ÉQUIPEMENT DE COMBUSTION IDÉAL LTD.
Équipement de Combustion Idéal Ltd. is a family-owned business, founded in 1957 by Patrick Dubé.
In the early 1960s, the Eastern Townships region of Quebec had numerous factories, industrial concerns, hospitals, religious communities, primary and secondary schools, one college and two universities.
The company offered energy production and distribution system maintenance services for these customers with specific needs. The development of 24 / 7 emergency service for heating equipment was, at that time, much appreciated by the customers. This service is still currently available.
Over the years, the company started to offer heating equipment installation and sales. The equipment installed throughout the years included complete boiler rooms, boilers, air heaters, air exchange units, condensate tanks and expansion tanks.
A few years later, natural gas established itself in the region, to adapt to the market. Training and hiring specialized technicians became necessary. This allowed the company to offer additional services to its current customers and meet the specific needs relative to natural gas.
In partnership with Gaz Métropolitain, the company has the expertise required to establish this new fuel in the Eastern Townships and surrounding areas. With qualified pipefitters, the company installs natural gas pipes, as well as pressurized steam piping, hot water pipes, and stainless steel piping.
Our presidents since the founding of the company :
Patrick Dubé
President from 1957 to 1973
"Founder and visionary"
Patrick Dubé was an entrepreneur of his time. With very few resources at the time, he set up his company in the basement of the apartment his family rented. Several months later, he leased a garage on Dorval Street. He wanted to give offer employment to family members and to respond to the increased demand for energy production and distribution systems service and maintenance in the industrial and institutional sector of Sherbrooke and the surrounding areas.
It must be noted that in 1957, the city of Sherbrooke had several industrial concerns in the textile sector among others, as well as many schools that made up its customer base.
The main fuel was no. 6 oil that required stricter heating equipment maintenance.
Upon his death, he assigned his company to his four children.
At that time, the company had 4 employees.
Maurille Robidas
President from 1973 to 1986
"Generous and humanistic"
Maurille Robidas is a man who enjoys a challenge.
Patrick Dubé’s son-in-law at the time he was made president, he had been a valuable collaborator of Équipement de Combustion Idéal Ltd. for several years.
In view of the deployment of the natural gas network in the area, he set out to develop natural gas services and training. He gave the company a new direction.
Recognized for his humane side, he was skilled in negotiating agreements with customers while ensuring a win-win solution.
At that time, the company had 8 employees.
Thomas Mc Elreavy
President from 1986 to 1991
"A salesman & an entrepreneur"
Patrick Dubé's son-in-law, Thomas Mc Elreavy, through his entrepreneurship, grew the company by increasing the English-speaking clientele and offering more equipment installation contracts, thereby not limiting the company to maintenance services.
In view of the expansion of the Gaz Métropolitain network, Thomas Mc Elreavy sought to have the company stand out in the natural gas sector. Employee training, competency certificate, expertise, everything to meet demand. In addition, he hired personnel with greater expertise in order to increase his team’s level of competency.
That was his way of acquiring more installation contracts and allowing the company to stand out from the competition.
At that time, the company had 12 employees, not including the sub-contracted work.
Louise Dubé
President from 1991 to 2000
"Realist & structured"
Patrick Dubé’s daughter Louise brought a new outlook to the company structure. With specialists in place, the company now had to grow and become profitable. The company began taking part in public projects. These allowed for a considerable increase in company revenues and recognition by engineering firms. To become front runners, the company had to comply with numerous criteria; permits, manpower certified by Emploi-Québec, updating the quality control manual and CCQ employees.
At that time, the company had 15 employees, not including the sub-contracted work.
Daniel Rivard
President from 2000 to the present
"Entrepreneur & visionary"
Louise Dubé’s son, and the founder's grandson, Daniel Rivard became president at 35 years of age.
Since the beginning of his mandate, his goal has been to grow the company. He developed a new Quebec made product, biomass gasification boilers, that he manufactures in the plant along with all related products. The company's expansion has required a move to new premises with a larger equipment manufacturing area.
The company currently has 33 employees, not including the sub-contracted work.