McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI)
Nearly every industry is experiencing technological disruption. In manufacturing, developing new tooling and processes to meet shifting demands allows our partners to stay ahead of the disruption curve, and we're proud to help them do it. Since 1999, we've been a strategic partner to industry, applying our world-class expertise and cutting-edge facilities to solving manufacturers’ challenges — honing processes to maximize productivity and quality while reducing cost and facilitating product innovation.
For prospective researchers excited about the future of manufacturing, the MMRI is a leading institute, spanning many manufacturing processes, where you can grow your experience and career in advanced manufacturing.
Work With Us
The McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI) is focused on finding solutions to the challenges faced by today’s manufacturing industry and optimizing every facet of the machining process.
Dr. Stephen Veldhuis, director for the MMRI’s 15,000-sq.-ft. facility, leads a core group of technical experts. Renowned faculty members from various disciplines combine their expertise to conduct applied research and educate both students and professionals.
By facilitating multi-sector relationships, we help the manufacturing sector grow, stimulating our region’s industrial community, increasing economic activity, and creating great jobs in the sector. MMRI is a key member of the Advanced Manufacturing Consortium, Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation (SONOMI), and Canada’s Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster.
Learn more about the MMRI
How does the MMRI help Ontario’s manufacturers? Institute Director, Stephen Veldhuis explains.
MMRI Outcomes
- Improved performance of manufacturing processes
- Increased technical expertise of students in manufacturing
- Opportunities for employees of industry partners to increase their knowledge and expertise
- Stronger cross-sector collaboration, connecting industry, government and the university
Steel company earns millions with ‘magic’ drill thanks to McMaster partnership
Prior to enlisting the R&D help of McMaster’s faculty and student engineers, vRSC’s $50 carbide drills would last for roughly 500 drilled holes before breaking. By project’s end, that number rose to a staggering 10,000 holes drilled per tool, says a happy Andy Skrepnek, vRSC’s Director of Innovation.
Our laboratories
The McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute consists of seven research labs. Each lab specializes in a unique branch of manufacturing.
The MSL studies advanced machine tools and metal cutting. Research projects are strongly linked to industrial R&D of interest to manufacturing industries involved in machining. A major focus of the MSL is increasing efficiency and lifecycle of machine tools.
The MFL is engaged in scientific and applied research on many aspects of sheet metal forming to further our understanding of material and process factors that allow or inhibit sheet materials to be formed into manufactured components.
How can we manufacture very small components better? The MML is involved in a wide range of research that seeks to answer that question. Using our advanced equipment and instrumentation we investigate this with very high precision.
The CAPPA-D is involved in research, education and technology transfer in polymer processing and rheology. Projects involve formulation, conversion, and characterization of plastics, mathematical modeling of single and twin screw extrusion, co-extrusion, injection moulding, thermoforming, rotational moulding, film blowing, reactive extrusion, mixing, and coating.
The Robotics and Manufacturing Automation Laboratory is an extensively equipped research facility. With laboratory features including four industrial robots with custom robotic hands and grippers and a variety of sensors and actuators for building prototype robotic systems.
The Thermal Processing Laboratory has the expertise and facilities to investigate approaches to thermal processing and offer R&D facilities and technology to the thermal processing industry. The lab is committed to developing and investigating the best solutions for Canadian industry, and assist industrial partners to solve immediate problems and help develop long-term R&D strategies.
Our current work is focused on manufacturing and testing of advanced materials and devices using electrochemical techniques. We have developed a State-Of-The-Art electrochemical and nanomaterials processing facility using funding from CFI/OIT grant “Electrochemical Science and Engineering Center” and other grants. Our projects are focused on electrodeposition of metals, alloys, polymers, quantum dots, oxides, hydroxides, carbon nanotubes, graphene, semiconductors, composites and other functional materials, manufacturing and testing of electrochemical energy storage and generation devices and corrosion studies.
Events
The 2018 forum has passed and we're planning for 2019
Our next McMaster Manufacturing Forum and Industry Open House will be hosted in Spring 2019. Have a look at highlights from this year’s Manufacturing Forum, hosted May 9, 2018.
