April 14, 2015 – Winnipeg, Manitoba
New research at the University of Manitoba will help Canadian manufacturers of Asian-style noodles boost their production, enhancing economic activity in an export industry that is a major source of foreign revenue. The announcement was made by Rod Bruinooge, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, on behalf of the Honourable Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology), at the University of Manitoba.
Over half of Canada's wheat exports are used to manufacture Asian-style noodles. Dr. Martin Scanlon at the University of Manitoba and his research team are working with manufacturer VN Instruments Ltd. to develop a prototype acoustic sensor system that will make rolling sheet manufacturing processes more efficient. In addition, the Canadian International Grains Institute will provide Dr. Scanlon and his team access to a functional pilot-scale noodle manufacturing line to test the acoustic sensor system. The system will initially be applied to measure the properties of noodle dough sheets.
Mr. Bruinooge took the opportunity to tour the laboratory of Dr. John Page, a team member of Dr. Scanlon, whose lab received administrative support through the Research Support Fund. Dr. Scanlon and Dr. Page provided a first-hand demonstration of the effectiveness of an acoustic sensor system prototype for measuring noodle sheet properties.
Dr. Scanlon's research is being supported with an investment of $543,000 from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada's (NSERC) Strategic Project Grants program.
In addition to this funding, the University of Manitoba is also receiving an investment of $7.4 million through the Research Support Fund for 2014–15 to help the university with the overhead or additional costs of research for all its federally funded research programs. Since 2006, the Government has provided $72.75 million in research support to the University of Manitoba.
Scott French
Director of Communications and Parliamentary Affairs
Office of the Minister of State (Science and Technology)
343-291-2700
Martin Leroux
Media and Public Affairs Officer
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
613-943-7618
media@nserc-crsng.gc.ca
Anne-Marie Cenaiko
Media Relations Advisor
Research Support Fund
613-668-9865
anne-marie.cenaiko@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca
