Grant: Applied Research Tools and Instruments Grants

The Kootenay Development Region served by Selkirk College is located in Southeastern British Columbia. The region has a history of natural resource dependence. Primary sectors retain a strong presence, but over time the region has diversified economically relative to other rural BC regions. Kootenay has a high number of jobs in goods-producing industries, the second highest proportion of any of BC’s regions. Continued economic diversification is critical for the region’s resilience: the Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise (KORE) emerged in 2020 as regional economic development strategy to support and attract sporting gear builders and designers in the recreation industry. The emergence of a cohort of skilled sports equipment entrepreneurs is an exciting development for meaningful diversification of our traditionally resource-reliant regional economy. Small and rural, Selkirk College ranks #30 on the “Canada’s Top Research Colleges 2023” list, and has been moving up since our 2019 debut at #49. Selkirk Innovates, the college’s 37-person applied research department, engages in interdisciplinary technical research, and has invested over 20+ years to develop deep expertise in digital manufacturing technology. This ARTI will provide Selkirk Innovates with a dedicated 3D printer using TPU and high quality PA 11 nylon, and a larger 4x4’ vacuum former to meet specific client needs in the sporting gear design & development sector. To illustrate an immediate use of the requested equipment, we are featuring a collaboration with Grey Space Adaptives. The company was founded by a mechanical designer whose personal experience with adapting his able-bodied sports to adaptive sports ignited a passion for designing and improving adaptive sporting equipment. Grey Space Adaptives is now producing a custom-molded bucket (or seat) for sledge hockey, aiming to make the sled stronger, stiffer, lighter and more responsive to the individual athlete. Work directly related to vacuum forming and 3D printing in engineering-grade materials like TPE, Nylon 11, and Nylon 11 CF is currently facing unnecessary costs and delays primarily due to the need to outsource work to urban centres or the United States. This company has found that it is 45% cheaper to prototype locally versus shipping to/from the US. The equipment will also be incorporated into research projects undertaken via the Digital Fabrication and Design Diploma at Selkirk College, established in 2020.