Manac, Canada’s largest semi-trailer manufacturer, has launched Manac Defence, a dedicated business division focused on serving military, government, and defence sector clients across Canada and allied markets.

The strategic launch formalizes Manac's four-decade history of supplying specialized trailers for defence applications and builds upon its participation in Canada's Logistics Vehicle Modernization (LVM) program since 2019, the company noted.

"Manac has always believed in building products that perform in the most demanding environments," said Charles Dutil, president and CEO of Manac. "The creation of Manac Defence is a natural progression for our organization and reflects our commitment to supporting Canada's defence industrial base. We see significant opportunities to contribute to future military and government programs while bringing Canadian owned manufacturing expertise and long-term support to our customers."

The new division is structured to provide equipment and lifecycle support across military logistics, mobility, sustainment, and specialized trailer programs. It will also serve as a hub for strategic partnerships with prime contractors and government agencies seeking Canadian-owned engineering and manufacturing capacity.

To lead the unit, Manac appointed Max Lavoie as Director of Defence. Lavoie brings over 15 years of defence industry experience, having previously held senior program management and leadership roles at General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada and Marshall Land Systems-Canada. In his new role, he will drive business development and direct growth initiatives within the defence market.

Backed by 60 years of manufacturing expertise, three production plants in Quebec, and an extensive national parts and service network, Manac Defence is positioned to support upcoming military modernization programs, according to the company.