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On May 25, 2017, Irving Shipbuilding participated in the launch of the Marine Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton. 

Canada’s manufacturing industry faces the global challenge of staying current to ever changing fabrication equipment and methods. To survive and prosper, industry must adapt. Part of adapting means forming partnerships to develop the best research, training, and commercialization practices. 

“Initiatives like the Marine Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence have the potential to change and advance the face of shipbuilding and other sectors in Canada,” Kevin McCoy, President of Irving Shipbuilding.

The Marine Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence will be the first in Canada to use Additive Manufacturing (AM), commonly called 3-D printing, as a method for manufacturing certified parts for the marine industry. This application of AM has the potential to simplify supply chains, provide complicated parts on demand, and enable the fabrication of new components by Canadian fabricators. Its mission is to ensure the adoption of this leading-edge technology in the marine sector in Canada by developing new methods, procedures, and effective training programs.  

The Centre is the first of its kind in Canada to combine research, commercialization and workforce development and training. This initiative is the result of a partnership forged with the University of New Brunswick, New Brunswick Community College, Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick, Nova Scotia Community College, and Custom Fabricators and Machinists (CFM).  

“The National Shipbuilding Strategy is helping to grow Canada’s shipbuilding industry and create good, well-paying jobs for Canadians. The work that will be done at the Marine Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence will develop exciting new technologies and bring them to market. Irving Shipbuilding’s Value Proposition investment shows how the strategy is driving the ideas and highly skilled workforce that will sustain the marine industry for years to come,” said the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

Initial funding was committed by Irving Shipbuilding Inc.and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. Irving Shipbuilding’s $750,000 investment is a part of its Value Proposition commitments under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) – Canada’s 30-year plan to renew the fleets of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard. Irving Shipbuilding’s investment led to additional public and private sector funding and in-kind support. The Centre is expected to triple its funding in the coming year with other partners coming on board. 

“Our technology is greener, more efficient, and will create high value jobs here in Atlantic Canada. I’m so grateful to our many commercialization, industry and training partners who have supported our work so far and I look forward to welcoming new participants in the future,” said Dr. Mohsen Mohammadi, Director of UNB’s Marine Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence.

For the full announcement press release, click here.