Supercom Industries

Supercom Industries LP is an Indigenous-owned business established in 2016 as a partnership between five First Nations communities along the north shore of Lake Superior: Fort William First Nation, Red Rock Indian Band, Pays Plat First Nation, Biigtigong Nishnaabeg, and Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg. Initially formed to maximize employment and economic benefits from the East-West Tie (EWT) Transmission Line project, Supercom has since expanded its focus. The company's board of directors includes representatives from each partner community, such as Michael Pelletier Sr. (Fort William First Nation), Corey Fowler (Red Rock Indian Band), Mary Hardy (Pays Plat First Nation), Russell Twance (Biigtigong Nishnaabeg), and Norm Jaehrling (Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg).

Supercom's primary business involves manufacturing and installing a patented product called the Spring Drain, or S-Drain. Under a licensing agreement with TBT Engineering, which owns the intellectual property, Supercom holds exclusive rights to manufacture, market, sell, and install the Spring Drain system across North America. The product is a geo-composite drain designed to be installed between railway ties over unstable peatlands and wetlands. It addresses track degradation and the risk of derailment by providing a long-term ground stabilization solution. This is a significant market, as approximately 10% of existing rail systems in North America cross over wetlands. The Spring Drains are manufactured at a facility on the Fort William First Nation by a 100% First Nation workforce.

The company's business model is centered on partnerships and joint ventures to secure large-scale infrastructure projects. For the EWT project, Supercom formed a joint venture with Valard Construction to act as the general contractor. The company's revenue streams include direct earnings from contracts, revenue sharing agreements, and equity positions in partnerships. Beyond the Spring Drain, Supercom has expanded its portfolio. It entered into a partnership with Hydro One to form Maajiigi Utilities LP, which holds a maintenance and emergency response contract for the EWT line. Additionally, Supercom has an agreement with Triton to distribute composite rail ties, further solidifying its position in the railway infrastructure market.

Keywords: Indigenous business, railway infrastructure, ground stabilization, Spring Drain, First Nations partnership, geo-composite products, peatland management, track maintenance, transmission line maintenance, Northern Ontario, East-West Tie project, composite rail ties, sustainable development, economic development, Valard Construction, TBT Engineering, Hydro One partnership, Triton, Maajiigi Utilities, railway safety