Innovation and the next generation: Process Solutions Canada Limited

Edmonton-based Process Solutions Canada Limited (PSCL) has been working with the cement industry for almost 40 years, and holds a tradition of embracing innovation as their business has grown. Installing systems around the world, PSCL has steadily grown to become an important player in the industry on a global scale.

“We see education as a key to both our growth and economic growth in Alberta. PSCL employs many U of A graduates, both currently and over the history of the company,” said Matthew Furry, president at PSCL. “Our motivation is to provide meaningful opportunities for the next generation of tech professionals to establish and grow their careers in Edmonton.”

PSCL regularly recruits a wide range of technical professionals, and sees the education of next-generation scientists as helping to support the innovation ecosystem in Edmonton. To grow that spirit of innovation, PSCL has established the Process Solutions Canada Limited Bursary in Science, awarded each year to an undergraduate student facing financial need in the Faculty of Science.

“We see the bursary as an opportunity to generate awareness and provide access to the opportunities that exist in small or medium Edmonton companies like PSCL,” said Furry. “Our goal is to remove barriers to completing post-secondary education in all Sciences: Historically the company's focus was computing science, but a multi-discipline approach is essential in such a rapidly changing tech environment.”

That industry environment faces a number of scientific and technical challenges. Furry explains that the manufacturing process for cement—a ubiquitous product—is as much an art form as science. And because cement is a significant carbon dioxide contributor, there is a lot of motivation at PSCL and in the industry to improve processes.

PSCL is working to use neural network models—an AI tool used for analysis—to predict quality and reduce the cement requirement in concrete, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of the production process. At the same time, the company’s software is used by cement producers to repurpose waste materials as fuel, keeping this material out of landfill and reducing their coal and natural gas consumption.

“These problems highlight the need for a cross discipline approach: people with a background and education in science, as well as business, education and creative disciplines,” said Furry. “

In addition to the bursary for undergraduate students, PSCL has provided internships through TechCareers and through the FIRST Jobs program. Outside of postsecondary education, PSCL provides support in the local community for an elementary school group to attend the Northern Alberta International Children’s Festival, and PSCL employees regularly support Edmonton’s Food Bank through food drives, fundraising, and volunteer days.

“We are really on a journey to grow from an entrepreneurial company: Developing processes and procedures to make the company more scalable, while trying to hang on to the essence of the innovative newcomer,” said Furry. “We are doing business around the world now, having recently added systems in Turkey and Vietnam. Students don’t necessarily have to look for a career away from Edmonton to see the world.”

And to PSCL, supporting the generation of leaders is an important way to foster that spirit of innovation—both as an employer and as a member of the innovation ecosystem in Edmonton and Alberta.

“Education and life-long learning are pillars of PSCL’s community support,” said Furry. “In our quest for continuous improvement, PSCL believes that supporting students to become technology leaders and agents of change is vital to creating a culture of innovation in the workplace and for our province.”