About
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.
MMRI – 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 21,000 -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 (SONAMI), and Canada’s Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster.
MMRI News
McMaster Receives $1.3 Million to Support Job Seekers in the Automotive and Manufacturing Sectors Read More
The MMRI Industrial Training Program, through Ontario RapidSkills, will be receiving $300,000 to help under- and unemployed workers with previous automotive and manufacturing training and experience. Workers will get the chance to adapt to new technologies and gain new skills in processes, materials, and industry 4.0.
McMaster Engineering to receive $1.425M from SONAMI Learn More
The Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation (SONAMI) combines the resources and expertise of its members and matches them to the needs of smaller manufacturers.
McMaster researchers boost business of Ontario manufacturers Learn More
“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”
-Andy Skrepnek, vRSC’s Director of Innovation.
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
Proud Member of OAMC: The Ontario Advanced Manufacturing Consortium
The partnership between the Advanced Manufacturing Consortium and our research facility is helping to create and build industry adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies. This partnership will create jobs and strengthen the province’s reputation as a leading manufacturing region. The partnership includes; McMaster University, University of Waterloo, and Western University.
If you would like to learn more about OAMC please look at their website:
MMRI – Events
MMRI – Events
Upcoming Events
The MMRI currently has no upcoming events, keep checking our webpage or stay tuned on our socials to hear about any upcoming events.
MMRI Summer Speaker Series
-Past Talks-
MMRI Speaker Series: Laser Manufacturing Research Presentation
On June 15th, 2023, the McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI) welcomed Dr. Eyal Shekel from Civan Lasers to give a presentation on advancements in laser manufacturing. The focus of this presentation was on heat treatment, laser welding, and additive manufacturing applications. Dr. Shekel is the founder and CEO of Civan Advanced Technologies, a Jerusalem-based company in the field of high-power lasers, based on Coherent Beam Combining (CBC). Civan’s product line includes Dynamic Beam, Single Mode (SM) lasers with CW power ranging from 10 watts to over 100 kilowatts.
Both industry professionals and McMaster University staff and students joined us for a day filled with learning and networking.
The MMRI thanks both Civan Lasers and Dr. Shekel for coming to speak at the MMRIs facilities.
MMRI Speaker Series: Prof. Emeritus Braham Prakash, from Luleå University of Technology
On June 9th, 2023, The McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI) hosted the first installment of our Summer Speaker Series with Prof. Emeritus Braham Prakash, from Luleå University of Technology. Prof. Prakash gave a presentation on tribological advancements, focusing on hot sheet metal forming, the effects of temperature on friction and wear phenomena, high-temperature simulative test methods, and the evaluation methodologies for controlling friction and wear at high- temperatures.
Both industry professionals and McMaster University staff and students joined us for a day filled with learning and networking.
The MMRI thanks both Luleå University and Prof. Emeritus Braham Prakash for coming to speak at the MMRI.
Are you interested in giving a presentation at the MMRI this summer?
The McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI) is always looking to welcome industry experts to visit our facilities and give presentations on current manufacturing topics. If you are interested in giving a presentation, please contact our Director, Dr. Stephen Veldhuis at veldhu@mcmaster.ca.
Looking to attend one of our guest speakers’ presentations?
Follow us on our social media channels (LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mcmaster-manufacturing-research-institute/, Instagram @mmri.mcmaster) and keep checking our website for any updates on our next installment of our summer speaker series.
Highlights from the 8th Annual Manufacturing Forum
The McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute welcomed over 350 industry experts, researchers, students, and vendors to our eighth annual Open House and Industry Forum, which took place on Thursday, May 11, 2023. The event was a resounding success, thanks to our keynote speaker, panelists, sponsors, staff, students, and attendees.
The event’s keynote speaker, Tony Schmitz, is a leading expert in manufacturing who addressed the topic of manufacturing in a digital world during his keynote presentation. During his keynote speech, he shared valuable insights on the various tools available to access and measure vibrations within specific machines and how digital tools can be used to find ideal machining parameters. Schmitz is renowned for his research in the field of manufacturing, particularly in areas such as machining dynamics, machine learning, and additive manufacturing. He is dedicated to supporting the US machine tool industry, and his work continues to optimize manufacturing processes.
The day continued with the panel section of the forum, focusing on topics such as the 5G mmWave private network, discussed by panelist David Wale, Director at Terago; Machining, Automation, and AI, discussed by panelist Alexander Berger, President and CEO of A. Berger Precision Ltd; Robotics, discussed by panelist Kevork Sevadjian, CEO and Co-Founder at Gastronomous; AI, discussed by panelist Maryam Emami, CEO at AI Materia Inc; and finally, Training and Upskilling, discussed by panelist Medora Uppal, CEO at the YWCA Hamilton. To thank our panelists, the MMRI made a donation in each of the event speakers’ names to McMaster Venture Camp.
Presentations From Our Guest Speakers
Here are the speakers’ slides from the 2023 Manufacturing Forum:
- Keynote- Tony Schmitz: Machining is more than geometry
- David Wale- 5G mmWave private network
- Alexander Berger- Machining, Automation and Ai
- Kevork Sevadijian- Robotics
- Maryam Emami- AI Materia
- Medora Uppal- Training and Upskilling
Our Sponsors
From our 8th Annual Industry Forum and Open House








Highlights from the 7th Annual Manufacturing Forum
What happens when you bring a group of industry leaders passionate about manufacturing into one room? For some, it becomes one of the highlights of the year.
The seventh annual forum and open house on Thursday, May 2, 2019 was a success with over 250 industry representatives, researchers and students in attendance.
The keynote speakers Cameron Schuler, Irene Sterian, and Jayson Myers delivered engaging and impactful presentations centred around Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Manufacturing.
John Preston, associate dean, Research and External Relations for McMaster Engineering, reflected on this year’s open house saying;
“The MMRI Open House is one of the highlights of the year. It brings hundreds of people from industry to McMaster and is a great chance for us to introduce ourselves, what we can do and what industries’ problems are and celebrate past successes”
Presentations From Our Guest Speakers
Here are the speakers’ slides from the 2019 Manufacturing Forum:
- Cameron Schuler Introduction to AI
- Pieter Jan Provoost The way to Factory of the Future 4.0
- Gina Succi Creative to the Core
- Evert Nieboer Artifical Intelligence at ArcelorMittal Dofasco GP
- Shalabh Bakshi Driving the Digital Enterprise
- Simon Drexler ATS
Recap of the 2018 McMaster Manufacturing Forum and Industry Open House
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.”
McMaster Manufacturing Forum, April 6, 2017
Presentation Slides
Keynote
Expert Panel moderated by Dennis Darby, President & CEO of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters
- Roger Hallett, Festo: Industry 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
Virtual Testing Forum Webinars
The Material Property Assessment Lab (MPAL) of McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI) offers cutting edge technologies to support advanced materials research. Our partner Anton Paar is hosting a webinar which focuses on some of these technologies that allow for the determination of many key engineering parameters. The following two webinars can be used to make up one elective course for the Advanced Manufacturing Materials stream of the MMRI Industrial Training Program. Both webinars must be attended for credit.
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Advanced Creep Tests: Get to know ZwickRoell's Sophisticated Test Equipment (General 8.2)
What we covered:
- Why advanced creep testing is used and what the requirements are
- Why temperature measurement and control are crucial
- What the main components of a sophisticated creep testing system are
- How a typical advanced creep testing system is set up
Speaker: Dr. Thomas Leitgeb-Simandl, Sales and Project Engineer, Zwick Roell
High-Temperature Testing: High-temperature Tensile Testing of Metallic Materials according to ISO 6892-2 incl. Strain Rate Control (General 11.2)
What we covered:
- Why temperature and strain rate control is important for high-temperature tensile tests on metallic materials to ISO 6892-2
- How ZwickRoell’s high-temperature testing systems meet these requirements
Speaker: Dr. Thomas Leitgeb-Simandl, Sales and Project Engineer, Zwick Roell
Microcomposite Materials: Measuring Mechanical Properties and Surface Topography for Improved Product Performance
The Material Property Assessment Lab (MPAL) of McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI) offers cutting-edge technologies to support advanced materials research. Our partner Anton Paar hosted a webinar that focused on some of these technologies that allow for the determination of many key engineering parameters.
This presentation focused on:
- Cutting-edge technologies that allow for the determination of many key engineering parameters within not only bulk materials, but also finely divided composites
- Discussing methods that included instrumented indentation, dynamic mechanical analysis, nanoscratch, and tribology, as well as electronic, magnetic and surface probing via atomic force microscopy
Speaker: Dr. Dan Hudgins, Lead Scientist, Surface Characterization, Anton Paar USA
Composites Webinar Series
The A to Z of Materials Testing in the Composites Industry
A four-part series sponsored by ZwickRoell and McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute
What we covered:
- Further mechanical test methods often performed for composites, including interlaminar fracture toughness, compression-after-impact (CAI), open- and filled-hole tension and compression and bolt-bearing
- Testing at different time durations, from creep to high strain rate, and different methods for compression testing of composites, including applicable test standards, test fixtures, test validation criteria and failure modes
- The importance of accurate strain measurement and the different requirements for strain measurement dictated by the basic in-plane composite test methods (tension, compression and shear)
Presenters: Dr. Hannes Körber, ZwickRoell Industry Manager for Composites and Dr. Mehdi Dargahi, Regional Sales Manager
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Composites Webinar Series Part 1: An Introduction to Composites Testing
What we covered:
- The basics of composites and composites testing
- The basic test methods that enable quality assurance and design of composite structures
- How the ZwickRoell portfolio of static test machines is supported with required equipment, e.g. strain measuring, temperature chambers, or alignment
Composites Webinar Series Part 2: Advanced Testing Methods for Composites
What we covered:
- Introducing further mechanical test methods often performed for composites (including interlaminar fracture toughness, compression-after-impact (CAI), open- and filled-hole tension and compression and bolt-bearing)
- Brief overview of our portfolio for testing at different time durations, from creep to high strain rate
- Solutions for automatic testing of composites
Presenters: Dr. Hannes Körber, ZwickRoell Industry Manager for Composites with Dr. Mehdi Dargahi, Regional Sales Manager)
Composites Webinar Series Part 3: Compression Testing of Composites
What we covered:
- The different methods for compression testing of composites, including applicable test standards, test fixtures, test validation criteria and failure modes
- How to simplify compression testing and increase the number of valid tests using our Hydraulic Composites Compression Fixture (HCCF)
Presenters: Dr. Hannes Körber, ZwickRoell Industry Manager for Composites with Dr. Mehdi Dargahi, Regional Sales Manager
Composites Webinar Series Part 4: Strain Measurement Solutions for Composites
What we covered:
- The importance of accurate strain measurement and the different requirements for strain measurement dictated by the basic in-plane composite test methods (tension, compression and shear)
- A comprehensive overview of the ZwickRoell portfolio for strain and deflection measurement
Presenters: Dr. Hannes Körber, ZwickRoell Industry Manager for Composites with Dr. Mehdi Dargahi, Regional Sales Manager
A practical workshop on Cutting Tools for High Performance Machining Operations
The first in our series of High Performance Machining Operations workshops
November 21, 2019
Looking to leverage the latest science developments in your day to day machining operations to:
- Save costs in your operations
- Improve your first time quality
- Increase your productivity
- Find solutions for machining of difficult-to-cut materials
We are passionate about sharing our knowledge and experience through our “High Performance Machining Operations” workshop series.
The cornerstone of all high quality cutting processes, Cutting Tools are extremely important to quality, cost and productivity. Join us at our upcoming workshop on Cutting Tools to learn how to choose the right tool and maximize the use of it by learning the fundamentals of:
Choosing the best geometry to:
- Prevent tool damage
- Achieve the highest surface quality
- Perform at highest productivity
- Better manage chips/swarf
Reducing tool wear by :
- Understanding wear mechanisms
- Learning how to measure tool wear
- Finding the root causes
- Learning preventative actions
Learning about different classes of tool materials/coatings:
- Performance
- Properties
- Limitations
- Characterization
Organizer and Instructor
Maryam Aramesh
Professional Education Development Manager at the McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute
Maryam obtained her Ph.D. from Polytechnique Montreal in Mechanical Engineering-Manufacturing. She has taught “Manufacturing processes-Metal removal” for undergraduate students as a sessional faculty member at McMaster University. She has been at the MMRI since 2015, working on several academic and industrial projects related to machining processes.
Guest Lecturer
Jose Mario Paiva
Academic Research Manager at the McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute
Jose holds a PhD from PUC-PR in Mechanical Engineering. He has been with the MMRI from 2017, assisting students with their research and industrial projects.
Atomic Force Microscopy Seminar
MMRI – 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.
Expandable List
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
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Tooling
We combine our experience with state-of-the-art equipment to meet the sophisticated research and development needs of leading manufacturers.
The focus of this research group has been to develop intelligent solutions to issues faced by manufacturers in all steps of the machining process.

