Canadian research center receives millions in funding for sustainable metal 3D printing

The Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing (MSAM) Lab at the University of Waterloo has received a grant of five million Canadian dollars. The funds, provided by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), will support the establishment of the Consortium for Sustainable Scale-up in Metal Additive Manufacturing (CSS-MAM). The aim is to research and further develop sustainable production methods in the field of metal-based 3D printing.

Since its inception in 2004, the MSAM Lab has grown to become the largest academic metal 3D printing facility in Canada. The facility now encompasses 15,000 square meters of lab space with over $25 million worth of infrastructure. Under the direction of Dr. Ehsan Toyserkani and Dr. Mihaela Vlasea, research focuses on three main areas: low-emission manufacturing, scaling additive manufacturing technologies for industry, and specialized training programs for professionals.

“To protect our local economies and increase the capacity of local supply chains, we need to support homegrown solutions that drive innovation, create good-paying jobs for Canadians, and tackle climate change,” said The Honourable Ruby Sahota, Minister of Democratic Institutions and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. “Today’s investments highlights the Government of Canada’s continued commitment to driving innovation and sustainable growth across key sectors, ensuring that Canadian solutions lead the way.”

One focus of the new consortium is the optimization of production processes through artificial intelligence, the reuse of materials and the analysis of the entire product life cycle. This should not only increase the competitiveness of the industry, but also minimize CO₂ emissions and material consumption. The investment in CSS-MAM is part of a Canadian strategy to promote innovative manufacturing technologies and sustainable value chains.

“The MSAM laboratory is a remarkable facility that brings together world-class infrastructure and cutting-edge equipment, expertise, intellectual properties, and partners to support the advanced manufacturing sector across Canada,” Toyserkani says. “This funding will not only support the creation of the CSS-MAM, but will address Ontario’s advanced manufacturing sector’s need for clean and sustainable economic growth.”

“Through the CSS-MAM, focus will be placed on increasing industry competitiveness and productivity, while simultaneously minimizing waste and CO2,” Vlasea says. “This will be accomplished by optimizing AM processes and productivity, encouraging the adoption of large-scale AM tech, adding artificial intelligence driven quality assurance platforms, developing material reuse strategies, and part lifecycle analysis.”

By funding the CSS-MAM, the University of Waterloo is strengthening its role as a center for research and development in the field of metal 3D printing. The planned projects will support both start-ups and SMEs and help to transfer sustainable manufacturing technologies into industrial applications.

“Thank you to our partners at FedDev for this significant investment. The creation of CSS-MAM will allow the University of Waterloo to leverage our talent and proven track record of industry partnerships to support R&D for even more startups and small and medium enterprises,” says Charmaine Dean, vice-president, Research and International. “Importantly, it allows for direct industry access to advanced facilities to achieve agile solutions. It also supports industry-focused training for the skilled workforce of tomorrow. By advancing the scale-up of domestic sustainable supply-chain clusters, CSS-MAM envisions a green and prosperous future for the economies of southern Ontario and Canada.”