Baseballs were flying out of major leagu​e ballparks at a record pace in the 2019 season, but most people probably don’t realize that a good chunk of those home runs were propelled by bats made right here in Eastern Ontario.

Over the last 20 years, a dozen big-league MVPs have wielded a SAM BAT, the first maple bat approved by Major League Baseball. SAM BATs are produced at a factory in Carleton Place, just west of Ottawa, and we think that’s pretty cool. And the lumber of choice for some of the world’s best ballplayers is just one of the many cool things that are manufactured around here every day.

How about, for example, vodka made from milk. Milk? Yep. And an “exceptionally smooth” vodka, too, according to Almonte-based Dairy Distillery’s Omid McDonald, who took a dairy waste product called milk permeate and worked with University of Ottawa researchers to figure out a way to turn it into a top-notch spirit.

Then there’s the high-tech soft body armour that protects law enforcement officials across North America against everything from bullets to blasts. It’s cutting-edge equipment, and it’s made in Arnprior by Pacific Safety Products.

And that’s just the beginning. To get the scoop on these and 29 other really cool things that are made in Eastern Ontario, read on.

Small reactors with big impact, Renfrew County 

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories is building on Canada’s proud track record in the design, construction, licensing and operation of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). These are intended to deliver versatile clean-energy technology for carbon-free hydrogen production, electricity generation and industrial steam or heat applications in remote or off-grid locations. They incorporate new fuels, materials and designs for greater safety and efficiency at a lower cost compared to old reactor systems. 

Dinosaurs, Trenton

Well, castings of them, but still, the cool factor is irrefutable. Research Casting International of Trenton accommodates museum exhibit projects and commissions of any size and complexity. The team has built more than 700 pieces over the past 30 years, with its work featured in exhibits from Japan to China, Australia to Belgium. Clients include the American Museum of Natural History in New York, the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto and the Natural History Museum in London, U.K.

Cutting edge video production, Iroquois and Ottawa

For the 2018 Super Bowl, Ross Video partnered with NBC Sports on “volumetric augmented reality,” a process that saw 3D renderings of key players appear in graphics during the game. It’s just one of many cool applications possible thanks to Ross Video’s switcher equipment, which powers video productions for billions of viewers daily. It all began 45 years ago in the small town of Iroquois with a $3,500 investment. 

The original maple baseball bat, Carleton Place

The Original Maple Bat Corp. is home of the SAM BAT, the first maple bat used by Major League Baseball players back in 1997. Thanks to the SAM BAT, maple has come to supplant ash as the wood of choice in the major leagues. It all began over a beer at Ottawa’s Mayflower Pub, when founder Sam Holman was challenged to address MLB’s problem with breaking too many ash bats. 

Extreme mobile water treatment, Brockville

In July 2013, the Lac Mégantic rail disaster in Quebec killed 42 people and dumped 1.5 million gallons of crude oil in the centre of town. Newterra rose to the challenge with two mobile water treatment systems to remediate the site. The monumental task took almost 18 months. Each newterra system, packaged in a 40-inch sea container, is built in Brockville. These redeployable systems have more than 10,000 installations worldwide. 

Wi-Fi speakers from the river bottom, Renfrew County

The Ottawa Valley’s history in logging left piles of quality old-growth timber at the bottom of the Ottawa River, so why not reclaim it to make a premium Wi-Fi speaker? The founders of Riverwood Acoustics combined their expertise in electrical and mechanical engineering, as well as woodworking, to create the Hudson, a “hand-crafted acoustic masterpiece.” These hand-assembled speakers have attracted enthusiastic support from audiophiles across North America. 

Bomb disposal suits and robots, Ottawa

Med-Eng has been protecting military personnel, first responders and humanitarian deminers around the world for decades as they risk their lives to carry out one of the most dangerous jobs imaginable. Odds are, you’ve seen Med-Eng's bomb disposal suits and robots featured in TV shows and Hollywood movies such as The Hurt Locker. Med-Eng’s products also include search and detection gear and seats and systems for vehicles to ensure crew survivability. 

The most sophisticated vision system in space, Ottawa 

Neptec Design Group (now part of MDA and Maxar) has long been a NASA prime contractor. Its latest flagship project is a contract from the Canadian Space Agency to design and build the Dextre Deployable Visions System (DDVS) for the International Space Station. Mounted on an external arm, the DDVS will carry out critical damage inspection and act like an airport control tower to guide approaching spacecraft as they arrive to dock.