Tooling Selection
The MMRI can help you choose the correct tool for your process.
Tooling Selection
We use your material, process and tooling information to identify tool geometries, edge prepping and advanced tool coating which will significantly extend tool life and performance.
Our evaluation not only helps save tooling costs, it increases tool productivity and part quality. You will no longer have to “babysit” your processes thanks to the reduction of scrap rates.

Tool Path Development
Improve your cycle times and push your machines to their full capability by utilizing the process simulation and optimization software: MACHpro.
Tool Path Development
MACHpro is the most advanced software of its kind in the market. With the ability to simulate your process in 5-axis and to automatically update your NC program, this software will help you to fully maximize your machines and tooling.

Process Parameters
We can tune your process parameters, such as feeds and speeds, to optimize your production.
Process Parameters
We use CUTPRO, a software developed by Manufacturing Automation Laboratories at the University of British Columbia, to intelligently identify optimal feeds. Our processing can improve your tool life, productivity, surface finishing and greatly impact your efficiency.

Process Monitoring
With use of our software, MMRI-Monitoring, you are able to track process production and production issues.
Process Monitoring
Our software is able to back your enhancement decision with detailed process data. It will alert you of production issues in real time, reduce variance and hold tighter tolerance on key dimensions.

Technology Transfer
We have extensive experience in machining process optimization and improvement.
Technology Transfer
With our help we can improve part quality and productivity while lowering your costs. We have partnered with the Manufacturing Automation Laboratories at the University of British Columbia to be able to offer expertise and solutions to a wide range of machining challenges.
MMRI – Our Laboratories
The McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute consists of seven research labs. Each lab specializes in a unique branch of manufacturing.
Expandable List
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 RMAL is an extensively equipped research facility featuring collaborative robot arms, vision-guided robots, machine learning applications in robotics, machine vision systems, PC based open-architecture control systems, custom robotic hands and grippers, and a large selection 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.
There’s a common saying “use the right tools for the job.” Do you ever hear use the right materials? Whenever we’re developing new products or performing failure analysis we need to understand the suitability of a chosen material and asses how it behaves under various conditions.
MPAL specializes in assessing these properties and behaviours by working very closely with industry and academia to select application-specific standard solutions to assessing materials. We also develop brand-new testing methods where established standards fall short of our partner’s needs.
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.
MMRI – Services
MMRI – Training Program
The McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI) at McMaster University is now offering a problem-based educational program in the area of advanced manufacturing. With more than 20 years of experience in teaching, research, and industrial activities, the MMRI is uniquely positioned to provide quality, industry-informed training that uses all of its resources, including facilities, industry scale equipment, and experts in the field.
MMRI – Our Success Stories
We invite you to read about the MMRI’s past industry projects and see how we have found solutions to difficult real-world problems faced by Ontario manufacturers. Here are a few examples of the companies who have come to us with their advanced manufacturing problems and how we have helped to solve them.


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Collaborative R&D Project Boosts Tooling Life and Sales for Manufacturing Startup Read More
The McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI) played a focal role in a collaborative research project that significantly contributed to the success of a manufacturing startup. With their expertise and innovative solutions, the MMRI was instrumental in aiding the project to extend tooling life by evaluating tool coatings. Through their partnership with Press Lock Technologies and SONAMI, the critical manufacturing challenges were resolved, leading to remarkable outcomes and establishing the MMRI, Press Lock Technologies and SONAMI as key catalysts for innovation in the industry.
The MMRI would like to express its gratitude to Press Lock Technologies for inviting us to be part of an incredible project. Their collaboration with us is highly valued. We would also like to thank SONAMI for their continuous support, partnership, and innovative solutions.
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Honda of Canada Manufacturing
Partner: Honda of Canada Mfg. (HCM) has collaborated with the MMRI on over 90 projects since 2014 with support from Ontario’s Advanced Manufacturing Consortium (AMC) and NSERC’s CANRIMT Strategic network grant.
Challenge: One of HCM’s highest cost processes in the engine plant is machining the extremely precise bores that the engine’s crank shaft runs in. Precision of these bores directly influences engine efficiency and longevity. Honda’s latest engine design changed these features in an effort to improve efficiency. However, these new changes resulted in a significant reduction in tool life due to the very unique challenges in bi-metal machining (a single tool cutting both aluminum and cast iron at once). As a highly specialized process, very little support was available to address this issue internally and from HCM’s suppliers.
Solution: The MMRI team worked closely with HCM. Extensive analysis of HCM’s process and tools was completed by replicating HCM’s process in the MMRI lab. The MMRI identified several short-term solutions to improve tool life and a novel tooling solution to extract more life from each tool (with the idea now patented and implemented in HCM production), while also establishing long-term research initiatives to further improve cost, productivity and quality in this process in the future.
Impact: To date, two of the recommendations from the MMRI that represent a significant cost reduction in tooling alone, have resulted in rapid adoption at HCM and have also been implemented at Honda plants across North America. Additional savings are realized indirectly through reduced downtime, reduced scrap due to out-of-tolerance parts, and reduced personnel time in monitoring the process.
Testimonial: “I have been working with the MMRI since 2014, and our relationship has become very comfortable and seamless. We have been able to bounce ideas off each other to bring to test and success both in the MMRI facility and at Honda. The engine’s crank bore project has been the most successful, receiving a patent for the machining process, and without McMaster’s development of rapid testing to avoid disruption of production, it would not have been possible to get proof of concept to the machining floor quickly. The solution from this project was applied to most Honda facilities worldwide, with the same machining processing, and it was presented at all the Honda conferences. The greatest success of this project was being told by the engineer that developed this equipment, ‘they had never thought of machining it this way’. I look forward to continuing our relationship with McMaster and the MMRI team.” – Joe Zarb, Tooling Specialist –Powertrain Division, Honda of Canada Mfg.