With over 300 industry representatives, researchers and students in attendance, keynote speakers, Jayson Myers, CEO of Next Generation Manufacturing Canada, and Don McIntosh, Senior Fellow of Manufacturing Technology, Pratt and Whitney, shared their insights on the future of manufacturing in Canada.
“The Supercluster doesn’t begin and end in a local area,” Myers said. “What we’re really trying to do is leverage as much of the research and development; the knowledge and the technology assets that we have in this region for the benefit of manufacturers and the benefit of the Canadian economy as a whole.”
See highlights from 2018
2018 Manufacturing Forum and Open House
The Faculty of Engineering and the McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI) at McMaster University invite to attend the McMaster Manufacturing Forum and Industry Open House on Wednesday, May 9, 2018.
8:00-9:00 Registration (Light Continental Breakfast) - MDCL
9:00-9:05 Official McMaster Welcome - MDCL 1305/1307
Ishwar Puri, Dean Faculty of Engineering, Master of Ceremony
9:05-9:15 Introduction
Morning Keynotes - MDCL 1305/1307
9:15-9:35 Jayson Myers, CEO, Next Generation Manufacturing Canada
- Introduction to NGM Canada, its role in the AMS and its current plans
9:35-10:15 Don McIntosh, Senior Fellow of Manufacturing Technology, Pratt and Whitney Canada
- Industry 4.0 - Experiences from the Shop Floor
10:15-10:35 Networking Break
Expert Panels - MDCL 1305/1307
10:35-11:30 Expert Panel I – Innovation – Transitioning Ideas into Production in a Globally Competitive Market
Moderator: Irene Sterian, CTO, NGM Canada and Director, ReMAP
Panelists: Tony Valeri, VP Corporate Affairs, Dofasco
Patricia Hawkins, Strategic Partnerships & Innovation Services, Xerox Res. Centre of Canada
Yusuf Altintas, Professor, NSERC-CANRIMT Network PI, UBC
11:40-12:30 Expert Panel II – Collaboration- Drawing together Canada’s Innovation Resources
Moderator: David Muir, Director, Research and Development, NRC-London
Panelists: Michele Davies, Director, Partnership Development, OCE
Mo Elbestawi, Professor and Director (W Booth SEPT), McMaster
12:30-12:35 Stephen Veldhuis, Professor and Director (MMRI)
- Instructions for the Industry Open House which follows
12:35-1:30 Networking luncheon (Walk or bus to events)
1:00-5:00 6th Annual Industry Open House and Main Poster Session -JHE, Hatch Building, and MARC
MMRI, HATCH, CCEM, MARC, BTech, W Booth School, CanmetMATERIALS, BEAM, CANS + more
For more details, please see our Manufacturing Forum and Open House Website at https://www.eng.mcmaster.ca/mmri-manufacturing-forum-and-industry-open-h...
McMaster Manufacturing Forum, April 6, 2017
Overview
Keynote Address
Panel Discussion
Presentation Slides
Keynote
Expert Panel moderated by Dennis Darby, President & CEO of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters
- Roger Hallett, Festo: Industy 4.0 - The Future of Manufacturing Begins Today
- Daniel Madrea, DMG Mori: Industry 4.0 - Path of Digitalization
- Joris Myny, Siemens: Driving the Digital Enterprise
- Rick Huibregts, Cisco: Re-defining Manufacturing in the Age of Digital Disruption
Our Focus
The MMRI's focus is to develop intelligent solutions to issues faced by Canada's manufacturers in all steps of machining processes. Contact the MMRI today to learn how we can work together to improve quality, productivity and cost in your manufacturing processes.
Industry collaboration is at the core of our research efforts. We can engage in short-term to multi-year technology transfer projects with our industry partners.
Government sponsored programs are available to facilitate University-Industry relationships through Ontario Centres for Excellence (OCE), National Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and other programs. These groups offer grants to offset the cost of collaborative projects.
If you are interested in working with MMRI, please contact us at:
L8S 4L7
We offer Technology Transfer Opportunities for:
- Tooling Selection
- Tool Path Development
- Process Monitoring
- Process Parameters
Tooling Selection
The MMRI can help you choose the correct tool for your process.
