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Technology Clusters
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Saguenay Region
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With roughly 15% of world exports, Canada is the second largest exporter of primary aluminium after Russia. But when it comes to adding value to aluminium, Canada is a net importer of semi-finished and finished products – a trade imbalance that could be remedied if Canadian companies were encouraged to transform Canadian aluminium ingots into value-added offerings.
| Community Engagement |
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2000 – Aluminium Industry Technology Roadmap completed 2001 – NRC commits to NRC-ATC for Saguenay region 2002 – Design plans for NRC-ATC unveiled 2003 – ATC becomes operational 2004 – Official inauguration of NRC-ATC |
| NRC's Major Partners |
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| Facts and Figures |
Canada is the world's second largest exporter of primary aluminium Quebec accounts for 90% of Canadian exports Canada is a net importer of semi-finished and finished aluminium parts Quantity of aluminium used in cars increasing 5% annually |
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"This (ATC) Centre is a prime example of what can be accomplished when the region pulls together to work toward a common goal. It ensures the region of the kind of environment that is conducive to aluminium transformation." Michel Belley, Rector, UQAC |
In Canada, a large aluminium industry cluster has emerged centered around the Quebec Saguenay region known as the "Aluminium Valley". – (90% of the Canadian aluminium production is located within a radius of 500 kms of the NRC-ATC). A key challenge for the region is to move from aluminium production to aluminium transformation. To address these challenges and capitalize on the heavy concentration of aluminium industry stakeholders in the region, the NRC Industrial Materials Institute (NRC-IMI) established the new NRC Aluminium Technology Centre (NRC-ATC) on the campus of the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi. The $57 million facility, entailing investments of $25 million and $32 million from Canada Economic Development Quebec and NRC, respectively, will provide Canadian industry with the technical support, expertise and facilities required to develop value-added aluminium products and processes.
Officially inaugurated in November 2004, the 6,000-m2 NRC-ATC will have some 60 NRC staff and 20 invited researchers from other aluminium R&D organizations. In addition, about 20 young scientists will receive advanced training at the Centre each year – helping to build the skilled talent Canada needs to transform this important industry.
The R&D thrust of NRC-ATC is grouped under two broad areas: advanced forming technologies, and joining/assembly technologies. In the first area, NRC-ATC offers expertise and facilities for die casting (including semi-solid technologies), hydroforming and other solid aluminium deformation processes. The second R&D thrust involves laser and friction-stir welding, adhesive bonding, as well as the mechanical assembly of aluminium parts. NRC-ATC supports these activities with expertise in computer modeling of aluminium processing and materials analysis using in-house state of the art instrumentation.
As in other technology clusters across Canada, partnerships with local stakeholders play a critical role in NRC-ATC's efforts to stimulate research, diffuse new knowledge and commercialize promising developments. In the aluminium cluster, NRC-ATC has strong ties to a number of private and public stakeholders, including Alcan Inc., the Quebec Centre for Aluminium R&D (CQRDA), the Trans-Al network (an association of aluminium parts manufacturers), the "Société de la vallée de l'aluminium" (a business development organization funded by the Quebec government) and the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC) along with "REGAL," a Quebec university aluminium research network headquartered at UQAC.
While the NRC-ATC has been operational for less than a year, it has already signed collaborative R&D partnerships with several local small and medium-sized enterprises as well as with industry giants such as Alcan and General Motors. The Alcan arrangement, which amounts to $10.5 million over five years, is focussed on a breakthrough manufacturing processes geared to aluminium parts for the enormous worldwide automotive market. Collaborative agreements have also been signed with other Canadian universities, in particular with the University of Waterloo and the University of Toronto (with General Motors Canada as the industrial partner) and with the Université Laval (with Alcoa and Alutrec as industrial partners).
For more infomation on this Technology Cluster...
NRC Aluminium Technology Centre (NRC-ATC)
Saguenay: (418) 545-5545
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