Image: Gary Cook / Provided / Abby-based CATI joins the Hannover Messe for its first year to showcase innovative clean energy tech.

By Alyssa Conti

HANNOVER MESSE

Abbotsford business showcased at annual tech trade show in Germany

Apr 5, 2025 | 12:08 PM

ABBOTSFORD — A local manufacturer has gone abroad with more than 240 other Canadian exhibitors to show off some innovative products at the 2025 Hannover Messe in Germany– the world’s largest trade show for industrial and energy technologies.

Commonwealth Automation Technologies, Inc. (CATI) specializes in the development of fuel cells, which are units that turn chemical energy to electricity and vice versa with minimal impact on the environment.

“There is an entire building of the trade show dedicated to Hydrogen and Clean Energy,” said Gary Cook, general manager of CATI. “So we are in this building, as we focus on building equipment for companies building fuel cells and batteries.”

The company has 28 years of experience in clean tech, building stack assembly machines, testers and custom equipment for products that have never been done before. That expertise helps to drive state-of-the-art equipment used anywhere from portable and backup power to public transportation and marine craft of all sizes.

In a statement released on Friday (Apr. 4), Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Diana Gibson wrote: “As we expand our trade diversification globally, we’re proud to showcase B.C.’s solutions to the challenges of advancing AI, improving energy efficiency and lessening the impacts of climate change worldwide.”

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“Advancing our trade and investment opportunities on this global stage will open new markets for B.C.’s economy to grow and prosper, and create new jobs for people in British Columbia.”

Forming new connections

Twenty-one other B.C. companies joined the fair, most hailing from the Metro Vancouver area, but CATI was born and raised in the city of Abbotsford.

“Abbotsford was one of the few places that we could afford a house for our family and industrial real estate for our company,” said Cook. “It has good industrial infrastructure and […] has good freeway access with Highway 1 running through it. That’s a big deal.”

Being close to the U.S. border has also been a bonus, though this year’s trade show was more about forming partnerships elsewhere.

“There is a renewed desire to create Canadian-EU business deals, as things are falling apart with the tariffs coming from the U.S.,” he added.

Data from Statistics Canada showed a sharp dip in tech-based jobs in February 2025, but roughly 2,400 more popped up across B.C. in March as the province ramped up its efforts to protect the local economy.

“Growing a stronger and more diverse economy will help protect people in B.C. from instability outside our borders, with investments that will bring good-paying jobs to the province as part of robust and sustainable industries,” wrote the Minister.

The 2025 Hannover Messe was held this past week from March 31 to April 4.