BioHex Dental Implant Testing Machine
Partner: Biomedical Implant Technology Inc.
Challenge: The client developed a new style of dental implant called the BioHex Dental Implant. It is their hope that their dental implant can replace the industry standard, but it requires testing to determine its viability and usable life.
Solution: The MMRI team designed and developed a desktop machine capable of mimicking years of chewing in a controlled fashion. The machine can be run for hours or millions of chewing cycles and the dental implants can be easily monitored.
Impact: Testing is still ongoing. The economic impact will not be known until the end of 2019.
Testimonial: “I would like to congratulate you and your team at McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute for the engineering design of the testing apparatus specific for our application in Implant Dentistry. The chewing machine, the load cell and software are simple and robust. The applied load was adjustable and constant throughout the testing period. The design of the position measuring device is simple, accurate and reproducible. The data obtained was reliable and the conclusions drawn would be meaningful. Thanks again for meeting and exceeding our requirements.”
– Dr. Kwan, CEO of Biomedical Implant Technology Inc.

Whitebird Faceshields
Partner: Whitebird is a Hamilton-based distributor and manufacturer of corrugated solutions, packaging, sanitation, and safety supplies.
Challenge: When COVID19 hit, the MMRI recognised the immediate need for more PPE manufacturing. We reached out to Whitebird, and within two days they had responded that they wanted to team up to manufacture PPE. We spent the next two weeks establishing a supply chain, setting up production, and clearing regulatory hurdles.
Solution: The MMRI and Whitebird went from an idea to mass production in less than 3 weeks. We had estimated that we could make 1000-2000 shields per day; on our first day we made 2,800 shields. On our third day we made almost 5,000.
Impact: Currently, Whitebird is producing over 65,000 shields per day. Whitebird is now producing the PPE at several assembly areas in the GTA. The MMRI and Whitebird continue to rise to the needs of the public and those fighting COVID19.
Testimonial: “The MMRI has been an amazing partner and without their help, we would never be producing the number of face masks we have been able to achieve. Working with large organizations can often prove to be very bureaucratic and cumbersome, however our experience with McMaster’s MMRI team has been anything but that. They have been quick to respond, and Simon has felt more like a Whitebird team member than an outside consultant. We look forward working with the MMRI in the future on other exciting projects.” – William Heikoop (Vice President of Whitebird)

ImaginAble Guided Hands
Partner: ImaginAble Solutions is a biomedical engineering company that specializes in creating assistive devices for people living with accessibility issues. Their mission is to help people achieve a fulfilling and independent lifestyle by removing physical barriers.
Challenge: Guided Hands™ was designed to help people living with limited hand mobility caused by Dystonia, ALS, Huntington’s disease, or arthritis, as well as those recovering from spinal cord injuries and strokes, among other conditions. For these individuals, the ability to write, paint, draw, or use a tablet/computer is essential to their independence. Guided Hands™ increases self-esteem, creates opportunity, and allows the user to do what they love.
Solution: ImaginAble Solutions’ research and development began at the MMRI. Multiple prototypes were designed and manufactured and then tested with patients at local hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation clinics. The feedback was presented to engineers at the MMRI and used to redesign and manufacture the next prototype.
Impact: By partnering with the MMRI, ImaginAble Solutions has minimized research and development costs and manufacturing costs and has received excellent design and manufacturing advice for Guided Hands™. They have successfully invented Guided Hands™ and are commercializing their product with the continued help of the MMRI as they launch their first round of sales.
Testimonial: “I was elated that I finally had a device that would allow me to paint with ease, a hobby I had given up due to shaking and posturing of my dominant hand. Guided Hands™ has given me the freedom to do the things I loved – from painting to playing games on my iPad.” – Elissa, student with Dystonia

OS&B Hospital Drain Pipe Design
Partner: Oakville Stamping & Bending is a leading Manufacturer and Distributor of Plumbing Products
Challenge: Ontario hospitals were looking for anti-microbial solutions to prevent the spread of bacteria from room to room through plumbing fixtures. The partner required support in “design for manufacturability” of a new “p-trap” design made from exotic anti-microbial material.
Solution: The MMRI performed an iterative design exercise and created a final prototype for collaborative testing with OS&B. A year-long research testing is being done within seven GTA hospitals on this product.
Impact: All parts are fabricated in Ontario, which means this design is bringing more work to Canadian machining and casting subcontractors. MMRI’s functionality improvements have meant positive projections for the economic future of OS&B.
Testimonial: “As it turns out, their research team ended up helping me develop an even more efficient detaching method from my original design. I don’t know what I would have done without McMaster,”
– Chris McLeod (R&D product designer for OS&B).

NORLOK Hand-Held Clinching
Partner: NORLOK Technology Inc. is a trusted leader and innovator in sheet metal fastening, setting the standards in clinching technology.
Challenge: NORLOK asked the MMRI to provide a hand-held clinching device using pneumatic actuators. Clinching, also known as press joining, is a high-speed, mechanical fastening technique for point joining of sheet metal components. Clinching requires no consumables or pre-drilled holes and is performed in a single step, making it a clean, inexpensive and simple technique.
Solution: By partnering with the MMRI, NORLOK was able to access extensive R&D resources to punch above their weight in developing a new product and access a new market.
Impact: By partnering with the MMRI, NORLOK was able to reduce the research and development demands on their internal resources. This new development represents a niche market that NORLOK can now access. The potential sales from this new market segment are estimated at $150,000 to $200,000.

Voestalpine Improving Tool Life
Partner: Voestalpine is an international steel-based technology and capital goods group. It is the leading supplier of tubular components and assemblies for automotive occupant restraint.
Challenge: Voestalpine wanted to develop the world’s best process for producing ultra-high-volume components in Ontario.
Solution: The MMRI helped the local manufacturing facility with extensive forming experience to expand to machining. When this project is complete, it will be the world’s most competitive process for producing these parts.
Impact: Before the MMRI’s contribution, vRSC’s $50 carbide drills would last for roughly 500 drilled holes before breaking, but by the project’s end, that number rose to 10,000 holes drilled per tool. This innovation has brought in millions of dollars in new business and has meant adding five more automated production lines to vRSC’s Burlington facility. This drilling technology is now being adopted around the world.
Testimonial: “It’s a tremendous success, and especially unheard of because we’re drilling on a round surface is very tough material. This would be impossible to do without McMaster. Without having their expertise involved, we wouldn’t be competitive.” – Andy Skrepnek, vRSC’s Director of Innovation.
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Honda of Canada Manufacturing
Partner: Honda of Canada Mfg. (HCM) has collaborated with the MMRI on over 90 projects since 2014 with support from Ontario’s Advanced Manufacturing Consortium (AMC) and NSERC’s CANRIMT Strategic network grant.
Challenge: One of HCM’s highest cost processes in the engine plant is machining the extremely precise bores that the engine’s crank shaft runs in. Precision of these bores directly influences engine efficiency and longevity. Honda’s latest engine design changed these features in an effort to improve efficiency. However, these new changes resulted in a significant reduction in tool life due to the very unique challenges in bi-metal machining (a single tool cutting both aluminum and cast iron at once). As a highly specialized process, very little support was available to address this issue internally and from HCM’s suppliers.
Solution: The MMRI team worked closely with HCM. Extensive analysis of HCM’s process and tools was completed by replicating HCM’s process in the MMRI lab. The MMRI identified several short-term solutions to improve tool life and a novel tooling solution to extract more life from each tool (with the idea now patented and implemented in HCM production), while also establishing long-term research initiatives to further improve cost, productivity and quality in this process in the future.
Impact: To date, two of the recommendations from the MMRI that represent a significant cost reduction in tooling alone, have resulted in rapid adoption at HCM and have also been implemented at Honda plants across North America. Additional savings are realized indirectly through reduced downtime, reduced scrap due to out-of-tolerance parts, and reduced personnel time in monitoring the process.
Testimonial: “I have been working with the MMRI since 2014, and our relationship has become very comfortable and seamless. We have been able to bounce ideas off each other to bring to test and success both in the MMRI facility and at Honda. The engine’s crank bore project has been the most successful, receiving a patent for the machining process, and without McMaster’s development of rapid testing to avoid disruption of production, it would not have been possible to get proof of concept to the machining floor quickly. The solution from this project was applied to most Honda facilities worldwide, with the same machining processing, and it was presented at all the Honda conferences. The greatest success of this project was being told by the engineer that developed this equipment, ‘they had never thought of machining it this way’. I look forward to continuing our relationship with McMaster and the MMRI team.” – Joe Zarb, Tooling Specialist –Powertrain Division, Honda of Canada Mfg.

