More than 50 people are employed at the new global headquarters and flagship operations for GIT (Graphite Innovation & Technologies Inc.) Coatings in Dartmouth, which opened in October.
“Today is a proud milestone for our entire team and for Canada’s ocean and clean-tech communities,” said Mo AlGermozi, CEO of GIT Coatings, during the opening celebration.
“This world-class site lets us manufacture at scale, accelerate R&D, and serve customers in every major shipping market. All from right here in Dartmouth. With 95 per cent of our revenue coming from exports, we’re proving that Canadian clean technology can compete globally while creating high-quality jobs at home.”
Founded in 2016, GIT Coatings is a clean-tech company which produces biocide-free, graphene-based marine coatings that improve vessel efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and underwater noise. With products applied to more than 500 vessels in over 20 countries, GIT Coatings partners with shipowners, operators, and charterers to deliver measurable performance gains and sustainability results. A leading innovator in the global marine coatings market, the company manufactures in Canada and exports globally, with stock in other locations worldwide.
“We don’t follow — we lead. The innovation you’re showing the world is a testament to that. Innovation requires an innovative government and innovative regulators. Change doesn’t come from government; it comes from the private sector — from the innovators,” said Nova Scotia Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Timothy Halman.
The company previously utilized a space at 1 Research Drive in Dartmouth, where the economic development organization, Invest Nova Scotia, houses a production incubation centre for local companies. The new building includes 10 times the square footage of their previous headquarters and manufacturing facility, allowing the company to scale manufacturing, R&D, quality control and global support functions under one carbon-neutral roof.
An additional $5M in scale-up funding from Export Development Canada (EDC) was announced during the opening. The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) also previously supported GIT’s expansion with a financial contribution, helping fund the building upgrades and production scale-up at the new headquarters and manufacturing site.
“Our government is proud to support GIT Coatings as they expand right here in Dartmouth,” said Braedon Clark, MP for Sackville/Bedford/Preston. “This new carbon-neutral facility is a powerful example of how Atlantic Canadian innovation is creating good jobs while protecting our oceans. GIT Coatings is proof that local leadership can drive global impact. We’re excited to see what’s next for this homegrown success story.”
GIT Coatings are applied after manufacturing and ship from Halifax to dry docks globally and locally, said Patrick Wadden, GIT marketing and communications. Initially when it was founded, GIT Coatings started with fishing boats and now are moving towards ocean-going commercial vessels, he said.
With GIT Coatings now applied to over 500 vessels worldwide, the graphene-based technologies are enabling shipowners to reduce fuel consumption, cut CO2 emissions and eliminate toxic copper and silicon oil release from oceans.
“Collectively, these deployments have prevented nearly 250,000 tonnes of CO2 and copper pollution to date. A testament to Canadian innovation driving global environmental impact,” said the company.
The grand opening of the company’s new building “was not just a celebration of a facility, but of a vision taking shape, one that positions Atlantic Canada as a hub for clean technology and maritime innovation. As the global shipping industry accelerates its transition toward decarbonization, GIT Coatings stands ready to deliver the solutions that make it possible. From Dartmouth to the world’s busiest trade routes, this new chapter ensures Canada remains at the forefront of sustainable ocean technologies for generations to come.”
