Edmonton, Alberta

Small– and medium–sized businesses across a range of sectors will soon have access to state–of–the–art prototyping and product validation services, thanks to a federal investment announced today by the Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification.

The federal investment of $646,830 will allow the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) to acquire two pieces of specialized prototyping and product testing equipment. This equipment will be made available to manufacturing businesses seeking to develop and commercialize new products. The technology will benefit manufacturers and innovators across multiple sectors, such as the oil and gas, defence and aerospace, life sciences, nanotechnology, and electronics industries.

This new equipment will further strengthen NAIT’s role as an innovation hub and key service provider for prototype development, and product enhancement, testing and validation in the greater Edmonton region.

Quick Facts

• The equipment – a three–dimensional direct–to–metal laser production printer and a large walk–in temperature and humidity environmental test chamber – will provide companies with increased design possibilities, faster production development cycles and lower development costs.
• Both pieces of equipment are highly specialized and are not available at this size, scale and level of specialization in Alberta.
• This investment will result in more Canadian products being brought to market, as Edmonton–area companies will have affordable access to the tools they need to develop and improve product designs.

Quotes

“Our Government understands that cutting–edge technologies accelerate innovation and provide important economic opportunities. Today’s investment will further enable NAIT to be at the forefront of product prototyping and productivity services, while staying competitive in an increasingly connected marketplace.”

– Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification

 

“This equipment will enhance services to our industry partners and our applied research capacity. As a leading polytechnic, we are most appreciative of this investment by the Government of Canada.”

– Dr. Glenn Feltham, NAIT President and CEO