New Program Aims To Improve Competitiveness Of Alberta Metal Fabricators

Tuesday, 18 October 2011 12:40

Small and medium-sized firms in Alberta that supply fabricated metal and machinery required for oilsands development are being offered an opportunity to increase their productivity and competitiveness through a new federally and provincially funded program.

A $1.5 million contribution from the Western Economic Diversification office for new equipment and laboratory renovations for the Alberta Metal Fab Innovation (AMFI) program will help to leverage the combined resources of the Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures (AITF) research facility in Devon, Alberta, and the Canadian Centre for Welding and Joining at the University of Alberta’s Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering.

“Our goal is to make Alberta firms more productive and competitive looking at the huge opportunities in the oilsands sector,” Matthew Yarmuch, program leader, welding engineering at AITF, said in an interview. “The tagline is “It’s Made in Alberta For Alberta.”

“We have scoured the world for advanced technologies, new welding processes, automation and have brought it here to Alberta for people to try it out, to get a first sense of it, to get an exposure to options,” he said. Based on what they have seen, whether it is new metallurgy or new business processes, companies can decide whether there are technologies or new ways of doing business they want to pursue.

The program is targeting basic applications and materials such as carbon steel, where it can make a big impact across a lot of the industry, said Yarmuch.

The first pilot phase of the program was held in Edmonton over the summer and the next phase to take place this fall will include workshops in Red Deer and Grande Prairie. Participants then will be brought into the labs in Edmonton. “We are truly trying to make it a provincial-wide type of approach to the program,” Yarmuch said.

By providing firms with access to specialized equipment, demonstrations and business expertise, the AMFI program is designed to support Western Canada’s fabricated metal and machinery sector to be globally competitive and able to successfully compete for procurement opportunities related to oilsands projects. “It is a global supply chain and the economics will work themselves out in the end and we just want to arm the industry here with as many options and as many new technologies as they can,” he said.

Through new welding and automation equipment, as well as the expansion of existing facilities and lab space, the initiative will enable firms to develop and test new technologies, products and processes that result in productivity improvements and enhanced capabilities to access oilsands supply chains. “If the end game is that there are more opportunities for metal fabricators in the province, we all win when that happens.”

“The modern fabrication technologies provided through the AMFI, including the automated welding equipment and supports such as training, add value to an important industry sector vital not only to Alberta, but to Canada,” Gary Albach, president and chief executive officer of Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures, said in a prepared statement.

“This initiative represents an important collaboration in a sector that is of great significance to our province,” added Lorne Babiuk, vice-president (research) at the U of A. “We are delighted to be a partner in the Alberta Metal Fab Innovation Program.”