BioHex Dental Implant Testing Machine
Partner: Biomedical Implant Technology Inc.
Challenge: The client developed a new style of dental implant called the BioHex Dental Implant. It is their hope that their dental implant can replace the industry standard, but it requires testing to determine its viability and usable life.
Solution: The MMRI team designed and developed a desktop machine capable of mimicking years of chewing in a controlled fashion. The machine can be run for hours or millions of chewing cycles and the dental implants can be easily monitored.
Impact: Testing is still ongoing. The economic impact will not be known until the end of 2019.
Testimonial: “I would like to congratulate you and your team at McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute for the engineering design of the testing apparatus specific for our application in Implant Dentistry. The chewing machine, the load cell and software are simple and robust. The applied load was adjustable and constant throughout the testing period. The design of the position measuring device is simple, accurate and reproducible. The data obtained was reliable and the conclusions drawn would be meaningful. Thanks again for meeting and exceeding our requirements.”
– Dr. Kwan, CEO of Biomedical Implant Technology Inc.

Whitebird Faceshields
Partner: Whitebird is a Hamilton-based distributor and manufacturer of corrugated solutions, packaging, sanitation, and safety supplies.
Challenge: When COVID19 hit, the MMRI recognised the immediate need for more PPE manufacturing. We reached out to Whitebird, and within two days they had responded that they wanted to team up to manufacture PPE. We spent the next two weeks establishing a supply chain, setting up production, and clearing regulatory hurdles.
Solution: The MMRI and Whitebird went from an idea to mass production in less than 3 weeks. We had estimated that we could make 1000-2000 shields per day; on our first day we made 2,800 shields. On our third day we made almost 5,000.
Impact: Currently, Whitebird is producing over 65,000 shields per day. Whitebird is now producing the PPE at several assembly areas in the GTA. The MMRI and Whitebird continue to rise to the needs of the public and those fighting COVID19.
Testimonial: “The MMRI has been an amazing partner and without their help, we would never be producing the number of face masks we have been able to achieve. Working with large organizations can often prove to be very bureaucratic and cumbersome, however our experience with McMaster’s MMRI team has been anything but that. They have been quick to respond, and Simon has felt more like a Whitebird team member than an outside consultant. We look forward working with the MMRI in the future on other exciting projects.” – William Heikoop (Vice President of Whitebird)

ImaginAble Guided Hands
Partner: ImaginAble Solutions is a biomedical engineering company that specializes in creating assistive devices for people living with accessibility issues. Their mission is to help people achieve a fulfilling and independent lifestyle by removing physical barriers.
Challenge: Guided Hands™ was designed to help people living with limited hand mobility caused by Dystonia, ALS, Huntington’s disease, or arthritis, as well as those recovering from spinal cord injuries and strokes, among other conditions. For these individuals, the ability to write, paint, draw, or use a tablet/computer is essential to their independence. Guided Hands™ increases self-esteem, creates opportunity, and allows the user to do what they love.
Solution: ImaginAble Solutions’ research and development began at the MMRI. Multiple prototypes were designed and manufactured and then tested with patients at local hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation clinics. The feedback was presented to engineers at the MMRI and used to redesign and manufacture the next prototype.
Impact: By partnering with the MMRI, ImaginAble Solutions has minimized research and development costs and manufacturing costs and has received excellent design and manufacturing advice for Guided Hands™. They have successfully invented Guided Hands™ and are commercializing their product with the continued help of the MMRI as they launch their first round of sales.
Testimonial: “I was elated that I finally had a device that would allow me to paint with ease, a hobby I had given up due to shaking and posturing of my dominant hand. Guided Hands™ has given me the freedom to do the things I loved – from painting to playing games on my iPad.” – Elissa, student with Dystonia

OS&B Hospital Drain Pipe Design
Partner: Oakville Stamping & Bending is a leading Manufacturer and Distributor of Plumbing Products
Challenge: Ontario hospitals were looking for anti-microbial solutions to prevent the spread of bacteria from room to room through plumbing fixtures. The partner required support in “design for manufacturability” of a new “p-trap” design made from exotic anti-microbial material.
Solution: The MMRI performed an iterative design exercise and created a final prototype for collaborative testing with OS&B. A year-long research testing is being done within seven GTA hospitals on this product.
Impact: All parts are fabricated in Ontario, which means this design is bringing more work to Canadian machining and casting subcontractors. MMRI’s functionality improvements have meant positive projections for the economic future of OS&B.
Testimonial: “As it turns out, their research team ended up helping me develop an even more efficient detaching method from my original design. I don’t know what I would have done without McMaster,”
– Chris McLeod (R&D product designer for OS&B).

NORLOK Hand-Held Clinching
Partner: NORLOK Technology Inc. is a trusted leader and innovator in sheet metal fastening, setting the standards in clinching technology.
Challenge: NORLOK asked the MMRI to provide a hand-held clinching device using pneumatic actuators. Clinching, also known as press joining, is a high-speed, mechanical fastening technique for point joining of sheet metal components. Clinching requires no consumables or pre-drilled holes and is performed in a single step, making it a clean, inexpensive and simple technique.
Solution: By partnering with the MMRI, NORLOK was able to access extensive R&D resources to punch above their weight in developing a new product and access a new market.
Impact: By partnering with the MMRI, NORLOK was able to reduce the research and development demands on their internal resources. This new development represents a niche market that NORLOK can now access. The potential sales from this new market segment are estimated at $150,000 to $200,000.

Voestalpine Improving Tool Life
Partner: Voestalpine is an international steel-based technology and capital goods group. It is the leading supplier of tubular components and assemblies for automotive occupant restraint.
Challenge: Voestalpine wanted to develop the world’s best process for producing ultra-high-volume components in Ontario.
Solution: The MMRI helped the local manufacturing facility with extensive forming experience to expand to machining. When this project is complete, it will be the world’s most competitive process for producing these parts.
Impact: Before the MMRI’s contribution, vRSC’s $50 carbide drills would last for roughly 500 drilled holes before breaking, but by the project’s end, that number rose to 10,000 holes drilled per tool. This innovation has brought in millions of dollars in new business and has meant adding five more automated production lines to vRSC’s Burlington facility. This drilling technology is now being adopted around the world.
Testimonial: “It’s a tremendous success, and especially unheard of because we’re drilling on a round surface is very tough material. This would be impossible to do without McMaster. Without having their expertise involved, we wouldn’t be competitive.” – Andy Skrepnek, vRSC’s Director of Innovation.
Information Box Group

Honda of Canada Manufacturing
Partner: Honda of Canada Mfg. (HCM) has collaborated with the MMRI on over 90 projects since 2014 with support from Ontario’s Advanced Manufacturing Consortium (AMC) and NSERC’s CANRIMT Strategic network grant.
Challenge: One of HCM’s highest cost processes in the engine plant is machining the extremely precise bores that the engine’s crank shaft runs in. Precision of these bores directly influences engine efficiency and longevity. Honda’s latest engine design changed these features in an effort to improve efficiency. However, these new changes resulted in a significant reduction in tool life due to the very unique challenges in bi-metal machining (a single tool cutting both aluminum and cast iron at once). As a highly specialized process, very little support was available to address this issue internally and from HCM’s suppliers.
Solution: The MMRI team worked closely with HCM. Extensive analysis of HCM’s process and tools was completed by replicating HCM’s process in the MMRI lab. The MMRI identified several short-term solutions to improve tool life and a novel tooling solution to extract more life from each tool (with the idea now patented and implemented in HCM production), while also establishing long-term research initiatives to further improve cost, productivity and quality in this process in the future.
Impact: To date, two of the recommendations from the MMRI that represent a significant cost reduction in tooling alone, have resulted in rapid adoption at HCM and have also been implemented at Honda plants across North America. Additional savings are realized indirectly through reduced downtime, reduced scrap due to out-of-tolerance parts, and reduced personnel time in monitoring the process.
Testimonial: “I have been working with the MMRI since 2014, and our relationship has become very comfortable and seamless. We have been able to bounce ideas off each other to bring to test and success both in the MMRI facility and at Honda. The engine’s crank bore project has been the most successful, receiving a patent for the machining process, and without McMaster’s development of rapid testing to avoid disruption of production, it would not have been possible to get proof of concept to the machining floor quickly. The solution from this project was applied to most Honda facilities worldwide, with the same machining processing, and it was presented at all the Honda conferences. The greatest success of this project was being told by the engineer that developed this equipment, ‘they had never thought of machining it this way’. I look forward to continuing our relationship with McMaster and the MMRI team.” – Joe Zarb, Tooling Specialist –Powertrain Division, Honda of Canada Mfg.

BioHex Dental Implant Testing Machine
Partner: Biomedical Implant Technology Inc.
Challenge: The client developed a new style of dental implant called the BioHex Dental Implant. It is their hope that their dental implant can replace the industry standard, but it requires testing to determine its viability and usable life.
Solution: The MMRI team designed and developed a desktop machine capable of mimicking years of chewing in a controlled fashion. The machine can be run for hours or millions of chewing cycles and the dental implants can be easily monitored.
Impact: Testing is still ongoing. The economic impact will not be known until the end of 2019.
Testimonial: “I would like to congratulate you and your team at McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute for the engineering design of the testing apparatus specific for our application in Implant Dentistry. The chewing machine, the load cell and software are simple and robust. The applied load was adjustable and constant throughout the testing period. The design of the position measuring device is simple, accurate and reproducible. The data obtained was reliable and the conclusions drawn would be meaningful. Thanks again for meeting and exceeding our requirements.”
– Dr. Kwan, CEO of Biomedical Implant Technology Inc.

