Grant: Applied Research Tools and Instruments Grants

Sarnia-Lambton strives to diversify its economy from an historical strength of mature petroleum based multinational companies and agriculture by developing bio-hybrid, renewable energy, waste water and other clean technology capability and capacity including a strong local supply-chain. Studies over the past 3 years have identified the necessity for new/improved products and processes to achieve growth for the local SMEs: a cluster of Manufacturing, Machine Shop, Fabrication and Engineering and related Services companies - traditionally providing products and services mostly to the local multinational companies. The introduction of, training on the use of, and access to 3d Scanning and Additive Manufacturing Technologies is proposed to be a catalyst for the development of new/improved products and processes; expected to result in new markets for the SMEs and a significant increase in competitiveness of the Sarnia-Lambton SME cluster and its clients.Through BTAC, Lambton College is well-positioned to provide a one-stop shop for access to college facilities and expertise as well as local, provincial, and federal innovation support and to collaborate with these SMEs to address their innovation needs. The availability of 3d Scanning and additive manufacturing capability at the BTAC facility will enable the college (BTAC) to support transformation of current manufacturing / fabrication processes: customized, just-in-time, fast turn-a-round, on-demand manufacturing, combining 3d scanning with additive manufacturing to rapidly and exactly reproduce ""damaged"" components of industrial installations and more. One industrial partner indicated that exposure to and use of additive manufacturing could have saved the company in the order of $100,000 in the development of a device over the past two years.