Tom Fortin was born in Sudbury, earned a degree in Electronics Engineering Technology from Cambrian College and founded Ontrak Control Systems, specializing in data control interfaces, in 1985.
He was passionate about electronics and building things from an early age and taught Electronics Engineering Technology at Cambrian for 12 years.
Having succeeded in business himself, Tom applied his talent and energy toward helping fellow Sudburians who had the same passion for technology and manufacturing by founding the Fortin Discovery Lab in 2014.
Located at the NORCAT innovation centre and equipped with injection molding machines, printed circuit board print and place machinery, 3D printers, CNC machines and test equipment for prototyping, the lab is available free of charge for startups hoping to develop a product and certify it for export markets.
As Tom explains in this interview, local manufacturers may design a product for a few thousand dollars, but in the absence of the Fortin Discovery Lab, they would be faced with much larger bills for FCC certification in the United States and CE certification in Europe.
Instead of spending $25,000 to get a product certified, they can certify it for free.
The lab operates with a unique business model, has no paid employees and minimal expenses, which are covered by modest fees paid by established companies. In lieu of paid employees, graduate engineers and technologists hoping to start a business use the lab for free, take care of the equipment and assist other users of the facility, including engineers and technologists with established companies.
Tom’s passion for electronics and manufacturing is matched only by his passion for a casino free Sudbury, a cause he has championed with vigour and determination. A casino, he believes, will drain wealth from the city and detract from the ideal of Sudbury as a community with a distinct homegrown culture capable of attracting and retaining professionals and entrepreneurs.