Whitebird Faceshields
Partner: Whitebird is a Hamilton-based distributor and manufacturer of corrugated solutions, packaging, sanitation, and safety supplies.
Challenge: When COVID19 hit, the MMRI recognised the immediate need for more PPE manufacturing. We reached out to Whitebird, and within two days they had responded that they wanted to team up to manufacture PPE. We spent the next two weeks establishing a supply chain, setting up production, and clearing regulatory hurdles.
Solution: The MMRI and Whitebird went from an idea to mass production in less than 3 weeks. We had estimated that we could make 1000-2000 shields per day; on our first day we made 2,800 shields. On our third day we made almost 5,000.
Impact: Currently, Whitebird is producing over 65,000 shields per day. Whitebird is now producing the PPE at several assembly areas in the GTA. The MMRI and Whitebird continue to rise to the needs of the public and those fighting COVID19.
Testimonial: “The MMRI has been an amazing partner and without their help, we would never be producing the number of face masks we have been able to achieve. Working with large organizations can often prove to be very bureaucratic and cumbersome, however our experience with McMaster’s MMRI team has been anything but that. They have been quick to respond, and Simon has felt more like a Whitebird team member than an outside consultant. We look forward working with the MMRI in the future on other exciting projects.” – William Heikoop (Vice President of Whitebird)

ImaginAble Guided Hands
Partner: ImaginAble Solutions is a biomedical engineering company that specializes in creating assistive devices for people living with accessibility issues. Their mission is to help people achieve a fulfilling and independent lifestyle by removing physical barriers.
Challenge: Guided Hands™ was designed to help people living with limited hand mobility caused by Dystonia, ALS, Huntington’s disease, or arthritis, as well as those recovering from spinal cord injuries and strokes, among other conditions. For these individuals, the ability to write, paint, draw, or use a tablet/computer is essential to their independence. Guided Hands™ increases self-esteem, creates opportunity, and allows the user to do what they love.
Solution: ImaginAble Solutions’ research and development began at the MMRI. Multiple prototypes were designed and manufactured and then tested with patients at local hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation clinics. The feedback was presented to engineers at the MMRI and used to redesign and manufacture the next prototype.
Impact: By partnering with the MMRI, ImaginAble Solutions has minimized research and development costs and manufacturing costs and has received excellent design and manufacturing advice for Guided Hands™. They have successfully invented Guided Hands™ and are commercializing their product with the continued help of the MMRI as they launch their first round of sales.
Testimonial: “I was elated that I finally had a device that would allow me to paint with ease, a hobby I had given up due to shaking and posturing of my dominant hand. Guided Hands™ has given me the freedom to do the things I loved – from painting to playing games on my iPad.” – Elissa, student with Dystonia

OS&B Hospital Drain Pipe Design
Partner: Oakville Stamping & Bending is a leading Manufacturer and Distributor of Plumbing Products
Challenge: Ontario hospitals were looking for anti-microbial solutions to prevent the spread of bacteria from room to room through plumbing fixtures. The partner required support in “design for manufacturability” of a new “p-trap” design made from exotic anti-microbial material.
Solution: The MMRI performed an iterative design exercise and created a final prototype for collaborative testing with OS&B. A year-long research testing is being done within seven GTA hospitals on this product.
Impact: All parts are fabricated in Ontario, which means this design is bringing more work to Canadian machining and casting subcontractors. MMRI’s functionality improvements have meant positive projections for the economic future of OS&B.
Testimonial: “As it turns out, their research team ended up helping me develop an even more efficient detaching method from my original design. I don’t know what I would have done without McMaster,”
– Chris McLeod (R&D product designer for OS&B).

NORLOK Hand-Held Clinching
Partner: NORLOK Technology Inc. is a trusted leader and innovator in sheet metal fastening, setting the standards in clinching technology.
Challenge: NORLOK asked the MMRI to provide a hand-held clinching device using pneumatic actuators. Clinching, also known as press joining, is a high-speed, mechanical fastening technique for point joining of sheet metal components. Clinching requires no consumables or pre-drilled holes and is performed in a single step, making it a clean, inexpensive and simple technique.
Solution: By partnering with the MMRI, NORLOK was able to access extensive R&D resources to punch above their weight in developing a new product and access a new market.
Impact: By partnering with the MMRI, NORLOK was able to reduce the research and development demands on their internal resources. This new development represents a niche market that NORLOK can now access. The potential sales from this new market segment are estimated at $150,000 to $200,000.

Voestalpine Improving Tool Life
Partner: Voestalpine is an international steel-based technology and capital goods group. It is the leading supplier of tubular components and assemblies for automotive occupant restraint.
Challenge: Voestalpine wanted to develop the world’s best process for producing ultra-high-volume components in Ontario.
Solution: The MMRI helped the local manufacturing facility with extensive forming experience to expand to machining. When this project is complete, it will be the world’s most competitive process for producing these parts.
Impact: Before the MMRI’s contribution, vRSC’s $50 carbide drills would last for roughly 500 drilled holes before breaking, but by the project’s end, that number rose to 10,000 holes drilled per tool. This innovation has brought in millions of dollars in new business and has meant adding five more automated production lines to vRSC’s Burlington facility. This drilling technology is now being adopted around the world.
Testimonial: “It’s a tremendous success, and especially unheard of because we’re drilling on a round surface is very tough material. This would be impossible to do without McMaster. Without having their expertise involved, we wouldn’t be competitive.” – Andy Skrepnek, vRSC’s Director of Innovation.
Information Box Group

Honda of Canada Manufacturing
Partner: Honda of Canada Mfg. (HCM) has collaborated with the MMRI on over 90 projects since 2014 with support from Ontario’s Advanced Manufacturing Consortium (AMC) and NSERC’s CANRIMT Strategic network grant.
Challenge: One of HCM’s highest cost processes in the engine plant is machining the extremely precise bores that the engine’s crank shaft runs in. Precision of these bores directly influences engine efficiency and longevity. Honda’s latest engine design changed these features in an effort to improve efficiency. However, these new changes resulted in a significant reduction in tool life due to the very unique challenges in bi-metal machining (a single tool cutting both aluminum and cast iron at once). As a highly specialized process, very little support was available to address this issue internally and from HCM’s suppliers.
Solution: The MMRI team worked closely with HCM. Extensive analysis of HCM’s process and tools was completed by replicating HCM’s process in the MMRI lab. The MMRI identified several short-term solutions to improve tool life and a novel tooling solution to extract more life from each tool (with the idea now patented and implemented in HCM production), while also establishing long-term research initiatives to further improve cost, productivity and quality in this process in the future.
Impact: To date, two of the recommendations from the MMRI that represent a significant cost reduction in tooling alone, have resulted in rapid adoption at HCM and have also been implemented at Honda plants across North America. Additional savings are realized indirectly through reduced downtime, reduced scrap due to out-of-tolerance parts, and reduced personnel time in monitoring the process.
Testimonial: “I have been working with the MMRI since 2014, and our relationship has become very comfortable and seamless. We have been able to bounce ideas off each other to bring to test and success both in the MMRI facility and at Honda. The engine’s crank bore project has been the most successful, receiving a patent for the machining process, and without McMaster’s development of rapid testing to avoid disruption of production, it would not have been possible to get proof of concept to the machining floor quickly. The solution from this project was applied to most Honda facilities worldwide, with the same machining processing, and it was presented at all the Honda conferences. The greatest success of this project was being told by the engineer that developed this equipment, ‘they had never thought of machining it this way’. I look forward to continuing our relationship with McMaster and the MMRI team.” – Joe Zarb, Tooling Specialist –Powertrain Division, Honda of Canada Mfg.

BioHex Dental Implant Testing Machine
Partner: Biomedical Implant Technology Inc.
Challenge: The client developed a new style of dental implant called the BioHex Dental Implant. It is their hope that their dental implant can replace the industry standard, but it requires testing to determine its viability and usable life.
Solution: The MMRI team designed and developed a desktop machine capable of mimicking years of chewing in a controlled fashion. The machine can be run for hours or millions of chewing cycles and the dental implants can be easily monitored.
Impact: Testing is still ongoing. The economic impact will not be known until the end of 2019.
Testimonial: “I would like to congratulate you and your team at McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute for the engineering design of the testing apparatus specific for our application in Implant Dentistry. The chewing machine, the load cell and software are simple and robust. The applied load was adjustable and constant throughout the testing period. The design of the position measuring device is simple, accurate and reproducible. The data obtained was reliable and the conclusions drawn would be meaningful. Thanks again for meeting and exceeding our requirements.”
– Dr. Kwan, CEO of Biomedical Implant Technology Inc.

