Grant: College and Community Innovation Program

Entrepreneurial firms in the developed world are responding with innovation to the mounting challenges of global manufacturing. Shifting demand, currency volatility, supply-chain disruptions, fluctuating commodity prices, and changing consumer preferences mean companies must consider a wider range of factors than ever before when deciding where to produce, which markets to pursue, and which capital equipment investments to make. Additive manufacturing is an emerging technology that has gained traction in Europe and the United States because of its ability to eliminate manufacturability constraints, and to reduce tooling costs, product development time, and raw material waste. Exploring the advantages of additive manufacturing technology, specifically Direct Metal Laser Sintering, for producing metal parts is the focus of the new Additive Manufacturing Resource Centre at Mohawk College, and the basis for submission of this proposal.At Mohawk College, SMEs will are able to access a resource that could transform their business. The goal of the Additive Manufacturing Resource Centre is to bridge the gap between basic research and product development for metal fabricators in the region, to share cutting-edge capabilities and equipment, to provide access to skilled labour, and to create an environment where industry and academia work together to educate and train the next generation of workers. Four sample projects, outlined in this proposal, demonstrate how the technology, if adopted, could significantly impact local businesses and how Mohawk, with enough funds for operation, could become a large-scale resource that contributes to innovation in the region.