Vodka … from milk, Almonte 

Fine vodka … made from cow’s milk. That’s the idea Dairy Distillery founder Omid McDonald had to repurpose milk permeate. The disposal cost for this waste product composed mostly of lactose (milk sugar) is a burden on dairy farmers. McDonald and his team worked with the University of Ottawa’s biology department to come up with a custom yeast that could ferment lactose. The result is an “exceptionally smooth vodka.” 

Cold hard cash …  and more, Ottawa 

Canadian Bank Note Co. has printed Canada’s legal tender since the 1890s. Today, its team of 1,500 serves customers in 80 countries, with products that range from border security software to lottery and gaming management services. In July, its CBN Nano Technologies unit received a $40-million federal investment to incorporate more security features based on nanotechnology – such as imbedding into a polymer bill a material that will change colour when squeezed.

A guitar pedal like no other, Ottawa

When Kim Mitchell, Elvis Costello, Mike Turner of Our Lady Peace and Lady Gaga’s Rick Tillo are using your guitar pedals, odds are you’ve made it in the music industry. In 2005, Empress Effects founder Steve Bragg used his electrical engineering talents to make a custom tremolo for a friend. By the time he finished it, his friend had bought another, so he tried selling it at a used instruments store. They wanted 10 more. The rest is history.

Biocrude from plants, Renfrew County 

Climate change is dominating news headlines more than ever these days, but the team at Ensyn began to pioneer a carbon-reduced future back in 1984. Ensyn produces a biocrude from forest and agricultural residues. This biocrude is used to produce food ingredients, natural chemicals and heating fuels. Ensyn is now expanding its market to supply conventional refineries with low-carbon feedstocks in an application known as refinery co-processing.   

Radiation detection by bubble, Chalk River
(Renfrew County) 

Who would have thought that a “bubble” could protect against terrorist attacks? With its unique neutron bubble detectors for radiation and explosives, Bubble Technology Industries is doing just that. Its detectors are used at Super Bowls, World Series games, the Olympics and space missions, as well as major political events such as U.S. presidential inaugurations. Clients include DND, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Energy, NATO and NASA.

Non-toxic firefighting gel, Napanee

The FireRein team has created Eco-Gel, the world’s first and only 100 per cent bio-sourced and food-grade water additive to combat fires in place of chemical foams. When added to a stream of water, the non-toxic gel clings to any surface, so fires can be extinguished faster and with less water. That protects the environment, is safer for firefighters and makes site cleanup and restoration after the fire less of a challenge.

Solar-powered wildlife warnings, Kingston 

Solar Signals has been in the business of designing and manufacturing remote site power, and signal and signage systems for more than 20 years. This includes the solar-powered wildlife road hazard signal, which can warn motorists when wildlife is venturing near the road. This reduces the odds of death and property damage from collisions. Solar Signals also designs outdoor motion-detection alarm systems to protect against vandalism and theft.

Giving soldiers an unfair advantage, Kanata

Kwesst allows Canadian military personnel and their allies to take faster and more effective action on the battlefield with precision target identification and acquisition from a safer distance. Its add-on sensors can be attached to firearms and mortars to pinpoint precisely where a projectile will strike a target and display that impact point on a digital map on a soldier’s android device. They can even get an accurate bead on targets behind cover.

Heavy metal for dirty jobs, Lindsay 

TS Manufacturing has been designing, manufacturing and installing systems for the sawmill and lumber handling, mining and aggregate, and biomass and pelletization industries for more than 40 years. The company began as a small equipment manufacturing business for Canadian sawmills in 1972. Today, TS’s equipment is installed on six continents. One notable example are its big belt conveyers that move ore from the “mining pit to the ship.”

A foundation that’s flood-proof, Arnprior 

Over the past 50 years, Triodetic has been recognized internationally for the design and construction of space-frames, domes, shell and free-form structures. During this year’s spring floods, the company made local headlines when it showcased its "multipoint foundation." This is made of interlocking tubes that make it easy and affordable to elevate, or build, a home or cottage above even record flood levels … so long as you can do without a basement.

A better fire truck, Vars/Embrun

Who else would you turn to for a better fire truck than a former firefighter? Luc Thibault founded Battleshield Industries in 2012 as an equipment supplier and refurbisher of fire apparatus. In 2016, the company began designing and building its own fire trucks – pumpers, rescue pumpers, pumper tankers, tankers and rescue units. Today, Battleshield works with fire departments and municipalities throughout Eastern Canada as their “fire equipment one-stop shop.”

