textures of bathroom products tend to be closer to stone and ceramics. MAAX anticipated this trend with U tile, whose ingenious poly me r surfac e mimics the appearance of nat ural stone a nd c e ramics. The texture and look are so real that professional designers cannot tell the difference between U tile and real tile.”
Shower bases increasingly feature textures evocative of slate. They are thinner and getting more similar to non-slip tiles. “There is a strong migration towards everything that is natural. The appeal of monolithic walls will likely cont inue to intensify,”
says Donnelly. This refinement of style is also affecting bathtubs. Drains and overflows today tend to blend in with the overall design, either by assuming the colour of the bath or by incorporating functional stylized openings such as small, discreet and elegant slits.
Even if white remains the preferred colour for bathroom products, European manufacturers are gradually introducing colours that recall the era of the 70s-80s, such as turquoise and pink, as well as patterns imitating terrazzo with its colour aggregates.
The innovation that has characterized bathroom products over the last few decades will continue to increase to offer consumers style and comfort in this oasis of well-being and relaxation that is the bathroom of the future.
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ease of doing business Information technology: a driver of performance Over the past few decades, MAAX’s advances in information technology (IT) have allowed the company to increase productivity and better meet the needs of customers. Installing a central IT platform used by all facilities has proven to be an important step toward information systems integration. Implementing the SAP ERP system allowed us to centralize all our information and access up-to-date data in real time,” says Jean Lambert, a computer analyst at MAAX. “With this major investment, we were able to automate several operations and leverage the company’s many common resources. It was an ambitious project that took five years to complete. We began in 2001 and finished in 2006.”
The new centralized system has had a number of major benefits for MAAX, including streamlined key processes. For example, the order-taking process has been completely transformed. Data entry used to be done manually in almost all cases. Now, it’s almost fully automated, with close to 80 percent of orders processed electronically. Among the team’s other large-scale projects, the new partner portal is certainly the jewel in MAAX’s crown. Introduced in 2015, the portal allows customers to track their orders, check available inventory, make an after sales service request, and order shower doors, bath drains, and other replacement parts online.
In 2015, MAAX launched a brand-new online configuration tool that allows customers to see what a MAAX product will look like in their bathroom before making a purchase. Further updates allowed customers to consult technical drawings and installation guides, and find nearby dealers. More recently, in 2019, MAAX created an exclusive and innovative smartphone app for repairers that they can use to access documents such as work orders, appointments, and more. “Today, there are about 15 people on MAAX’s IT team,” says Suzie
Métivier, MAAX’s director of Application Services. “Our principle mission is to effectively manage service delivery and maintenance; ensure the integrity, availability, and confidentiality of our services; provide quality support; and improve business efficiency by leveraging the most advanced technologies.”
We want to make our customers lives easier – both internal and external customers.
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enjoy the experience Partners portal opens all doors MAAX has long recognized that being highly responsive to customers is a key to success in the competitive bathware industry. Over the past decades, our processes and technologies have evolved substantially to make it easier to conduct business with us. For example, you may remember that back in the 1980s customers relied on fax machines and phones to place an order. Data entry by hand often led to errors, delays and other inconveniences. Today, information about your order is available at your fingertips, 24/7, from wherever you are in the world. Four years ago, with the objective of improving the customer experience, MAAX invested in the development of a powerful web-based Partners Portal and has been steadily enhancing its features ever since. Linked to our ERP (enterprise resource planning) software system, the portal enables customers and members of MAAX’s sales force to obtain the latest updates on order status, product availability, delivery dates, and a plethora of other vital information. The easy to navigate platform also allows users to submit and track warranty and product return requests. Since its launch in 2015, numerous functionalities have been added to the portal as part of a phased continuous improvement program. “From the very start, we made sure to involve our customers and collect their feedback,”
says Sarah Bernard, Customer Care CX Project Manager. “We visited many of them, in Canada and the United States, to show them our progress and ensure we were on the right track. Today, we are continuing to look out for their comments and their suggestions to guide our next steps.”
The portal currently processes an average 10,000 inquiries a week, quickly and effectively. “While it’s always possible to speak with a MAAX representative by phone, our partners will often find they can get the information they need and resolve any issues faster and more efficiently via the portal,” comments Sarah.
