$3.5 mil contract awarded to local business

HDT Expeditionary Systems LTD. military shelters – This is an example of one on of the shelters that Belleville’s local plant will be building. Photo from HDT Global’s website

by Shelby Wye

BELLEVILLE – A local factory has been awarded a $3.5-million contract from the Canadian government.

HDT Expeditionary Systems LTD. will build 38 military shelters and connecting apparatus over the next six years. The new project will create ten more jobs at the Belleville company.

The contract was announced on Monday by Prince Edward-Hastings MP Daryl Kramp.

“This is great news, not just for Belleville, but for the military, who not only need these shelters but also will provide them with more efficiency,” said Kramp.

According to Bob Parsons, HDT Global’s director of international business development, the shelters deploy in a matter of minutes, compared to the previous model which could take up to half an hour.
Parsons said they also come fully equipped with climate-control technology, allowing troops to remain comfortable in any extreme temperatures. As well, the amount of fuel used to transport and run these shelters has been halved with this new technology.

“We have a long heritage of supporting our men and women, wherever they serve,” said Parsons, “This contract will allow us to bolster our presence in the Belleville area.”

The company is expected to begin production of these shelters in the new year.