Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Niagara College Canada
$9,415.00
Refaced Surface Cleaner Prototype
EF 2014-15
Résumé
1,000 Islands Lawn and Landscaping (1,000 Islands) approached Niagara Research, the research and innovationdepartment at Niagara College, to collaborate on an Advanced Manufacturing project. The scope of the project is to createand test a functional prototype using a concept developed by Harrison Olajos, the founder of the company, to improve theefficiency of outdoor surface cleaning and restoration.The Brockville Ontario based company, in operations for over three years, founded a subsidiary business (Refaced)specifically focused on cleaning and restoring outdoor surfaces such as interlocking brick, natural stone, and concrete. Overtime, aging outdoor surfaces face problems such as brick shifting, statin buildup, cracking, and vegetation growth. Theprototype concept takes the traditional method of cleaning, primarily using a high pressure washer, and semi-automates itwith a piece of machinery that reduces the overall water consumption, recycles grey-water, and increases the rate at whichrestoration and cleaning jobs are completed.This research project presents several areas of expertise Niagara Research could assist with including: engineering design,product development, product testing, technology development, and problem-solving. Through these activities, a team ofresearch students and faculty leads will work together with the project partner, Harrison Olajos, to advance the technology inthis field. Together, the team will utilize Niagara Research's leading edge equipment and computing power including theFortus 400M 3D Prototyping Machine and 3D CAD software, among others.While the current Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the idea or concept is at TRL-1, with the assistance of NiagaraResearch it can be brought to TRL-4. TRL-4 represents a prototype model which has been tested in a simulatedenvironment. Once the prototype is ready and testing is completed, our industry partner will advance to the next stages ofTRL and commercialize the product for online and in-store sales.
Programme
Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
Ontario, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
Tel que publié
Application id
471020-2014
Name nom
Nantel, Marc
Department département
Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus
Organization id
22152
Institution établissement
Niagara College Canada
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2014
Competition year année de concours
2014
Award amount
9415
Program id
CARD1
Program name en
Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement appliquée - niveau 1
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1561
Committee name en
Applied Research and Development Grants
Committee name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement appliquée
Area of application code
9999
Area of application group en
Not available
Area of application group fr
Non disponible
Area of application en
Not available
Area of application fr
Non disponible
Research subject code
9999
Research subject group en
Not available
Research subject group fr
Non disponible
Research subject en
Not available
Research subject fr
Non disponible
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Refaced Surface Cleaner Prototype
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
1,000 Islands Lawn and Landscaping (1,000 Islands) approached Niagara Research, the research and innovationdepartment at Niagara College, to collaborate on an Advanced Manufacturing project. The scope of the project is to createand test a functional prototype using a concept developed by Harrison Olajos, the founder of the company, to improve theefficiency of outdoor surface cleaning and restoration.The Brockville Ontario based company, in operations for over three years, founded a subsidiary business (Refaced)specifically focused on cleaning and restoring outdoor surfaces such as interlocking brick, natural stone, and concrete. Overtime, aging outdoor surfaces face problems such as brick shifting, statin buildup, cracking, and vegetation growth. Theprototype concept takes the traditional method of cleaning, primarily using a high pressure washer, and semi-automates itwith a piece of machinery that reduces the overall water consumption, recycles grey-water, and increases the rate at whichrestoration and cleaning jobs are completed.This research project presents several areas of expertise Niagara Research could assist with including: engineering design,product development, product testing, technology development, and problem-solving. Through these activities, a team ofresearch students and faculty leads will work together with the project partner, Harrison Olajos, to advance the technology inthis field. Together, the team will utilize Niagara Research's leading edge equipment and computing power including theFortus 400M 3D Prototyping Machine and 3D CAD software, among others.While the current Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the idea or concept is at TRL-1, with the assistance of NiagaraResearch it can be brought to TRL-4. TRL-4 represents a prototype model which has been tested in a simulatedenvironment. Once the prototype is ready and testing is completed, our industry partner will advance to the next stages ofTRL and commercialize the product for online and in-store sales.
