OTTAWA – Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) has launched www.canadamakes.ca, a national network of excellence dedicated to the adoption and development of additive manufacturing in Canada.

“Additive manufacturing is one of those advanced manufacturing technologies that is likely to disrupt the way we are making things,” said CME President and CEO Jayson Myers. “CME is proud to take the leadership and promote its development among the Canadian manufacturing sector.”

Canada Makes launched in collaboration with Sheridan College’s Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Design Technologies (CAMDT), located in Brampton, ON. CME and CAMDT will organize three additive manufacturing workshops at CAMDT’s facilities in the next year in order to promote the adoption of additive manufacturing among SMEs. The first workshop is scheduled for October 16, 2014.

“CAMDT is one of the most advanced applied research labs in Canada and it has the latest technologies and software in the field of Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM). We are proud to help make this state-of-the-art laboratory available to small and medium-sized manufacturers across the country,” Myers said.

“Sheridan routinely partners engineering students with local businesses in need of 3D printing work,” said Director of CAMDT and Associate Dean of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Dr. Farzad Rayegani.“SMEs gain access to equipment they otherwise couldn’t afford and benefit from product and process innovation. The students gain invaluable insight into the design challenges that manufacturing businesses face daily.”

Canada Makes will gradually expand into other areas of additive manufacturing, including metal 3D printing, and printable electronics. In addition to technology demonstration and training workshops, members of the network will also benefit from a customized service aimed at identifying potential partners and source of funding to complete their additive manufacturing projects, from prototyping to applied and fundamental research.

About CME
Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters is Canada’s largest trade and industry association, and the voice of manufacturing and global business in Canada. The association represents more than 10,000 leading companies nationwide. More than 85 per cent of CME’s members are small and medium-sized enterprises.