Tool Path Development
Improve your cycle times and push your machines to their full capability by utilizing the process simulation and optimization software: MACHpro.
Process Parameters
We can tune your process parameters, such as feeds and speeds, to optimize your production.
Process Monitoring
With use of our software, MMRI-Monitoring, you are able to track process production and production issues.
Technology Transfer
We have extensive experience in machining process optimization and improvement.
Services
Study with Us
The MMRI is one of the largest university-based manufacturing research institutes in Canada, supporting the education and training as well as the academic and applied research needs of the manufacturing sector. McMaster’s education programs span many manufacturing processes and target developing a deeper understanding of core processes by understanding the physics and mechanics which underlie them. The institute’s core focus is on enhancing productivity, quality, timeliness and product/process innovation of the manufacturing sector while helping companies reduce cost.
Those studying and working at the MMRI gain hands-on experience with some of the main manufacturing processes that make many of the products you use every day. As part of the research activity in the MMRI, you would be involved in setting up detailed manufacturing process studies, measure aspects of performance using a wide range of sensors, custom instruments, such as a tribometer and a nanotest system, and optical / electron microscopy methods to learn about processes and to make detailed comparisons of process performance.
The MMRI is very experimentally focused using data to develop detailed process models or to develop databases which summarize results. A key aspect of our operations is that everyone gets involved with industry projects and is trained to perform their own research on our industry scale equipment. This makes for a rich learning environment but requires hands on problem solving skills, safe working practice, precision when working around equipment and a passion for excellence.
To apply for a position at the MMRI please read the following instructions carefully:
Send an email to mmri-hr@mcmaster.ca that includes all of the information contained in the following sections. It is important that you look through each section in detail so that you don't miss anything.
Begin by using one of the following Subject lines to specify your interests:
- Staff
- Post Doc
- Sabbatical
- PhD Student
- MASc Student
- Intern (Co-op or Summer student)
In the body of your email please provide the following information using the format provided:
Program of Interest (subject line) and area of interest:
Funding status (Student with your own scholarship or require support):
Proposed Start Date:
Education: (in reverse chronological order)
Most recently completed degree
Program (Degree):
University:
Grade (example 3.8/4 or 8.9/10 etc.):
Class position (example 1st in class or top 5%):
List Research Projects and Hands on Experiences:
Extracurricular activities:
First degree completed
Program (Degree):
University:
Grade:
Class position:
List Research Projects and Hands on Experiences:
Extracurricular activities:
If you are from a non-English speaking country:
IELTS Score or TOEFL Score
Most recently completed job
Company:
Position:
Responsibilities (point form):
First job
Company:
Position:
Responsibilities (point form):
Summarize main research interests and related experiences in point form:
List of publications in reverse chronological order
Summary of other major contributions (Patents)
Highlights of interests and personal experiences
How did you hear about the MMRI?
3 References with contact details (Name, Position, Employer, Phone, E-mail)
Please attach supporting documentation such as your cover letter, your CV, research statement and informal grade summary to your email. This is an informal stage in the review process so the documentation does not need to be official until we invite you to submit a full formal application.
Contact Us
Stephen C. Veldhuis
MMRI Director & Machining Systems & Micro Manufacturing Laboratories (MSL & MML)
MMRI Administrator
Jennifer Anderson
MMRI Administrator - JHE 310Machining Systems Laboratory
| Program Manager | Project Manager | Research Engineer | Machining Team Leader | |||||||
| Simon Oomen-Hurst | Steve Remilli | Brady Semple | Terry Wagg | |||||||
| Office: | JHE 109A | Office: | JHE 109A | Office: | JHE 109A | Office: | JHE 109A | |||
| E-mail: | oomenhs@mcmaster.ca | E-mail: | remills@mcmaster.ca | E-mail: | semplebg@mcmaster.ca | E-mail: | waggt@mcmaster.ca | |||
| Phone: | 905-525-9140 x 27800 | Phone: | 905-525-9140 x 27800 | Phone: | 905-525-9140 x 27800 | Phone: | 905-525-9140 x 27800 | |||