MAMCE Launches Innovative 3D Technology

The Marine Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence (MAMCE), at Custom Fabricators and Machinists (CFM) in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, combines research, commercialization and workforce development and training in 3D metal manufacturing. CFM is the site of the new GE Concept Laser M2 laser metal 3D printer, to be used in partnership with a Canadian research institution.

The University of New Brunswick is MAMCE’s research and development partner; J.D. Irving Limited’s Custom Fabricators and Machinists (CFM) is the commercialization partner; and the community colleges in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are the workforce development and training partners.

“The collaborative work undertaken at MAMCE will have a direct benefit to the marine industry, the province of New Brunswick and the region,” says Dr. Paul Mazerolle, UNB president and vice-chancellor.

“Today’s event showcases the three pillars of MAMCE—research and development; workforce development and commercialization,” explains Dr. Mohsen Mohammadi, director of UNB’s Marine Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence. “Our doors are now open to find research solutions that work for industry.”

Businesses will now have access to experts in the field of 3D metal printing and to a commercial metal 3D printer to provide stronger, cheaper, faster metal parts, according to the organizations. The center will also act as an incubator for new commercial product development.

“We look forward to working closely with Dr. Mohammadi and his team as we develop new markets in the growing marine manufacturing sector,” said David Saucy, vice-president, Construction and Equipment Division of J.D. Irving, Limited.

“We consider additive manufacturing critical to the region as it enables our small and large industries to be globally competitive as early adopters of these cutting-edge technologies," says Laura Richard, director of Research, NBIF. "NBIF supported the recruitment of Dr. Mohammadi with our start-up funding and we have had faith in his pioneering vision since the very beginning." 

MAMCE consists of a dedicated research and development team within the Faculty of Engineering at UNB in Fredericton. The 3D metal printing will be completed at an advanced manufacturing facility within CFM’s industrial fabrication and machine shop in Saint John. In addition, the center will host technology training programs, through hands-on experience with 3D metal printing and design, in partnership with Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC), New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) and Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB) and partnering with Custom Fabricators and Machinists (CFM) on commercialization.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.