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The University of New Brunswick’s Marine Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence (MAMCE) has received a $1.12-million contribution from Mitacs and Lockheed Martin.

Funding support from Mitacs and Lockheed Martin will help lay the foundation for innovation and entrepreneurship in marine additive manufacturing research in New Brunswick. By leveraging $504,000 from Lockheed Martin’s contribution of $2.7 million in 2017, Mitacs has committed up to $616,000 through the Mitacs research internship program to provide $1.12 million funding for MAMCE interns.

“Mitacs funding has allowed MAMCE to attract talents from across Canada and the world to form a diverse centre for engineers and scientists to work on different aspects of metals additive manufacturing,” says Dr. Mohsen Mohammadi, director of MAMCE and associate professor at UNB.

“Mitacs has given MAMCE interns an excellent opportunity to attend workshops and conferences that develops their abilities in leadership, project management, and team work.”

Mitacs will provide paid internships for MAMCE master’s and PhD students so they may put their talent to work with organizations that requires their expertise. The funding will be distributed to eligible MAMCE interns over the next four years until 2023. This marks Mitacs’ largest funding project with UNB to date and Mitacs’ second largest funding project in Atlantic Canada.

“Mitacs is pleased to support the innovative research flourishing within the University of New Brunswick’s Marine Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence,” says Dr. Alejandro Adem, CEO and scientific director of Mitacs. “Investing in research talent to support new technology drives positive economic and entrepreneurial outcomes for the people of New Brunswick and Canada.”

MAMCE is the first research centre in Canada to offer metal 3D printing that will produce certified parts for the marine and defense industries. The research conducted by MAMCE will integrate new additive technology that is not only greener than conventional methods, but will also increase effectiveness and efficiency in advanced marine manufacturing to combat corrosion, fatigue, and harsh temperatures.

“As a technology company, innovation is at the core of what we do,” says Mr. Glenn Copeland, international business development director of Lockheed Martin Canada. “Lockheed Martin Canada will be designing, building and delivering systems for the Royal Canadian Navy’s newest fleet of ships for the next 30 years, and we see how 3D printing for marine manufacturing will advance our entire industry’s capability and competitiveness – not only in Canada but around the world. The partnership with UNB-MAMCE is a natural fit and we are excited to support it.”

MAMCE is the result of a partnership forged with the University of New Brunswick, Custom Fabricators and Machinists (CFM), New Brunswick Community College, Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick and Nova Scotia Community College. Its three pillars are additive manufacturing research and development, commercialization, and workforce development and training.

“One of the main goals of MAMCE is to develop the next generation of researchers and machinists who will become tomorrow’s leaders in the advanced manufacturing industry in our region,” says Mr. David Saucy, vice-president of construction and equipment division for J.D. Irving, Limited.

“As the host of the first 3D metal printer of its kind in Atlantic Canada, CFM is a proud partner and supporter of the MAMCE internship program. Congratulations to all the recipients and we look forward to collaborating with you as you further your education.”

UNB’s MAMCE has received more than $8.4 million in funding, funding commitments and in-kind contributions for additive manufacturing since its launch in May 2017.

Media contacts

• University of New Brunswick: Paisley Sibbald, paisley.sibbald@unb.ca 
• Mitacs Canada: Heather Young, hyoung@mitacs.ca 
• Lockheed Martin: Amanda Hauck, amanda.hauck@lmco.ca 
• J.D. Irving, Limited: Mary Keith, keith.mary@jdirving.com 

Photo: MAMCE interns Ayda Shahriari and Nathaniel Depres, Lockheed Martin’s Glenn Copeland, MAMCE director Mohsen Mohammadi, Mitacs’ Niraj Shukla, and UNB vice-president (research) David MaGee. Credit: UNB.