Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2

Based on the success of a 2012 FedDev partnership, St. Lawrence College aims to work with Stinson Studios of Tamworth, ON to develop an automated sanding process that would enable the artisanal wooden bowl manufacturers to keep pace with the growing demand for their products, which are sold in many high-end stores and museums across North America, including Barneys in Beverly Hills. Currently the sanding process is performed by hand using an air powered dye-grinder. Users of the grinder report pain and the development of tennis elbow. Workers don't usually remain very long, and the labour intensive process restricts production. With college help, two students, one engineering and one welding, under the expert guidance of a millwright instructor , an automated prototype sanding machine will be designed that will be compliant with WSIB standards and will be ergonomically designed to minimize stress on the operator. The benefits to our students are clear: solving a real-world production problem using welding, custom fabrication and industry knowledge. The knowledge is shared back in the classroom to benefit those students not directly involved. The improved machinery will help Stinson increase production from 5000 bowls per year to between 12,000 and 15,000. With an average price per bowl of $100, the increase in production translates into an additional $700,000 in revenue per year.