Photo Credit: Pascal Milord
A prototype Filter Housing, designed by software and constructed in the Fused Deposition Modeler pictured in the background.

The manufacturing industry has always comprised a significant portion of the economy of Newfoundland and Labrador. In 1996, the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) was established to support the industry in research and development. The Centre is a collaboration between the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at Memorial University of Newfoundland, College of the North Atlantic and the Alliance of Manufacturers and Exporters Newfoundland. It was developed to make the expertise in manufacturing engineering and related technologies of the public sector institutions readily accessible to firms as they develop or improve products and processes. 

Assisting Industry Through Innovation
The client list of the Centre is constantly growing and ranges from individuals just starting out with a business idea to established manufacturers like Terra Nova Shoes. Areas of support have included prototype development, product testing, improving production flows and product and process assessment. Clients from industry meet with MTC personnel free of charge to establish the scope and potential benefits of working with the Centre. Once the scope of a project has been outlined, the Centre provides a quote for cost recovery on the services and works with clients to find funding sources.

MTC’s two Rapid Prototyping machines represent what is perhaps its most sought after new technology. This technology is revolutionizing product development by providing a cost and time effective way of physically realizing prototype parts without complex tooling, fixturing or mold development. The Rapid Prototyping machines can produce 3-D models of any file from a computer model. They have generated everything from guitars to marine propellers.

The centre has already supported the design and production of a wide range of products, ranging from local crafts to underwater sensors. It worked with Guigne International to prototype its unique container design that will eventually see service on board the international space station. The prototype enabled Guigne to troubleshoot the design prior to final fabrication. For Chris Griffiths, of Griffiths Guitars International, rapid prototyping has underpinned the development of a new process for guitar manufacturing to enable the firm to compete with Asian manufacturers.

Sharpening the Competitive Advantage
The availability of unique expertise and equipment in the MTC has the potential to significantly augment the competitive advantages of local firms in the global marketplace. The Centre has also enriched the educational offerings of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at Memorial by exposing students to real-world problems and projects. The MTC is a clear example of how the post-secondary education system can directly benefit provincial economic development.