(London, Ontario) Fanshawe College’s ability to assist industry with applied research, design, development and product testing received a boost today due to four new equipment grants from the federal government.
The College has been awarded $333,209 to purchase a solar simulator; a 3D scanner; and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), acoustical (noise) and vibration measuring equipment. The equipment will be used for current and future innovation projects with companies in the region.
“We’re excited about receiving this grant as it will allow us to purchase new equipment and give us greater capacity to support companies. Many of these businesses are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that come to Fanshawe for assistance with research and development and product validation,” said Jennifer Cade, Fanshawe’s Manager of Industry Liaison. She added the equipment supports Fanshawe’s new Centre for Sustainable Energy & Environments (CSEE) and will be used for some CSEE projects.
CSEE is an applied research centre of expertise that focuses on renewable energy technologies, green manufacturing and sustainable buildings/infrastructure. Funded in late 2009 by a five-year College & Community Innovation Program (CCI) grant, CSEE is engaged in multiple projects with industry including renewable energy management, solar panels and arrays, solar-powered small utility vehicles, solar shading, wind turbines, construction and sustainable building design. This latest funding comes from CCI’s Applied Research Tools & Instruments (ARTI) program. CCI programs are administered by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC).
Fanshawe’s current CSEE projects align with city and regional economic development goals to establish the area as a centre for green technologies and advanced manufacturing.
The new equipment has a wide range of uses and should arrive at the College over the next few months.
Solar simulator
- measures the efficiency and electrical output of solar panels, replicates sunlight and can be adjusted to simulate different weather conditions, e.g., cloudy or snowy days
- provides increased capacity for projects involving design, manufacture and integration of solar panels and solar cells
3D scanner
- scans inorganic objects, using laser light, in order to collect precise measurements and render the objects in 3D
- used in prototype design and as quality control tool to ensure prototypes meet design specifications
- can more rapidly scan and produce 3D renderings of objects than possible using conventional methods
- useful to product manufacturers requiring precise engineering and strict quality control
EMC equipment
- electromagnetic emissions can interfere with devices such as cell phones, emergency communications and medical equipment
- EMC equipment will help develop prototypes that won’t interfere with other signals and devices
- equipment is of interest to makers of vehicles, consumer and medical electronics, communications devices and related products
Acoustic (noise) and vibration measurement equipment
- provides the capacity to test structures, such as wind turbines, for levels of both noise and vibration
- can be used to test many different types of freestanding and fixed machines, e.g., a wind turbine mounted on a building, where noise and stability of the equipment are major design considerations
Media Contacts:
Jennifer Cade, Manager, Industry Liaison
Centre for Applied Research, Innovation & University Partnerships (ARIUP)
Email: jcade@fanshawec.ca
Tel: 519.452.4430 ext. 4121
