Join Red River College (RRC) and the Industrial Technology Centre (ITC) at the Western Canadian Aviation Museum for a discussion about the latest in robotic systems technology from two leading equipment manufacturers, FANUC Robotics Canada and Lincoln Electric.
Why should Manitoba manufacturers automate and use robotics in their plants? What kind of return on investment can be realized? What has changed in the world of robotics that you might not be aware of? Did you know that many of the robots in operation in Western Canada are welding robots?
If you are considering automation or just want to learn more about robotics, this is the seminar for you. Representatives from FANUC Robotics Canada and Lincoln Electric will be on hand to answer these questions and to explore a number of successful robotic applications that are specifically geared for manufacturers in Manitoba.
FANUC will explore examples such as: robotics with integrated machine vision; CNC load/unload for batch production using vision; various aerospace applications; robotic fiberglass manufacturing; small-batch robotic painting; plastic injection moulding load/unload and post processing; picking/packing/palletizing; simulation CAD to path; successful implementation considerations.
Lincoln will explore answers to the following questions:

• What does it take to implement robotic welding?
• What applications are effective for good welding results (through robotic automation)?
• What are the best ways to work with low, medium and high part volumes?
• What tools are available to resolve tolerance issues on parts (touch sensing, seam tracking, vision)?
• What is the best approach to ROI calculation and risk management?

This seminar is supported by the National Research Council Canada’s Digital Technology Adoption Pilot Program (DTAPP).
Event details
Location: 2nd Floor, Western Canadian Aviation Museum | 958 Ferry Road | Winnipeg, MB
Date: Nov. 21, 2012
Time: 7:30 am – 8:00 am (Breakfast) | 8:00 am – 9:45 am (Seminar)
Click here to register online.

Innovation 2012, the 3rd annual Alliance for Commercialization of Canadian Technologies (ACCT) research and commercialization forum, is taking place from December 2-4, 2012 in Ottawa, Ontario.
The conference brings together global technology-transfer and industry-engagement practitioners from academia, industry, and government, connecting them with venture investors and intellectual-asset managers. Through interactive seminars, attendees will generate practical ideas and real-world solutions to stimulate Canada’s innovation performance.
For more information on Innovation 2012, and to register, visit www.innovationpartnership.ca. Early bird registration is available until November 11.
Event Details
Innovation 2012
December 2-4, 2012 | Ottawa Marriott Hotel | Ottawa, ON

Photo: Gerry Kopelow/Photographics Inc.

• Forming teams for your first BIM project
• Databases and software that can be utilized for BIM
• Starting your first BIM project
• Extracting pertinent data from the process
• Potential gains (productivity, quality, organizational, etc.)
• More…

Following these presentations, Rick Hiebert, RRC’s resident BIM expert with the School of Construction and Engineering Technology, will present on the current BIM instruction that is being provided to RRC students, and the currently-available and in-development training opportunities for industry professionals.
Date: November 7, 2012
Time: Registration from 4:00 to 4:30 p.m. and Presentations from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Venue: Presentation Theatre, Second Floor, Winnipeg Convention Centre
Cost: $78.75 (including GST)*
Training Credit: 1.5 Structured/Core Hours designated by MAA
* A limited number of complementary registrations are available for RRC staff and students.
RRC Staff & Student Registration: Register here

Non-RRC Registration: Download this registration form and follow the instructions.
Registration deadline is Monday, November 5 at 5:00 p.m.
This event is designed for architects in small- to medium-sized organizations, but other design professionals, engineers, builders, contractors, developers, educators and students will also benefit from attending.
Along with the Manitoba Association of Architects, this event is brought to you by Red River College and its project supporters: the National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program’s Digital Technology Adoption Pilot Program, the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council, and the Sustainable Infrastructure Technology Research Group.

 
 

3D isn’t just for blockbuster movies.
With several different applications, 3D scanning has the potential to be a viable technology for a wide range of manufacturers.
Rapidform’s Scott Green will be at the Industrial Technology Centre on November 6 to share the essential steps for processing 3D optical-scan data for inspection and reverse-engineering applications. Scott will discuss the benefits of 3D scanning and give an overview of available 3D-scanning technology and Rapidform software products. The presentation will also include detailed case studies and a look at future advances in these applications.
This is a free event. To register, or for more information, please email tech@itc.mb.ca by November 2.
Event Details
November 6, 2012 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Industrial Technology Centre | 200-78 Innovation Drive | Winnipeg, MB

UPDATE: Web Streaming Available
The room for this seminar is now full. However, due to popular demand, we will be piloting a live web-streaming video option. Any new registrants will be sent a link for viewing the presentation from any computer prior to the event.

Join Red River College and the University of Manitoba’s Dr. Barry Prentice on October 10 for an engaging discussion on the potential for modern airships to change transportation and shipping in Canada.

With almost three-quarters of Canada inaccessible by land, transportation and shipping to Northern communities is a challenge. Harsh conditions add to infrastructure and freight costs, while timely delivery is near impossible. Transport airships, a new generation of cargo-carrying aircraft, present a potential solution to Northern transportation gaps.

