A guide to Canada’s R&D facilities
By Umair Abdul, Assistant Editor
S ince last year, the Ideas & Innovations section of our magazine has been refocused to bring you the latest developments and innovations from Canada's leading research groups. It was our hope to ...
Since last year, the Ideas & Innovations section of our magazine has been refocused to bring you the latest developments and innovations from Canada’s leading research groups. It was our hope to bring cutting-edge research to our readers and help create a link between industry and academia.
In celebration of Canadian Plastics magazine’s 65th anniversary, we bring you a guide to some of Canada’s leading plastics-related R&D facilities. This page offers just a sampling of what’s out there, but it clearly illustrates that Canada has a lot to offer when it comes to innovation.
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL –INDUSTRIAL MATERIALS INSTITUTE (NRC-IMI)
Located in: Boucherville, Que.
Areas of research: Bioplastics and biocomposites; biomedical polymers; nanofabrication; process diagnostics and simulations; process diagnostic instrumentation. Contact: Nafez Melhem, Marketing Manager, 450-641-5000, nafez.melhem@cnrcnrc.gc.ca
Website: http://imi. cnrc-nrc. gc.ca
MCMASTER MANUFACTURING RESEARCH INSTITUTE (MMRI)
Located in: Hamilton, Ont.
Centre for Advanced Polymer Processing and Design
(CAPPA-D)Areas of research: blown film extrusion; injection molding (cooling circuit optimization); extrusion (flat die design, foaming, micropelletization); mixing; powder injection molding; rotational molding Contact: Elizabeth Takacs, Lab Manager, 905-525-9140 ext. 24100, etakacs@ mcmaster.ca
The Machining Systems Laboratory (MSL)
Areas of research: machining of hardened molds; creation of molds; control issues Contact: Stephen Veldhuis, Associate Professor and Director, 905-525-9140 ext. 27044, veldhu@mcmaster.ca
The Thermal Processing Laboratory (TPL)
Areas of research: heat treatment of molds for die production
Contact: Mohamed Hamed, Director, 905-525- 9140 ext. 26113, hamedm@mcmaster.caWebsite: http://mmri. mcmaster.ca
INSTITUTE OF POLYMER RESEARCH –UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO
Located in: Waterloo, Ont.
Areas of research: Development of new polymers and monomers; coatings; adhesives; elastomers.
Contact: Alex Penlidis, Director, 519-888- 4567 ext. 36634
Website: http://www.ipruw.com
MICROCELLULAR PLASTICS MANUFACTURING LABORATORY (MPML) -UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Located in: Toronto, Ont.
Areas of research: Microcellular foamed thermoplastics.
Contact: Dr. Chul B. Park, Director, 416- 978-3053, park@mie.utoronto.caWebsite: http://www.mie. utoronto.ca/ labs/park/lab/labhome. htm
CENTER FOR APPLIED RESEARCH ON POLYMERS AND COMPOSITES (CREPEC)
Located in: Montreal, Que.
Areas of research: plastics; nanocomposites; high-performance composites; intelligent materials.
Contact: Pierre Carreau, Director, 514- 340-4711 ext. 4629; crepec@polymtl.caWebsite: http://www.polymtl.ca/crepec/ en/index. php
MACROMOLECULAR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTER (CERSIM) — LAVAL UNIVERSITY
Located in: Laval, Que. Areas of research: polymer materials of controlled architecture; natural macromolecules/ biomedical polymers; oriented polymer materials; polymer materials at surfaces and interfaces. Contact: 418-656-3221, cersim@chm.ulaval.ca
Website: http://www.chm. ulaval.ca/cersim/english/index. html
