Enhanced Characterization and Design Equipment in Support of Regional Advanced Manufacturing Industries

Sarnia-Lambton是安大略省第三大制造业，其石化和炼油集群的经济产出（2014年）为240亿美元。这个集群是许多专门从事制造、工程和环境服务的中小型企业（SMEs）建立的主要来源。然而，在过去的二十年里，这些大公司发起的制造项目有所下降和停滞。一些举措已经解决了这个问题——经济多样化、建立创新型公司和建立产业集群。**** 2013年，蓝水学院成立了先进制造中心蓝水技术中心（BTAC），为新公司、现有中小企业和大型制造业提供制造应用研究、技术服务和专业培训活动。自成立以来，该中心已成功吸引了357家公司（301家中小企业），提供了85个应用研究项目和389项技术服务。BTAC一直非常受欢迎，并继续增长；然而，基础设施方面的差距限制了BTAC有效开展现有项目和建立新项目的能力。最大的限制在于制造设备。本提案中列出的所需设备旨在通过增加和更新与现有基础设施互补的应用研究设备来填补这一基础设施缺口。最初，所要求的设备将首先由8家当地和区域公司使用，并将通过蓝水技术访问中心（****）由兰姆顿学院的研究人员使用

Sarnia-Lambton is the third largest manufacturing sector in Ontario with $24 billion economic output (2014) from its petrochemical and refining cluster. This cluster has been the major source behind the establishment of many small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) specializing in fabrication, engineering and environmental services. However, over the last twenty years there has been a decline and stagnation in manufacturing projects initiated by these large companies. Several initiatives have addressed this problem - economic diversification, building innovative companies, and establishment of industry clusters. ****In 2013, Lambton College established the Bluewater Technology Centre (BTAC), an Advanced Manufacturing Centre, to provide manufacturing applied research, technical services and specialized training activities to new companies, existing SMEs, and large manufacturing industries. Since its establishment, BTAC has been very successful, engaging 357 companies (301 SMEs) and providing 85 applied research projects and 389 technical services. BTAC has been very well received and continues to grow; however, there are infrastructure gaps that limit BTAC's ability to effectively carry out current projects and establish new ones. The biggest limitation involves manufacturing equipment. The requested equipment listed in this proposal, aims to fill this infrastructure gap by adding and updating equipment for applied research that is complimentary to the existing infrastructure. Initially, the requested equipment will be initially utilized by eight (8) local and regional companies and will be used by Lambton College researchers through the Bluewater Technology Access Centre.****