25 Years of History: The PCI Story

At the time, Christian and I were working for the same company on a shared project. We weren’t completely satisfied with the level of service our employer allowed us to provide to our clients. That’s when a somewhat crazy idea began to take shape: what if we started our own business?

I still remember the question I asked Christian: “If we start our own company, do you think you can find us some contracts?” His answer was simple: “Yes.” That was all we needed to get started.

Two initial projects gave us the opportunity to launch the great PCI adventure. One of them marked the beginning of a trusted relationship that led to many more projects over the years. Interestingly, in 2020, we redid that very first project because the original automation equipment had become obsolete.

The Beginning of Growth

In 2002, we were carrying out various small projects for our first client at its Montreal facility. This work gave us visibility with the client’s corporate project team, which included one of Christian’s former managers from an earlier job.

Our first major project came shortly afterward: the automation of the fermenters and sterile molasses system for a new facility. The opportunity arose when this former manager, frustrated with his service provider at the time, contacted Christian.

That supplier was already involved at one of the client’s facilities in Baltimore and therefore had extensive knowledge of the processes. Since much of the new plant was modeled after that facility, they held a significant advantage. However, delays and additional costs kept mounting. Tired of the situation, Christian’s former manager called him directly and asked whether we could take over programming the fermenters.

Our answer was immediate: of course.

His answer came just as quickly:

"Perfect. Be here in an hour."

A Growing Team

The scope of the project was far beyond what Christian and I could handle on our own. We needed to grow our team quickly.

As fate would have it, our former employer was going through difficult times and had recently laid off several employees. That’s how two former colleagues became PCI’s first two employees.

Our growth had officially begun: a 100% increase in headcount in a single day.

Our first offices were located at 10500 Saint-Laurent Boulevard, in a building that still belongs to Christian’s father today. The facilities were modest, but our ambitions were not. We were a close-knit team united by a shared goal: building something that would last.

Several people who were there during those early days are still part of the journey today: Christian, Philippe (joined in 2005), Arnaud (2006), Johnathan (2008), and myself.

During the seven years we spent at 10500 Saint-Laurent Boulevard, we went from two partners sharing a single office to a team occupying every available corner. At times, someone even worked out of the conference room due to lack of space.

The Move to Louvain

As the company continued to grow, we quickly realized we needed more room.

In 2008, we moved to 350 Louvain Street, into an office located at the back of the fifth floor. Once again, circumstance worked in our favor. American Apparel had just closed its Montreal office, located in the same building.

One Monday in September, while attending a Montreal Alouettes game at Percival Molson Stadium with my brother-in-law, the conversation turned to PCI’s growth. He happened to mention that American Apparel’s former offices were available.

Christian and I went to see them. A few weeks later, we had moved in.

The space was already fully fitted out. All we needed to do was purchase furniture to fill the many offices now at our disposal. It was much better suited to our needs and even included a fabrication area. Some collaborators who had previously been working out of a garage in Pierrefonds were able to move in and share the space with PCI.

This relocation supported our growth for several years.

The Saskatchewan Project

Another major milestone in our growth came at the end of 2008.

Our largest client at the time, who worked for a Montreal consulting firm, was looking for support for a canola processing project in Saskatchewan.

As is often the case at PCI, we didn’t shy away from the challenge. With the help of one of the client’s experts, I found myself stepping into the role of agricultural process designer.

Jim and I traveled to Saskatoon in search of a local consultant. Unfortunately, Saskatchewan’s booming potash industry and Alberta’s oil sands boom had absorbed virtually all available resources. Even fast-food chains were offering premiums to attract employees.

In this context, PCI naturally emerged as the partner of choice.

The first phase of the project involved automating the crushing plant. Then came commissioning. One Thursday afternoon, the client confirmed the startup date and insisted that Johnathan and our colleague Alexandre be onsite by the weekend.

Unfortunately for us, the same weekend happened to coincide with Skate Canada in Saskatoon. Every flight to the city was booked until the following Wednesday. The next available flight to Regina, three hours away by car, wasn’t until Tuesday. Since the client needed us onsite as quickly as possible, we found an alternative: a flight to Calgary followed by a long drive to Saskatoon.

The project expanded far beyond the crushing plant. The client went on to build an extraction facility, a processing plant, a dryer, and several cleaning systems. From 2008 to 2011, nearly every PCI employee with available time contributed to this major undertaking.

A New Space for the Future

A few years later, we once again found ourselves short on space.

We resumed our search and found an opportunity that perfectly matched our needs. Roxy Togs had closed its operations and was vacating its sixth-floor offices at 9500 Meilleur Street, where PCI’s offices remain today.

This time, everything needed to be built from scratch. Fortunately, our visits to numerous commercial spaces had given us plenty of ideas and inspiration for designing our future workplace.

Diversification and New Expertise

Over the years, PCI also diversified its service offering.

Our first Manufacturing Execution System (MES) projects emerged almost by chance following a training program delivered in 2013 to employees of a major client. What started as a one-time initiative gradually evolved into a full-fledged business sector.

Today, MES solutions, industrial IT, and SCADA systems represent an important part of the company’s activities.

The development of robotics was another significant milestone. The arrival of Mathieu Parenteau in 2016 helped accelerate that growth. Initially a Project Manager and later a Senior Director, he played a key role in building this area of expertise by bringing together the talent needed to create the robotics team we know today.

Beyond the technologies and projects, however, it is our clients who have fueled our growth the most.

The trust they placed in us allowed us to gradually expand beyond our original markets. Project by project, they opened the doors to their facilities across Canada, the United States, and even Europe, particularly in England and France.

These trusted relationships enabled PCI to take on increasingly ambitious challenges and reach many important milestones throughout its history.

Looking Toward the Future

Like all organizations, we had to navigate the challenges brought on by the pandemic. This period tested our ability to adapt, but it also demonstrated the resilience of our team.

True to its entrepreneurial spirit, PCI continued to evolve and reinvent itself. This transformation is reflected in our facilities today, particularly through the addition of our ground-floor workshop, which enables us to execute certain projects in a more collaborative, efficient, and well-suited environment.

When we look back on the journey so far, we are naturally proud of PCI’s growth, the projects we have delivered, and the expertise we have developed. But what we are most proud of are the people who have helped write this story. Every employee, partner, and client has played a role in shaping the company PCI has become today. After 25 years, one thing remains unchanged: our passion for challenges, our commitment to our clients, and our confidence in the people who make up PCI.

To everyone who has been part of this journey, past and present, thank you. Because of you, PCI celebrates 25 years of history today and looks to the future with the same enthusiasm that defined its very first days.