Over 5,500 customers have adopted this indispensable self-service tool to conduct business with MAAX. 36
Our employees
are at the heart of MAAX’s success MAAX’s success stems from the passion and commitment of the many employees who have passed through our doors over the past fifty years. From 1969 to today, thousands of employees have helped to shape the history of MAAX and been part of this great family at some point in their lives. These women and men built the company that we know today – a company we can all be proud of. From its humble beginnings in Tring-Jonction, MAAX has emerged as a leader in the North American bathware industry. Many milestones are recounted in this magazine, which has been produced to showcase the company’s remarkable journey over the past half-century, the key moments that have defined MAAX’s history, and the pioneers, partners and customers who have contributed to our growth. “We are in an excellent position to build on our solid foundation and face the future with optimism,” says
Marc Medza, MAAX’s Director of Operations and Human Resources, Québec. “Our main pillars are clearly defined: Health & Safet y, Employee Engagement and Development, Operational Excellence, Quality Leadership and Customer Satisfaction.”
Over its rich history, MAAX experienced some turbulence – but has emerged stronger than ever. “I want to instill a new sense of passion, pride, creativity and innovation into all of our teams,” notes Mr. Medza. “I plan to implement a strategy focused on skills development through training and coaching programs, talent retention, performance management, recognition in all its forms and open and transparent communication across the organization.”
MAAX’s goal is to provide all its employees with a stimulating work environment that will enable them to reach their full potential. Throughout this section of the magazine, you’ll meet happy and proud people, reflective of our 1,400 MAAX employees in Canada and the United States who are committed every day to providing the best products and outstanding service to all our customers.
Thanks to all of them, we have a bright future ahead and are excited about making a positive difference in people’s lives. 37
Part of success After 48 years, Réjeanne Lanoville still loves working at MAAX. She has extensive experience in the packaging and product assembly sectors, where she has worked in recent years. Réjeanne began her career as a student at the age of 17 at the Rest-Glow plant on Richelieu Street in Montréal. She then moved to Côte-de-Liesse to work on the assembly of Spartan-brand medicine cabinets, and then to Lachine. Today, Réjeanne works in the assembly of kits and the preparation of hardware packages. Over the past few decades, Réjeanne has been able to see and appreciate the evolution of the company and has adapted well to the many changes. Among the most striking developments has been the implementation of new, more efficient technologies and the computerization of data that are now available with just a few clicks, as well as the transformation of production work to more modern and ergonomic workstations. MAAX is in many ways a family affair for the Lanovilles. Her sisters, Rachelle and Linda, worked for the company, as does her brother Sylvain, who now has 35 years of service. For the past two years, Réjeanne has been working four days a week. This pioneer, who was among MAAX’s first cohorts of employees, is not yet thinking about retirement. She’s still as active as ever. Waking up at 3:45 a.m., she takes a morning walk with her dog, Buddy, before going to work at 7 a.m. Réjeanne has received many recognition awards for her tremendous loyalt y and hard work. MAAX’s success is based on the commitment of Réjeanne and hundreds of other employees who have walked through its doors since 1971.
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Réjeanne Lanoville, proud MAAX ambassador
Dedicated to MAAX for
48
!
years
Steve Donnelly, honoured by AQMAT Finalists Sylvain Dulude of Techniseal and Lucie Tremblay of Outils Boomerang; sponsor Éric Arnaud of CONDOR shaking hands with winner Alain Gaudette of Équipement BONI; and Steve Donnelly of MAAX, also a finalist.
Steve Donnelly, MAAX Senior Industrial Designer, received a well-deserved recognition at the Association québécoise de la quincaillerie et des matériaux (AQMAT) annual recognition gala on March 9, 2019. He was a finalist for this year’s AQMAT Loyalty Award. Each year, AQMAT hosts a gala in honour of Québec individuals, teams and organizations who have worked to set the highest quality standard in our industry. A total of 16 prizes are awarded in a variety of categories to finalists from across the province. This year, AQMAT highlighted Steve’s continued commitment, passion and creativity at MAAX in the Loyalty category. Employees nominated for this award have worked within their organization for at least 10 years and have contributed to a variety of areas, including customer loyalty and team development.