Whitebird Faceshields
Partner: Whitebird is a Hamilton-based distributor and manufacturer of corrugated solutions, packaging, sanitation, and safety supplies.
Challenge: When COVID19 hit, the MMRI recognised the immediate need for more PPE manufacturing. We reached out to Whitebird, and within two days they had responded that they wanted to team up to manufacture PPE. We spent the next two weeks establishing a supply chain, setting up production, and clearing regulatory hurdles.
Solution: The MMRI and Whitebird went from an idea to mass production in less than 3 weeks. We had estimated that we could make 1000-2000 shields per day; on our first day we made 2,800 shields. On our third day we made almost 5,000.
Impact: Currently, Whitebird is producing over 65,000 shields per day. Whitebird is now producing the PPE at several assembly areas in the GTA. The MMRI and Whitebird continue to rise to the needs of the public and those fighting COVID19.
Testimonial: “The MMRI has been an amazing partner and without their help, we would never be producing the number of face masks we have been able to achieve. Working with large organizations can often prove to be very bureaucratic and cumbersome, however our experience with McMaster’s MMRI team has been anything but that. They have been quick to respond, and Simon has felt more like a Whitebird team member than an outside consultant. We look forward working with the MMRI in the future on other exciting projects.” – William Heikoop (Vice President of Whitebird)

ImaginAble Guided Hands
Partner: ImaginAble Solutions is a biomedical engineering company that specializes in creating assistive devices for people living with accessibility issues. Their mission is to help people achieve a fulfilling and independent lifestyle by removing physical barriers.
Challenge: Guided Hands™ was designed to help people living with limited hand mobility caused by Dystonia, ALS, Huntington’s disease, or arthritis, as well as those recovering from spinal cord injuries and strokes, among other conditions. For these individuals, the ability to write, paint, draw, or use a tablet/computer is essential to their independence. Guided Hands™ increases self-esteem, creates opportunity, and allows the user to do what they love.
Solution: ImaginAble Solutions’ research and development began at the MMRI. Multiple prototypes were designed and manufactured and then tested with patients at local hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation clinics. The feedback was presented to engineers at the MMRI and used to redesign and manufacture the next prototype.
Impact: By partnering with the MMRI, ImaginAble Solutions has minimized research and development costs and manufacturing costs and has received excellent design and manufacturing advice for Guided Hands™. They have successfully invented Guided Hands™ and are commercializing their product with the continued help of the MMRI as they launch their first round of sales.
Testimonial: “I was elated that I finally had a device that would allow me to paint with ease, a hobby I had given up due to shaking and posturing of my dominant hand. Guided Hands™ has given me the freedom to do the things I loved – from painting to playing games on my iPad.” – Elissa, student with Dystonia

OS&B Hospital Drain Pipe Design
Partner: Oakville Stamping & Bending is a leading Manufacturer and Distributor of Plumbing Products
Challenge: Ontario hospitals were looking for anti-microbial solutions to prevent the spread of bacteria from room to room through plumbing fixtures. The partner required support in “design for manufacturability” of a new “p-trap” design made from exotic anti-microbial material.
Solution: The MMRI performed an iterative design exercise and created a final prototype for collaborative testing with OS&B. A year-long research testing is being done within seven GTA hospitals on this product.
Impact: All parts are fabricated in Ontario, which means this design is bringing more work to Canadian machining and casting subcontractors. MMRI’s functionality improvements have meant positive projections for the economic future of OS&B.
Testimonial: “As it turns out, their research team ended up helping me develop an even more efficient detaching method from my original design. I don’t know what I would have done without McMaster,”
– Chris McLeod (R&D product designer for OS&B).

NORLOK Hand-Held Clinching
Partner: NORLOK Technology Inc. is a trusted leader and innovator in sheet metal fastening, setting the standards in clinching technology.
Challenge: NORLOK asked the MMRI to provide a hand-held clinching device using pneumatic actuators. Clinching, also known as press joining, is a high-speed, mechanical fastening technique for point joining of sheet metal components. Clinching requires no consumables or pre-drilled holes and is performed in a single step, making it a clean, inexpensive and simple technique.
Solution: By partnering with the MMRI, NORLOK was able to access extensive R&D resources to punch above their weight in developing a new product and access a new market.
Impact: By partnering with the MMRI, NORLOK was able to reduce the research and development demands on their internal resources. This new development represents a niche market that NORLOK can now access. The potential sales from this new market segment are estimated at $150,000 to $200,000.

Voestalpine Improving Tool Life
Partner: Voestalpine is an international steel-based technology and capital goods group. It is the leading supplier of tubular components and assemblies for automotive occupant restraint.
Challenge: Voestalpine wanted to develop the world’s best process for producing ultra-high-volume components in Ontario.
Solution: The MMRI helped the local manufacturing facility with extensive forming experience to expand to machining. When this project is complete, it will be the world’s most competitive process for producing these parts.
Impact: Before the MMRI’s contribution, vRSC’s $50 carbide drills would last for roughly 500 drilled holes before breaking, but by the project’s end, that number rose to 10,000 holes drilled per tool. This innovation has brought in millions of dollars in new business and has meant adding five more automated production lines to vRSC’s Burlington facility. This drilling technology is now being adopted around the world.
Testimonial: “It’s a tremendous success, and especially unheard of because we’re drilling on a round surface is very tough material. This would be impossible to do without McMaster. Without having their expertise involved, we wouldn’t be competitive.” – Andy Skrepnek, vRSC’s Director of Innovation.
Information Box Group

Honda of Canada Manufacturing
Partner: Honda of Canada Mfg. (HCM) has collaborated with the MMRI on over 90 projects since 2014 with support from Ontario’s Advanced Manufacturing Consortium (AMC) and NSERC’s CANRIMT Strategic network grant.
Challenge: One of HCM’s highest cost processes in the engine plant is machining the extremely precise bores that the engine’s crank shaft runs in. Precision of these bores directly influences engine efficiency and longevity. Honda’s latest engine design changed these features in an effort to improve efficiency. However, these new changes resulted in a significant reduction in tool life due to the very unique challenges in bi-metal machining (a single tool cutting both aluminum and cast iron at once). As a highly specialized process, very little support was available to address this issue internally and from HCM’s suppliers.
Solution: The MMRI team worked closely with HCM. Extensive analysis of HCM’s process and tools was completed by replicating HCM’s process in the MMRI lab. The MMRI identified several short-term solutions to improve tool life and a novel tooling solution to extract more life from each tool (with the idea now patented and implemented in HCM production), while also establishing long-term research initiatives to further improve cost, productivity and quality in this process in the future.
Impact: To date, two of the recommendations from the MMRI that represent a significant cost reduction in tooling alone, have resulted in rapid adoption at HCM and have also been implemented at Honda plants across North America. Additional savings are realized indirectly through reduced downtime, reduced scrap due to out-of-tolerance parts, and reduced personnel time in monitoring the process.
Testimonial: “I have been working with the MMRI since 2014, and our relationship has become very comfortable and seamless. We have been able to bounce ideas off each other to bring to test and success both in the MMRI facility and at Honda. The engine’s crank bore project has been the most successful, receiving a patent for the machining process, and without McMaster’s development of rapid testing to avoid disruption of production, it would not have been possible to get proof of concept to the machining floor quickly. The solution from this project was applied to most Honda facilities worldwide, with the same machining processing, and it was presented at all the Honda conferences. The greatest success of this project was being told by the engineer that developed this equipment, ‘they had never thought of machining it this way’. I look forward to continuing our relationship with McMaster and the MMRI team.” – Joe Zarb, Tooling Specialist –Powertrain Division, Honda of Canada Mfg.

BioHex Dental Implant Testing Machine
Partner: Biomedical Implant Technology Inc.
Challenge: The client developed a new style of dental implant called the BioHex Dental Implant. It is their hope that their dental implant can replace the industry standard, but it requires testing to determine its viability and usable life.
Solution: The MMRI team designed and developed a desktop machine capable of mimicking years of chewing in a controlled fashion. The machine can be run for hours or millions of chewing cycles and the dental implants can be easily monitored.
Impact: Testing is still ongoing. The economic impact will not be known until the end of 2019.
Testimonial: “I would like to congratulate you and your team at McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute for the engineering design of the testing apparatus specific for our application in Implant Dentistry. The chewing machine, the load cell and software are simple and robust. The applied load was adjustable and constant throughout the testing period. The design of the position measuring device is simple, accurate and reproducible. The data obtained was reliable and the conclusions drawn would be meaningful. Thanks again for meeting and exceeding our requirements.”
– Dr. Kwan, CEO of Biomedical Implant Technology Inc.

