Two years ago, in the early stages of the pandemic, when he imagined BOX-AM, a mobile racking system for truck boxes, Pierre Lavoie, owner of the welding company Idrotek, knew he had between hands an idea that could potentially revolutionize the pickup. The entrepreneur found in Rio Tinto's Regional Economic Development (DER) the allies who would support him at every stage of the realization of his project.

The entrepreneur still remembers the first discussions with Luc Cyrenne, project director at the DER when he only had sketches of the box he wanted to create.

We had drawings, but no prototype. There was still a lot to do. The DER brought together the whole team to support us in our efforts to develop the project. He was the instigator who moved things forward and who brought together the various stakeholders in the region at the right time. He followed us for a year and a half. We met regularly and he gave us a lot of help. Being supported by a team like Rio Tinto is reassuring,” argues Pierre Lavoie.

“It is a real pleasure to work with Pierre. I noticed very early on that he is a person who listens well to the stakeholders who support him. Moreover, it is one of the projects that has been established the fastest. I observed the evolution of the project which progressed every month until the final conclusion of the prototype. The least we can say is that the Idrotek team has an eye for detail and has neglected nothing to meet the needs of a demanding clientele”, mentions Luc Cyrenne, project director at the DER.

Last May, the BOX-AM mobile storage system was launched online. “As an entrepreneur, we all dream of having a product that is worth investing in, that is profitable in an interesting market. A good product should solve a problem. »

Innovation is what Pierre Lavoie has devoted his career to for the past 30 years. Over time, the search for new ideas and innovative solutions has become a way of life.

He explains that all owners of pickup have much the same problem with the box on the back. No matter what use they make of it, on a regular or ad hoc basis, for the vast majority of them, keeping the place clean and tidy is a headache, not to mention access. “I said to myself that I was going to make a chest. The boxes found on the market are often fixed and installed on the edge of the box, which prevents access to everything behind it. For safety reasons, it was important for me not to have to climb into the box of the pickup to see access. The box I was going to design also had to be discreet enough to fit under the canvas that covers the box. »

Box-Am officially launched in May. Photo Box Am

How does it work?

BOX-AM is therefore a mobile storage system to place everything that the owners of pickup wish to keep in their vehicle without limiting the use of the box. Entirely made of aluminum, the trunk is behind the passenger compartment. By pressing a button, the boot lifts and performs a rotational movement to rest on the rear hatch. All of its content is thus at your fingertips. The distance between the turrets (up to 50 inches wide) allows the insertion of sheet materials, even in the presence of the BOX-AM system which can be removed in less than a minute. The trunk can also remain in place if the truck is carrying a fifth wheel.

“The BOX-AM system is a revolutionary mechanical arm system that allows the storage box to be transported and allows quick handling without the risk of injury. It makes it possible to optimize all aspects of the truck without any compromise, whether it be ergonomics, storage capacity or even its usefulness. It was designed to be able to control the trunk without additional effort and without neglecting the useful space of the truck,” explains Pierre Lavoie.

The latter sees big for the future of BOX-AM, a project that initially did not appear in the plans of the family business Idrotek. For the entrepreneur who practices his trade with his son and his son-in-law, being able to count on a succession gives a different scope to the project. Last February, his daughter Jessica joined the ranks of the company where she holds the role of business development coordinator.

“Having been immersed in the business world since I was very young thanks to my father, I knew as soon as he told me about the project that I wanted to be part of it. For me, BOX-AM is more than a project. It's an adventure that is close to my heart and that allows me to develop my entrepreneurial side,” says Jessica Lavoie, business development coordinator and daughter of Pierre Lavoie.

 “BOX-AM comes at a good time in the company because we are a strong core. It takes a long time to train the workforce. What we are aiming for is to do factory production to mass-produce this product. The truck market in Canada and the United States is huge. We are waiting to see the enthusiasm that the safe will arouse,” concludes Mr. Lavoie.

Photo Box Am