The world’s smallest DNA analyzer, Ottawa

In 2015, a small Ottawa company beat a host of global rivals to create the first hand-held device that can capture and test DNA instantly. Spartan Bioscience’s Spartan Cube, only about the size of a coffee mug, allows pharmacies, doctor’s offices and other health-care organizations to conduct DNA testing cheaper and faster. Tests to date include screens for the genetic mutation associated with Alzheimer’s and tests for the presence of legionella bacteria in commercial HVAC systems.

Paving that leaks like a sieve, Ottawa

But that’s a good thing. At a time when we face increased risk of flooding, pavement through which water can drain instead of just run off can substantially reduce risk of property damage. The team at PurePave has developed a premium paving and coating system that is highly permeable and made for Canadian winters. More attractive than asphalt, cheaper than interlocking bricks, it doesn’t shift or crack or allow weeds to sprout.

Skin-care products that won’t make your skin crawl, Belleville 

Rocia Naturals began in 2008 as a home-based business when founder Jacqueline Maybee took matters into her own hands to deal with her family's allergic reactions to conventional health and beauty products that contained synthetic ingredients and fillers. Today, Rocia Naturals’ synthetic-free, biodegradable and organic skin-care products and cosmetics are manufactured in its Belleville facility and shipped to retail partners across the province. Products are even gluten-free and vegan-friendly.

Instead of a cubicle, a pod, Kingston

SnapCab has grown from a manufacturer of elevator panel interiors into a maker of premium workspace pods. These range from private phone booths for the office to mobile and standalone workspaces on wheels for small teams. It is the only “pod” company that is UL Listed – the highest safety standard. SnapCab has partnered with Steelcase, one of the world’s largest furniture manufacturers, and counts Amazon, General Motors and Microsoft among its customers.

Innovative factory automation, Kingston

BOJAK Manufacturing designs, builds and installs end-to-end factory automation systems, including automatic guided vehicles, paint lines, kitting, automatic trailer loading and custom manufacturing. These guys engineer the systems many of the rest of the manufacturers on this list can use to get the job done as cost-effectively and efficiently as possible.

World’s largest steel dental burr maker, Morrisburg

What’s a dental burr? If you have ever been in the dentist’s chair facing a drill, you know all too well. Consider it a premium disposable drill bit, designed for that fine precision work on teeth and bone. While it is now owned by multinational KAVO Kerr, the 72-year-old Beavers Dental operation in Morrisburg remains a world leader in its niche.

65 years of aviation excellence, Arnprior 

In 1954, Arnprior Aerospace put a small town northwest of the nation’s capital on the map for aviation. Today, the 165,000-square-foot facility is engaged in design, close tolerance, fabrication, precision machining, special processing, assembly, kitting and integration of products. Among the cool things built there are parts for the rudder and elevator of Boeing’s 777X, touted as the world's largest and most efficient twin-engine commercial airplane.

An ECG for the production line, Ottawa

Decades before “Industry 4.0” and “Industrial Internet of Things” became trendy terms, Sciemetric worked with manufacturers to figure out how process and test data from a production line could be used to boost quality and efficiency. Today, its sigPOD process monitoring system leads the industry for in-process testing to catch defects when they happen on the line and prevent new ones. Customers include automakers, heavy equipment makers and medical device makers.

The ultimate water jet, Ottawa

What if water could safely do the job of costly and toxic products and processes to strip off old industrial coatings, safely dispose of landmines or even remedy radioactive contamination? Under founder Dr. Mohan Vijay, VLN Advanced Technologies has developed a unique Pulse Water Jet that can do all these things. After 15 years of dogged effort, the firm's big break came in 2015 with a contract from aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney.

Yarn to stake your life on, Cornwall

What do a firehose, a tactical vest and a rope to tether a cargo ship have in common? They all require high-performance yarns that are made to last under the toughest conditions. Since 1990, Seaway Yarns has continued to expand in the Cornwall area, manufacturing industrial and technical spun and monofilament yarns that are used in the aerospace, firefighting, military and automotive sectors. 

Premium artisan chocolate, Belleville

A family tradition three generations strong that began 80 years ago in Italy arrived in Belleville in 1979. Since then, Donini Chocolate has carved its own sweet niche specializing in dark chocolate creations with the finest European recipes, in the tradition of Belgian and Swiss chocolatiers. One specialty is creating chocolate products that pair well with different Ontario wines. Donini also ships tanker trucks full of warm liquid chocolate to customers in Toronto and Quebec.