Advanced Manufacturing
New products and services with innovative technologies
Our rural region is home to a diverse range of industry partners and businesses - from particle accelerators and natural resource companies to outdoor adventure manufacturers.
Selkirk Innovates’ advanced manufacturing research team is here to support you in developing new products and reverse engineer critical parts by designing and testing new applications of innovative technologies.
The work is accomplished at the Selkirk Technology Access Centre (STAC), one of 60 NSERC-funded Technology Access Centres (TACs) across Canada, and one of three located in British Columbia. Find out more about STAC here.
Take advantage of over $2 million in specialized equipment
We house over $2 million in specialized equipment and cutting-edge technology, including one of rural Canada’s first 3D metal printers, augmented and virtual reality capacity, high end 3D scanning technology and industrial-scale waterjet and laser cutters. Our equipment, combined with the technical expertise of our highly-skilled and passionate staff and students, can support you in developing, advancing and commercializing your products and services.
We provide customized advanced technology training, help you get the funding you need and provide referrals to existing business services in the region.
Our Research Focus Areas:
Large Format 3D printing
- Provides unique opportunities for rural manufacturers and developers to compete in a global market.
- Involves specific research in materials development specific to large format printing - including foam and biodegradable plastics.
At Selkirk Innovates, we are developing key advancements in large format additive manufacturing including custom extrusion technologies. The knowledge and processes we develop are transferred to our industrial partners to expand their suite of services, extend their customer base and reduce production costs.
Additive manufacturing has taken the world by storm, although adoption by industry has not progressed as fast in rural areas. The major constraint to this adoption is the limited build volume, limited material options, and high cost of industrial grade 3D printing technology. The advancement of large-format additive manufacturing including customized material extrusion technology can alleviate this constraint.
Combining Additive & Subtractive Manufacturing
- Applied research in combining large format 3D printing and subtractive manufacturing technologies, with collaboration from multiple industry partners
We are developing key advancements in both small and large format additive manufacturing including implementation of custom extrusion technologies and the development of hybrid additive-subtractive manufacturing processes.
The knowledge and processes developed during this project will be transferred to our industry partners to expand their suite of services and customer base. The addition of hybrid additive-subtractive manufacturing capabilities to our industry partners’ diverse production methods will greatly enhance their product offerings while reducing production costs by saving production time and dramatically reducing waste.
By-product Utilization
Utilizing by-products from the mining and forestry industries in advanced manufacturing
Applied research in recycling plastics for large format 3D printing and other manufacturing processes.
Transfer of designs, prototypes and knowledge gained goes directly to contributing industry partners.
Development of Engineering Grade Biodegradable Plastics
Advanced BioCarbon 3D, a Rossland-based company, is en route to producing high quality, engineering grade plastics made from wood by-products. The result will be a truly biodegradable product that could revolutionize and clean up the plastics industry through its diverse applications, while simultaneously providing the forest industry with a market for waste wood.
Researchers at Selkirk College’s department of Applied Research and Innovation Department are lending a hand through materials testing and optimization of the company’s manufacturing process.
This project was recently featured on 3dprintingindustry.com
Rapid Prototyping
Rapid prototyping utilizing advanced manufacturing provides a unique opportunity for industry, students and researchers to build and share knowledge
We are passionate about growing our industry relationships through small, rapid turn-around applied research projects. We conduct a wide variety of projects utilizing rapid prototyping, reverse engineering, digital fabrication, robotic automation and advanced manufacturing technologies. Students are given the opportunity to work directly with researchers and industry partners in applied research, and are provided with unique access to state-of-the-art equipment and technologies.
Featured Projects
Manufactured parts for Kalesnikoff Mass Timber
Kalesnikoff Mass Timber company was installing a new production line, and flying technicians in from Europe, and they required help manufacturing parts to build it in a short timeframe. Selkirk Innovates produced these parts locally and on time at the Selkirk Technology Access Centre, when it would usually be outsourced to Vancouver. We also taught student researchers on the machines and processes.
Custom prototypes for Ford trucks
During the COVID pandemic, AC Global Systems in Trail, worked with Selkirk Innovates to 3D scan the interior of a Ford truck to create a custom partition for their service vehicles. The Selkirk Technology Access Centre provided the prototypes and 3D prints, then did a small production run creating custom jigs and instructing student researchers on the processes. AC Global was able to patent the Safetivity systems adjustable for different trucks and golf carts and reduce the amount of fuel needed.