Sheridan Proud to be an Inaugural Partner in Canada Makes

Canadian manufacturers looking to join the 3D printing revolution are about to get some assistance with the launch of www.canadamakes.ca, a national network of excellence dedicated to the adoption and development of additive manufacturing in Canada.

“Sheridan’s Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Design Technologies (CAMDT) is one of the most sophisticated applied research labs for commercial 3D production on an academic campus in Canada,” says Dr. Jeff Zabudsky, President and CEO of Sheridan. “Through Canada Makes, we’re proud to provide SMEs across Canada with access to additive and direct digital manufacturing capabilities that would not otherwise be within their reach.”

“Additive manufacturing has the potential to revolutionize manufacturing,” says Dr. Farzad Rayegani, Director of CAMDT and Associate Dean of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering at Sheridan. “When it’s used to create the tools needed for mass production, 3D printing can accelerate a company’s product development cycle.  It allows the molds to be built and refined quickly and cost-effectively.”

Rayegani adds that the technology is also ideally suited to industries like medical and aerospace where projects are low volume and complex.  “Manufacturers are now able to turn mass production into production-on-demand. End use parts can be highly customized.  Since they’re created as they’re needed, companies can also eliminate the significant costs associated with storing inventory.”

"The global competitiveness of the Canadian manufacturing sector depends on the broad adoption of additive technologies and on the training of the next generation of designers and engineers," said Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters President and CEO Jayson Myers. "CAMDT has the equipment, the people and the students to help guide the manufacturing sector to the next level, which makes Sheridan a natural fit as a founding partner of Canada Makes‎."

“If Canada wants to be a maker nation, we need to get students excited about science, technology, engineering and math,” adds Rayegani.  “The perfect way to capture their imagination and build their interest and knowledge is by offering an integrated curriculum which teaches students to conceive, design, implement and operate. Additive manufacturing is the perfect tool to accelerate this process in STEM education.”