In 2016, MAAX, winner of Best Team
In 2016, MAAX, winner of Innovation for U tile 39
How do we recognize? in martinsburg – The Martinsburg team is always ready to recognize the achievements and important milestones of its employees.Whether it be for their individual, department or overall plant effort towards goal achievement, we will not let it go unnoticed. Employees are recognized with individual gift cards, department and plant lunches, and acknowledgment from the management team in many other ways!
Monthly birthday and service anniversary celebrations – Every month, the team marks birthday and service anniversary milestones. Employees celebrating their birthday receive a MAAX T-Shirt which they proudly wear. Years of loyal service are acknowledged and recognized during a special ceremony. Employees receive a certificate to thank them for their commitment and ongoing support. It’s also an opportunity to enjoy a cupcake... in fact, any opportunity is a good one for eating a cupcake in Martinsburg!
Employee Appreciation Day – MAAX Martinsburg acknowledged the hard work of its employees during Employee Appreciat ion Day by festooning their breakrooms with a variety of balloons and decorations and serving cupcakes.
Plaque presentation to mark service anniversary milestones.
retirement – The last day is a special day and an opportunity to thank an employee when he retires after having worked his whole life at MAAX. Cupcakes break to mark a birthday celebration.
Marcellin Cloutier retires after 40 years of service in Tring-Jonction.
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Time to celebrate MAAX’s 50th anniversary! MAAX employees in Ste-Marie, Québec, celebrated the 50th anniversary of MAAX in a big way! On June 1, 2019, families and friends were invited to an event marking this important milestone in the company’s history. More than 200 people took advantage of this beautiful day to have fun, visit the facilities, enjoy lunch together, and more. Inflatable games, make-up artists and entertainers were on hand to the great delight of the children present! Tring-Jonction did the same on October 4, 1999. To end 2019 in style, all Québec’s employees took the opportunity of their Christmas party to gather and mark MAAX’s 50th anniversary.
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Having fun
together!
Way to go Martinsburg team! The Martinsburg gang takes every opportunity to celebrate milestones. The team works hard but also knows how to have fun together!
Plymouth’s young talent at the forefront! The Plymouth team decided to highlight the talent of their children by holding a drawing contest. A great opportunity to shine and encourage art!
Taco Thursday Luncheon to kick off the Labor Day weekend in Martinsburg!
spring in beauce means maple syrup season
The Employee Cookout event is a unique opportunity to celebrate remarkable team achievements.
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Tall fishing tales... For last 24 years, the MAAX Armstrong Social Club has put on a fishing derby at different lakes around the Armstrong area. All MAAX employees and their families are welcome to participate in and enjoy this unique event, which also feature a delicious BBQ. The 2019 edition was held at Pilar Lake, a nice resort where you can rent cabins and park a recreational vehicle. The process for selecting the winners of the fishing derby is taken very seriously. All fish caught are thoroughly measured. The 2019 winner, Danny Tadla from the Acrylic plant, won $250 for his remarkable catch. Second and third positions were secured by John Vanlerberg and Justin Duggan from MAAX Armstrong. Liam Burke and Lynden Cox won special prizes in the kids category. The event was marked by warm temperatures and many laughs.
Lachine goes wild! Lachine employees take every opportunity to have fun together through picnics, birthdays, holiday and Halloween celebrations, and the Tough Mudder event, etc. These help to make the team spirit stronger than ever!
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Stong
community involvement
opération enfant soleil MAAX employees collected a total of $4,000 for Opération Enfant Soleil in 2019, which was matched by American Bath Group. Great job supporting Québec children in need!
Relay for Life! Marc Lamothe, MAAX Project Manager, led the team in this year’s Relais Pour La Vie (Relay for Life) benefitting the Canadian Cancer Society. The team raised $3,710 and was also named the most energetic team at the event!
Marc Lamothe, Project Manager, with his spouse at the Relais Pour La Vie (Relay for Life) benefitting the Canadian Cancer Society.
Annie Leclaire and Éric Morency represented the MAAX team at the cheque presentation ceremony.
DONNONS AU MAAX
Shaving heads for the children!
