Mohawk College to become industry test site for 3D printing

HAMILTON (April 16, 2013) – Mohawk College today received more than $700,000 in funding from the Government of Canada to become a test site for 3D printing.

The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) announced a $720,760 College Industry Innovation Fund Award to help establish The Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Additive Manufacturing at Mohawk’s Fennell Campus. Mohawk was one of 17 colleges, CEGEPs and polytechnics across Canada to receive $9.6 million in funding.

Scheduled to open in March 2014, the $2 million centre will feature a pair of 3D printers that turn digital images into three-dimensional solid metal or plastic objects. Computer-controlled 3D printers build objects of virtually any shape and design by depositing metal or plastic powders in successive, micron-thin layers.

In addition to the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Mohawk’s Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Additive Manufacturing is also supported by industry partners, including Com Dev International Products, Pratt & Whitney Canada, Wescast Industries Inc., Wescam, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters and Canadian Foundry Association.

Industry partners will work with students, professors and staff from Mohawk’s Faculty of Engineering Technology on applied research projects to create prototypes along with finished parts and products for testing and evaluation.

QUOTES:

“Canadian colleges are an important player in our national innovation ecosystem. The CIIF ensures that colleges have the state-of-the-art research infrastructure they need to conduct top level applied research.” – Canada Foundation for Innovation President and CEO Dr. Gilles G. Patry

“Com Dev is the world’s most prolific supplier of space hardware and has been designing products which are on the leading edge of innovation for decades. More than 90 per cent of our products are exported worldwide and continued collaboration with our partners in government, academia and industry is imperative in helping us to maintain our leadership position in innovation.” – Com Dev International Products Vice President and General Manager, Multiplexer Business Unit Joe Kane

“Mohawk’s technology students learn by doing and from working with our industry partners. Mohawk’s new Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Additive Manufacturing will deliver on both fronts as students collaborate with our partners on applied research projects to build prototypes and test components created through 3D printing.”- Mohawk Dean of Engineering Technology Tony Thoma

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For more information, contact:

Jay Robb, Mohawk College Director of Communications

905.575.1212 ext. 3965 (office), 905.979.8893 (mobile), jay.robb@mohawkcollege.ca

Ryan Saxby Hill, Canada Foundation for Innovation Media Relations

613.943.5346 (office), 613.294.6247 (mobile), ryansaxbyhill@innovation.ca