June 21st marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of the IBM plant in Bromont, Quebec. This is a significant milestone, not only for the facility itself but for the IBM company as a whole.

The IBM Bromont plant opened in 1972 amid the economic push to increase Canadian jobs and advance technological innovation in Quebec. Fifty years later, the facility continues to be a leader in innovation, technology and continuous improvement with over $10 million invested each year in product and process development and more than 100 patents issued since 2011.

IBM Bromont is a 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year facility where over 100,000 microelectronic modules are manufactured each week. Home to the largest chip assembly and testing facility in North America, its mission is to transform the most advanced semiconductor components into state-of-the-art microelectronic solutions. And, as announced in February, Bromont is also the designated home of the IBM Quantum System One, Canada’s first universal quantum computer (and only the fourth outside of the US), which IBM will deploy in 2023.

This 50th anniversary is not only an opportunity to shine a spotlight on Bromont’s contribution to the world (the IBM Selectric was mass-produced there in 1972, IBM PC parts were manufactured there in 1981, and now it is a leader in semi-conductors and quantum), but also to highlight the success of the tech sector and IBM’s contribution to it. IBM is helping to strengthen the Canadian innovation economy and workforce through skills development and hiring, research and innovation, and by tackling big problems like sustainability via quantum computing, AI, hybrid cloud and transformation services.

Fully aligned to IBM’s commitment to sustainability, IBM Bromont is a role model in environmental leadership. Greenhouse gas emissions from the plant in 2021 were 63% lower than in 2005, and nearly 100% of the electricity consumed by the site comes from hydroelectricity. From 2014 to 2021, the facility’s water consumption decreased by 44%, representing an annual water saving of 118,000 m3 (or enough water to fill 47 Olympic swimming pools!)

There are so many reasons that IBM Bromont has such a legacy of success, but the most important is the employees, their adaptability, engagement in their skills development and unconditional drive to succeed.  I am proud to lead the Bromont team in the celebration of 50 years.