Whitebird Faceshields
Partner: Whitebird is a Hamilton-based distributor and manufacturer of corrugated solutions, packaging, sanitation, and safety supplies.
Challenge: When COVID19 hit, the MMRI recognised the immediate need for more PPE manufacturing. We reached out to Whitebird, and within two days they had responded that they wanted to team up to manufacture PPE. We spent the next two weeks establishing a supply chain, setting up production, and clearing regulatory hurdles.
Solution: The MMRI and Whitebird went from an idea to mass production in less than 3 weeks. We had estimated that we could make 1000-2000 shields per day; on our first day we made 2,800 shields. On our third day we made almost 5,000.
Impact: Currently, Whitebird is producing over 65,000 shields per day. Whitebird is now producing the PPE at several assembly areas in the GTA. The MMRI and Whitebird continue to rise to the needs of the public and those fighting COVID19.
Testimonial: “The MMRI has been an amazing partner and without their help, we would never be producing the number of face masks we have been able to achieve. Working with large organizations can often prove to be very bureaucratic and cumbersome, however our experience with McMaster’s MMRI team has been anything but that. They have been quick to respond, and Simon has felt more like a Whitebird team member than an outside consultant. We look forward working with the MMRI in the future on other exciting projects.” – William Heikoop (Vice President of Whitebird)

ImaginAble Guided Hands
Partner: ImaginAble Solutions is a biomedical engineering company that specializes in creating assistive devices for people living with accessibility issues. Their mission is to help people achieve a fulfilling and independent lifestyle by removing physical barriers.
Challenge: Guided Hands™ was designed to help people living with limited hand mobility caused by Dystonia, ALS, Huntington’s disease, or arthritis, as well as those recovering from spinal cord injuries and strokes, among other conditions. For these individuals, the ability to write, paint, draw, or use a tablet/computer is essential to their independence. Guided Hands™ increases self-esteem, creates opportunity, and allows the user to do what they love.
Solution: ImaginAble Solutions’ research and development began at the MMRI. Multiple prototypes were designed and manufactured and then tested with patients at local hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation clinics. The feedback was presented to engineers at the MMRI and used to redesign and manufacture the next prototype.
Impact: By partnering with the MMRI, ImaginAble Solutions has minimized research and development costs and manufacturing costs and has received excellent design and manufacturing advice for Guided Hands™. They have successfully invented Guided Hands™ and are commercializing their product with the continued help of the MMRI as they launch their first round of sales.
Testimonial: “I was elated that I finally had a device that would allow me to paint with ease, a hobby I had given up due to shaking and posturing of my dominant hand. Guided Hands™ has given me the freedom to do the things I loved – from painting to playing games on my iPad.” – Elissa, student with Dystonia

OS&B Hospital Drain Pipe Design
Partner: Oakville Stamping & Bending is a leading Manufacturer and Distributor of Plumbing Products
Challenge: Ontario hospitals were looking for anti-microbial solutions to prevent the spread of bacteria from room to room through plumbing fixtures. The partner required support in “design for manufacturability” of a new “p-trap” design made from exotic anti-microbial material.
Solution: The MMRI performed an iterative design exercise and created a final prototype for collaborative testing with OS&B. A year-long research testing is being done within seven GTA hospitals on this product.
Impact: All parts are fabricated in Ontario, which means this design is bringing more work to Canadian machining and casting subcontractors. MMRI’s functionality improvements have meant positive projections for the economic future of OS&B.
Testimonial: “As it turns out, their research team ended up helping me develop an even more efficient detaching method from my original design. I don’t know what I would have done without McMaster,”
– Chris McLeod (R&D product designer for OS&B).

NORLOK Hand-Held Clinching
Partner: NORLOK Technology Inc. is a trusted leader and innovator in sheet metal fastening, setting the standards in clinching technology.
Challenge: NORLOK asked the MMRI to provide a hand-held clinching device using pneumatic actuators. Clinching, also known as press joining, is a high-speed, mechanical fastening technique for point joining of sheet metal components. Clinching requires no consumables or pre-drilled holes and is performed in a single step, making it a clean, inexpensive and simple technique.
Solution: By partnering with the MMRI, NORLOK was able to access extensive R&D resources to punch above their weight in developing a new product and access a new market.
Impact: By partnering with the MMRI, NORLOK was able to reduce the research and development demands on their internal resources. This new development represents a niche market that NORLOK can now access. The potential sales from this new market segment are estimated at $150,000 to $200,000.

Voestalpine Improving Tool Life
Partner: Voestalpine is an international steel-based technology and capital goods group. It is the leading supplier of tubular components and assemblies for automotive occupant restraint.
Challenge: Voestalpine wanted to develop the world’s best process for producing ultra-high-volume components in Ontario.
Solution: The MMRI helped the local manufacturing facility with extensive forming experience to expand to machining. When this project is complete, it will be the world’s most competitive process for producing these parts.
Impact: Before the MMRI’s contribution, vRSC’s $50 carbide drills would last for roughly 500 drilled holes before breaking, but by the project’s end, that number rose to 10,000 holes drilled per tool. This innovation has brought in millions of dollars in new business and has meant adding five more automated production lines to vRSC’s Burlington facility. This drilling technology is now being adopted around the world.
Testimonial: “It’s a tremendous success, and especially unheard of because we’re drilling on a round surface is very tough material. This would be impossible to do without McMaster. Without having their expertise involved, we wouldn’t be competitive.” – Andy Skrepnek, vRSC’s Director of Innovation.
Information Box Group

Honda of Canada Manufacturing
Partner: Honda of Canada Mfg. (HCM) has collaborated with the MMRI on over 90 projects since 2014 with support from Ontario’s Advanced Manufacturing Consortium (AMC) and NSERC’s CANRIMT Strategic network grant.
Challenge: One of HCM’s highest cost processes in the engine plant is machining the extremely precise bores that the engine’s crank shaft runs in. Precision of these bores directly influences engine efficiency and longevity. Honda’s latest engine design changed these features in an effort to improve efficiency. However, these new changes resulted in a significant reduction in tool life due to the very unique challenges in bi-metal machining (a single tool cutting both aluminum and cast iron at once). As a highly specialized process, very little support was available to address this issue internally and from HCM’s suppliers.
Solution: The MMRI team worked closely with HCM. Extensive analysis of HCM’s process and tools was completed by replicating HCM’s process in the MMRI lab. The MMRI identified several short-term solutions to improve tool life and a novel tooling solution to extract more life from each tool (with the idea now patented and implemented in HCM production), while also establishing long-term research initiatives to further improve cost, productivity and quality in this process in the future.
Impact: To date, two of the recommendations from the MMRI that represent a significant cost reduction in tooling alone, have resulted in rapid adoption at HCM and have also been implemented at Honda plants across North America. Additional savings are realized indirectly through reduced downtime, reduced scrap due to out-of-tolerance parts, and reduced personnel time in monitoring the process.
Testimonial: “I have been working with the MMRI since 2014, and our relationship has become very comfortable and seamless. We have been able to bounce ideas off each other to bring to test and success both in the MMRI facility and at Honda. The engine’s crank bore project has been the most successful, receiving a patent for the machining process, and without McMaster’s development of rapid testing to avoid disruption of production, it would not have been possible to get proof of concept to the machining floor quickly. The solution from this project was applied to most Honda facilities worldwide, with the same machining processing, and it was presented at all the Honda conferences. The greatest success of this project was being told by the engineer that developed this equipment, ‘they had never thought of machining it this way’. I look forward to continuing our relationship with McMaster and the MMRI team.” – Joe Zarb, Tooling Specialist –Powertrain Division, Honda of Canada Mfg.

BioHex Dental Implant Testing Machine
Partner: Biomedical Implant Technology Inc.
Challenge: The client developed a new style of dental implant called the BioHex Dental Implant. It is their hope that their dental implant can replace the industry standard, but it requires testing to determine its viability and usable life.
Solution: The MMRI team designed and developed a desktop machine capable of mimicking years of chewing in a controlled fashion. The machine can be run for hours or millions of chewing cycles and the dental implants can be easily monitored.
Impact: Testing is still ongoing. The economic impact will not be known until the end of 2019.
Testimonial: “I would like to congratulate you and your team at McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute for the engineering design of the testing apparatus specific for our application in Implant Dentistry. The chewing machine, the load cell and software are simple and robust. The applied load was adjustable and constant throughout the testing period. The design of the position measuring device is simple, accurate and reproducible. The data obtained was reliable and the conclusions drawn would be meaningful. Thanks again for meeting and exceeding our requirements.”
– Dr. Kwan, CEO of Biomedical Implant Technology Inc.