Sainte-Marie and Tring-Jonct ion employees were sponsored to do the Sainte-Marie-Tring-Jonction round trip by bike (70 km), or to walk, run, 5 or 10 km, and raised $6,084.50, donated to Maison La Fontaine, a community service association.
Thanks to the participation of David Guimont, TringJonction Plant Manager (shown on the photo), and MAAX’s team, $1,200 was raised as part of the Leucan Shaved Head Challenge for children with cancer. Congratulations to the team!
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Martinsburg’s team keeps close to its community MAAX Martinsburg employees donated a total of $3,898 to the local March of Dimes chapter. The team takes pride in sponsoring local youth sports like recreational youth basketball teams. Some of the teams, coached by MAAX’s own all-star employees, brought home winning seasons. In addition to youth basketball, Martinsburg also contributes annually to its local Eastern Panhandle Youth Football League, allowing it to have an Aker by MAAX banner proudly displayed on the League’s football field.
A much-appreciated helping hand! In the spring of 2019, many MAAX employees based in the Beauce region of Québec were affected by the worst spring floods in 100 years caused by the Chaudière River bursting its banks. Several families lost everything. With the support of MAAX, the hardest hit employees working at the Ste-Marie and Tring-Jonction plants received assistance from ABG Gives. The company presented each employee with a cheque for $2,000 to help them through this difficult situation. The MAAX team also supported the employees through reg ular follow-ups, flexible work schedules, and loans of equipment and material, well as by organizing collections of non-perishable food or money at its three Québec plants.
MAAX Plymouth supports elementary school robotics team MAAX supported a highly successful robotics team from its local Jefferson Elementary School. The Jefferson JetiRobots team had an impressive season, making it all the way to the VEX IQ World Championship in Louisville, KY. The Jet-iRobots team was among 400 teams from around the world selected to compete at the World competition. It was recognized for of strong teamwork, good individual and group knowledge of programming and design engineering, and a determination to raise the funds needed to attend the competition. The Jet-iRobots team was able to travel to the VEX IQ World Championship thanks to the support of MAAX Plymouth and other sponsors. 45
Team
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building
Fun Facts Human Resources and payroll department
IT
The MAAX employee with the highest seniority has been working at MAAX for 48 years!
Did you know that the average space available in today’s cell phone is 32 Gigabytes? That’s approximately 10 000 photos. MAAX’s IT Data Centre disk space has over 60 Terabytes or 60 000 Gigabytes. That’s close to 19 million photos!
supply chain In one year, trucks carrying MAAX products travel over 8,600,000 miles. That is like driving around the earth almost 350 times!
MARCOM MAAX revamped its website for 2018! In 2017 we had over 2.8M visits , and have had an average of 8813 daily visits since the beginning of 2020.
Operations Did you know that on average, we expedite around 1,600 units per day from Lachine plant! In Tring-Jonction, we use in a year almost: • enough resin and gelcoat to fill an olympic pool. • enough acrylic sheets to cover 24 football fields.
R&D Our experienced R&D teams have delivered more than 80 innovation patents and applications for bathroom products, and launched more than 200 new products in the past 5 years!
Finance and Accounting Why not give you all an advice: The quickest way to double your money… is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket!
technical support On average, they recieve 1,150 calls and 1,250 emails per week!
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first bath r u n t i o om was r e a l s p a l the n’t in ce s t at i o n l a S k y l a b stalle d early unch spac toilet 1 9 7 0 s . e d i n t h e T e didn on a US s h e f i r s t p ’t the sh show u acecraft p of th uttle mis until e 198 sions 0s.
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released October 1st 1969 in America
Thanks to
our collaborators Editorial Nancy German, Primacom
Creative Direction Isabelle Leclerc
Coordination Jacqueline Hamel Marina Besner
Copy editing and Photographic research Jacqueline Hamel
Graphic Design Josianne Têtu
Illustration Carl Pelletier
Translation Syllabus
MAAX participation members Mark Gold André Deland Kerwin Braddock Evelyne Belleau David Guimont Steve Callas Tony Senger Jim Vander Weide Steve Donnelly Julie Caron Aude Simard Suzie Métivier Jean Lambert Sarah Bernard