June 26, 2015 – Winnipeg, MB
The National Research Council’s Factory of the Future program will provide next-generation R&D support to Canadian manufacturers to create jobs and increase competitiveness
Increased competition from emerging economies in today’s global marketplace means transforming Canadian manufacturing into factories of the future: faster, cheaper, lighter, smarter businesses able to create jobs, compete and win in global markets.
To this end, Lawrence Toet, Member of Parliament for Elmwood-Transcona, on behalf of the Honourable Ed Holder, Minister of State for Science and Technology, announced today an investment of up to $60 million to build a new facility in Winnipeg as part of the National Research Council of Canada’s (NRC) Factory of the Future program. MP Toet made the announcement from Magellan Aerospace and was accompanied by David O’Connor, Division Manager of Defence and Space Products at Magellan Aerospace in Winnipeg.
The new program leverages the National Research Council’s expertise, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and specialized equipment to assist Canadian manufacturers develop, adopt, and deploy new technologies and processes to produce high-quality, specialized manufactured goods at lower costs and in shorter time frames. The NRC’s new facility in Winnipeg will stimulate public-private partnerships and provide Canadian companies with easy access to provide Canadian companies access to various research tools, including process design; simulation and integration; maintenance, repair and overhaul research; and manufacturing lifecycle assessment. The facility will also offer a flexible manufacturing pilot train laboratory and will support the development of advanced manufacturing systems engineering, composites and biocomposites.
By providing the tools and expertise Canadian firms need to overcome technology barriers and deploy innovative solutions, the Government of Canada is strengthening the Canadian manufacturing landscape. Canadian businesses can then continue to grow and prosper in an increasingly competitive global economy.
The aerospace industry is becoming more competitive as the supply chain is increasingly globalized. NRC’s investment today will help aerospace companies focus on improving their position in this competitive global marketplace. As Magellan Aerospace works to align our business with the market and with our customer requirements, we also continue to invest in both people and technology. Our Centre for Non-Destructive Testing (CNDI), which is a collaboration between Magellan Aerospace, Red River College, and federal government to help meet the demand for the skilled workforce required to support the industry is one such example that will continue to develop as we expand into the factory of the future model with NRC.”
Don Boitson, Vice President and General Manager, Magellan Aerospace
Media Relations Team
National Research Council of Canada
613-991-1431
1-855-282-1637 (24/7)
media@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Twitter: @nrc_cnrc
Scott French
Director of Communications and Parliamentary Affairs
Office of the Minister of State (Science and Technology)
343-291-2700