Whitebird Faceshields
Partner: Whitebird is a Hamilton-based distributor and manufacturer of corrugated solutions, packaging, sanitation, and safety supplies.
Challenge: When COVID19 hit, the MMRI recognised the immediate need for more PPE manufacturing. We reached out to Whitebird, and within two days they had responded that they wanted to team up to manufacture PPE. We spent the next two weeks establishing a supply chain, setting up production, and clearing regulatory hurdles.
Solution: The MMRI and Whitebird went from an idea to mass production in less than 3 weeks. We had estimated that we could make 1000-2000 shields per day; on our first day we made 2,800 shields. On our third day we made almost 5,000.
Impact: Currently, Whitebird is producing over 65,000 shields per day. Whitebird is now producing the PPE at several assembly areas in the GTA. The MMRI and Whitebird continue to rise to the needs of the public and those fighting COVID19.
Testimonial: “The MMRI has been an amazing partner and without their help, we would never be producing the number of face masks we have been able to achieve. Working with large organizations can often prove to be very bureaucratic and cumbersome, however our experience with McMaster’s MMRI team has been anything but that. They have been quick to respond, and Simon has felt more like a Whitebird team member than an outside consultant. We look forward working with the MMRI in the future on other exciting projects.” – William Heikoop (Vice President of Whitebird)

ImaginAble Guided Hands
Partner: ImaginAble Solutions is a biomedical engineering company that specializes in creating assistive devices for people living with accessibility issues. Their mission is to help people achieve a fulfilling and independent lifestyle by removing physical barriers.
Challenge: Guided Hands™ was designed to help people living with limited hand mobility caused by Dystonia, ALS, Huntington’s disease, or arthritis, as well as those recovering from spinal cord injuries and strokes, among other conditions. For these individuals, the ability to write, paint, draw, or use a tablet/computer is essential to their independence. Guided Hands™ increases self-esteem, creates opportunity, and allows the user to do what they love.
Solution: ImaginAble Solutions’ research and development began at the MMRI. Multiple prototypes were designed and manufactured and then tested with patients at local hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation clinics. The feedback was presented to engineers at the MMRI and used to redesign and manufacture the next prototype.
Impact: By partnering with the MMRI, ImaginAble Solutions has minimized research and development costs and manufacturing costs and has received excellent design and manufacturing advice for Guided Hands™. They have successfully invented Guided Hands™ and are commercializing their product with the continued help of the MMRI as they launch their first round of sales.
Testimonial: “I was elated that I finally had a device that would allow me to paint with ease, a hobby I had given up due to shaking and posturing of my dominant hand. Guided Hands™ has given me the freedom to do the things I loved – from painting to playing games on my iPad.” – Elissa, student with Dystonia

OS&B Hospital Drain Pipe Design
Partner: Oakville Stamping & Bending is a leading Manufacturer and Distributor of Plumbing Products
Challenge: Ontario hospitals were looking for anti-microbial solutions to prevent the spread of bacteria from room to room through plumbing fixtures. The partner required support in “design for manufacturability” of a new “p-trap” design made from exotic anti-microbial material.
Solution: The MMRI performed an iterative design exercise and created a final prototype for collaborative testing with OS&B. A year-long research testing is being done within seven GTA hospitals on this product.
Impact: All parts are fabricated in Ontario, which means this design is bringing more work to Canadian machining and casting subcontractors. MMRI’s functionality improvements have meant positive projections for the economic future of OS&B.
Testimonial: “As it turns out, their research team ended up helping me develop an even more efficient detaching method from my original design. I don’t know what I would have done without McMaster,”
– Chris McLeod (R&D product designer for OS&B).

NORLOK Hand-Held Clinching
Partner: NORLOK Technology Inc. is a trusted leader and innovator in sheet metal fastening, setting the standards in clinching technology.
Challenge: NORLOK asked the MMRI to provide a hand-held clinching device using pneumatic actuators. Clinching, also known as press joining, is a high-speed, mechanical fastening technique for point joining of sheet metal components. Clinching requires no consumables or pre-drilled holes and is performed in a single step, making it a clean, inexpensive and simple technique.
Solution: By partnering with the MMRI, NORLOK was able to access extensive R&D resources to punch above their weight in developing a new product and access a new market.
Impact: By partnering with the MMRI, NORLOK was able to reduce the research and development demands on their internal resources. This new development represents a niche market that NORLOK can now access. The potential sales from this new market segment are estimated at $150,000 to $200,000.

Voestalpine Improving Tool Life
Partner: Voestalpine is an international steel-based technology and capital goods group. It is the leading supplier of tubular components and assemblies for automotive occupant restraint.
Challenge: Voestalpine wanted to develop the world’s best process for producing ultra-high-volume components in Ontario.
Solution: The MMRI helped the local manufacturing facility with extensive forming experience to expand to machining. When this project is complete, it will be the world’s most competitive process for producing these parts.
Impact: Before the MMRI’s contribution, vRSC’s $50 carbide drills would last for roughly 500 drilled holes before breaking, but by the project’s end, that number rose to 10,000 holes drilled per tool. This innovation has brought in millions of dollars in new business and has meant adding five more automated production lines to vRSC’s Burlington facility. This drilling technology is now being adopted around the world.
Testimonial: “It’s a tremendous success, and especially unheard of because we’re drilling on a round surface is very tough material. This would be impossible to do without McMaster. Without having their expertise involved, we wouldn’t be competitive.” – Andy Skrepnek, vRSC’s Director of Innovation.
Our successes would not be possible without the aid of our collaborators, partners and sponsors
Thank you
- A. Raymond Tinnerman Manufacturing Hamilton Inc.
- Alchemy
- Aurum Integra
- Biomedical Implant Technology Inc.
- FlaVR Labs
- Gastronomous Technologies
- Hamilton Health Science
- Hamilton Health Sciences – Pediatric Respiratory Clinic
- ImaginAble Solutions
- Longan Vision
- Mevotech LP
- Multimatic-Inmet
- Myant
- Presslock Technologies
- Recovery Room Upholstery
- Second Medical Inc.
- Skatescribe Corporation
- Universal Matter Inc.
- Vision Coatings
- Voestalpine Additive Manufacturing Center Ltd.
- Voestalpine Engineered Products & Solutions
- Voestalpine Summo
- Wellmaster Pipe and Supply Inc.
- Whitebird Manufacturing
MMRI – Study With Us
Interested in pursuing a graduate-level degree in manufacturing engineering? McMaster’s Manufacturing Research Institute is one of the top facilities in Canada to learn and advance the knowledge, techniques and processes of the manufacturing sector. We have laboratories spanning many facets of the manufacturing process, from high-precision machining, materials development, prototyping, robotics, and more, that offer a spectrum of research opportunities.
By studying and working at the MMRI, you’ll be surrounded by leaders in manufacturing research and have opportunities to address industry problems faced by Ontario’s manufacturing sector. The MMRI ethos is that everyone contributes to industry projects and gets training to perform their own research on our industry-scale equipment. This makes for a rich learning environment, requiring hands-on problem solving skills, safe working practices, 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.
What our students are saying…
2023 Quotes
Andres Hurtado Carreon, 4th year Ph.D. Candidate
“Throughout my time at the MMRI, I found many opportunities to grow as a person and a professional. The MMRI constantly challenges their students to conduct world-leading research to solve industrial-level challenges while connecting them with industry partners for their professional development. Finally, the MMRI has some of the most passionate, hard-working, and friendliest staff who are always ready to lend a hand.”
Patrick Chin, Ph.D. Candidate
“I love working on technical engineering problems, but in other jobs, I could be dissatisfied with the impacts my efforts produced. At the MMRI, I was encouraged to explore how the technology we develop in the lab improves the lives of people working on the shop floor. It’s amazing to see the work that I do make a measurable difference at a real customer facility!”
Rachel Lai, 2nd year Master’s Student
“The MMRI offers students a world-class manufacturing facility to embark on their academic careers. Here, we have the opportunity to collaborate with leading industry partners, as well as the friendliest staff and students who are determined to help you succeed. The lab is a collaborative environment where your knowledge and experiences are always welcomed. Join with an open mind and a passion for research, and you will learn something new every day.”
Akshyn Biman-Telang, 2nd year Graduate Student
“One of the main things that makes the MMRI stand out is the extraordinary comradery and teamwork that everyone brings to the lab. The staff, graduate students, and post graduate students each have such a vast and unique skill set that really allows us to grow as researchers. This experience has been very valuable to me not only from an academic point of view, but also in acquiring knowledge about the manufacturing industry.”
Braeden Cooke, 1st year Masters Student
“Working at the MMRI has given me opportunities unmatched anywhere else. It has allowed me to connect directly with various industry and company leaders while developing exciting projects. The private 5G network has provided me with a unique research topic, and the collective expertise at the MMRI provides great support that elevates everyone’s work.”
Sebastian Tattersall, 5th year Mechanical Engineer {Research Assistant III}
“With access to state-of-the-art equipment, it goes without saying that the MMRI is at the forefront of innovation and research. Solving new problems and creating an impact in the community with the work we do is part of the incredible opportunities that come with working here. Developing design and hands-on manufacturing skills has opened many doors for my future.”
MMRI – Contact Us
Information Box Group

Stephen C. Veldhuis
MMRI Director & Machining Systems, Micro Manufacturing, & Material Property Assessment Laboratories (MSL, MML & MPAL)

Michael Thompson
Centre for Advanced Polymer Processing and Design (CAPPA-D)
MMRI Administrator
Michelle McKnight
Email: mmri-admin@mcmaster.ca
Phone: (365) 366-6638
High Performance Machining Workshops
MMRI Educational Program Manager
Maryam Aramesh
Email: arameshm@mcmaster.ca
Machining Systems Laboratory
Operations Manager | Facilities Manager | |||||||
Steve Remilli | Brady Semple | |||||||
Office: 230 Longwood Rd S | Office: 230 Longwood Rd S | |||||||
E-mail: remills@mcmaster.ca | E-mail: semplebg@mcmaster.ca | |||||||
Phone: 905-928-7364 | Phone: 519-386-3292 |
Material Property Assessment Laboratory
Project Manager |
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Bipasha Bose |
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Office: | JHE 112 | |||||||||
E-mail: | boseb@mcmaster.ca | |||||||||
Phone: | 647-880-6368 |
Location and Parking Information
To find a parking spot while visiting, please refer to the parking map provided below. Note parking in Lot 2 is preferred.