With over 30 years of experience in the transportation field, the University of Manitoba’s Dr. Barry Prentice Ph.D., MCIT has witnessed the positive impact that reliable infrastructure can have on a region. Barry will share how transport airships have evolved over the past century to become a viable option for businesses serving remote areas. Attendees will gain a better understanding of the technology behind modern transport airships and how, if properly implemented, they can change how we look at transportation and grow Northern Canada’s economy.
Register now to access the live web stream.
Dr. Prentice is a Professor of Supply Chain Management, at the I.H. Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba and the former Director (1996-2005) of the Transport Institute. His major research and teaching interests include logistics, transportation economics, urban transport and trade policy. Dr. Prentice holds a degree in economics from University of Western Ontario (1973) and graduate degrees in agricultural economics from University of Guelph (1979) and University of Manitoba (1986).
Dr. Prentice has authored or co-authored more than 250 research reports, journal articles and contributions to books. His scholarly work has been recognized for excellence in national paper competitions and awards. In 1999, National Transportation Week named him Manitoba Transportation Person of the Year. Through the Transport Institute, Dr. Prentice has organized national and international conferences on sustainable transportation (Railways and the Environment), supply chain logistics (Planes, Trains & Ships), agribusiness logistics (Fields on Wheels), the potential use of airships for northern transportation (Airships to the Arctic) and food trade between Canada and Mexico (La Cadena de Frio). In 1999 and 2003, he received University of Manitoba Outreach Awards. In 2009, Dr. Prentice was made an Honourary Life Member of the Canadian Transportation Research Forum.

Thinking about switching to an electric vehicle? Here’s your opportunity to see what’s been generating all the buzz – and no emissions.
This Saturday, September 15, the Manitoba Electric Vehicle Association (MEVA) will be hosting MEVAfest 2012, a public showcase of electric vehicles, technology and information.
Electric vehicles are low maintenance and run on inexpensive, abundant and renewable energy. Visitors to the festival will have the opportunity to view the cars – including the Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, and Chevrolet Volt – talk with electric-vehicle owners, and learn about the benefits of moving away from gas-powered engines.
Red River College (RRC) is no stranger to electric vehicles. For the past year, RRC’s Electric Vehicle Technology & Education Centre (EVTEC) has been measuring the all-electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV’s performance in Manitoba’s climate. In June, RRC and its partners unveiled the All-Electric Bus, a $3 million, three-year project that is the first of its kind in Canada.
MEVAfest 2012 – Manitoba’s Festival of Electric Vehicles
Date: Saturday, September 15, 2012 (raindate: Saturday, September 22)
Time: 2 pm – 5 pm
Location: Lyric Theatre, Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg
Cost: Free
For more information on MEVAfest 2012, head to the MEVA website.

AR&C researchers braved the heat Wednesday as work began on commissioning our parabolic solar trough energy generator at the Red River College (RRC) Notre Dame Campus.
In the coming days, the solar trough will be fully operational (yet, unlike the Death Star, not fully armed). The project, which will involve RRC faculty and students, is investigating the feasibility of using concentrated solar power in Manitoba’s harsh climate. RRC’s Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)-funded Sustainable Infrastructure Technology Research Group (SITRG) is supporting the project, which is a partnership between the College, Manitoba Hydro, The University of Manitoba, and NSERC.
Enjoy photos of the commissioning from wherever you may find air conditioning.

Post-retrofit airtightness testing has been completed on the 363 Broadway building in Winnipeg as part of the Red River College (RRC) Sustainable Infrastructure Technology Research Group’s (SITRG’s) goal to conduct applied research to enhance the energy performance of commercial buildings.
The 15-storey, 191,000 square foot office building has recently undergone a $4-million facelift with the goals of increasing its energy efficiency and updating its appearance.  The SITRG team, consisting RRC research staff and students and green building scientists and experts, is seeking to determine what impact the retrofit has had on the building’s airtightness.
Excessive air leakage in buildings can cause major problems, ranging from high-energy bills and poor comfort, to crumbling facades.
The issue of air leakage in commercial buildings has been gaining notoriety in recent years, but there has been very little large building airtightness testing completed anywhere.  While some research has been done at the international level, its relevance to Winnipeg is limited as it is has generally been conducted in regions that are very different from Manitoba’s unique climate zone.
With funding from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council Canada’s College and Community Innovation grant, SITRG is hoping to test more Manitoba buildings to gain a more thorough understanding of the impacts of air leakage.  This research is expected to provide valuable input on how to improve the design, construction, and operation of commercial buildings.

Red River College – and Manitoba’s food industry – are getting a big boost.
Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) announced Friday that the federal government is investing $2 million to expand research capabilities at the new Paterson GlobalFoods Institute at Red River College’s (RRC’s) Exchange District Campus. RRC representatives joined the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification to make the announcement inside the nearly complete building, which will soon be home to RRC’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality programs.
By giving RRC access to advanced equipment for testing new food products and processes, this funding will develop the opportunities for students and faculty, while growing the Manitoba food industry. Adding another branch to its Applied Research activities, RRC will work with local organizations in the food sector, offering College facilities and expertise to help spark innovation and create business opportunities.
When complete, the Paterson GlobalFoods Institute is anticipated to be one of Canada’s premier culinary institutes and a new standard for heritage-building restoration.
For more information on the funding, check out the WD news release.