To demonstrate the impact that applied research projects make on all Manitobans, we present RPI’s 20 Stories for 20 Years. A compilation showcasing successful partnerships from the past and the present, with a constant focus on the future.

Driven by the need for an agricultural safety training tool, a collaboration between RRC Polytech, the University of Manitoba and Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) produced a unique vehicle to help predict, teach and demonstrate tractor roll overs.

The Mini Roll Over Training Tractor (Mini ROTT) was publicly demonstrated at the UM’s Glenlea Research Station in the summer of 2020. Approximately the size of an average lawn tractor but with the appearance of a traditional tractor, the radio-controlled Mini ROTT will be used for teaching and demonstration of roll overs and activities that will enhance students’ and farmers’ understanding of farm safety practices.

“Keystone Agricultural Producers is proud to be a part of the roll over training tractor (ROTT) project through our Manitoba Farm Safety Program. This innovative tool will promote the need for safety awareness and training across our sector to reduce the risk of serious injury in the operation of tractors and large equipment on farms across the province,” said the late and legendary Bill Campbell, then President, KAP.

“The partnership we have forged with the University of Manitoba and Red River College (Polytechnic) shows the importance of our industry to this province and showcases some of the brightest minds and ingenuity we have here in Manitoba.”

The project was initiated by the UM’s Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences to supplement hands-on safety workshops developed for diploma students and farmers.  The UM teamed up with KAP’s Manitoba Farm Safety Program (now known as FarmSafe Manitoba) staff to explore the concept of a remote-controlled tractor as an interactive training tool for teaching roll over prevention strategies.

UM and KAP then engaged with RRC Polytech’s Technology Access Centre for Aerospace & Manufacturing (TACAM) and Vehicle Technology & Energy Centre (VTEC) to complete the fabrication process. The research staff at TACAM designed and built the tractor, with support from the VTEC team on the electronics and systems control components.

“Working with Keystone Agricultural Producers and the University of Manitoba on the roll over training tractor (ROTT) is the perfect demonstration of the value of applied research: providing tangible solutions to real-world problems,” said Fred Meier, President & CEO, RRC Polytech.

“The ROTT highlights the skill and expertise of our TACAM and VTEC teams. We’re proud to play a role in farm safety awareness and supporting the agriculture industry in Manitoba.”

Funding for the project came from a variety of sources, including the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences Endowment Fund, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada through RRC Polytech’s TACAM and VTEC-Innovation Enhancement grants, and Keystone Agricultural Producers.

RRC Polytech, FarmSafe Manitoba and UM staff continue to collaborate on expanded tractor training and developing programs aimed at creating a safer agri-food industry. In fact, the Mini ROTT is currently back in the Smart Factory at NDC as the TACAM team makes some necessary upgrades. It will then return to the Glenlea Research Station where it can be utilized for farm safety training for post-secondary students and Manitoba farmers.

To demonstrate the impact that applied research projects make on all Manitobans, we present RPI’s 20 Stories for 20 Years. A compilation showcasing successful partnerships from the past and the present, with a constant focus on the future.

This week marks the fifth anniversary of the World Health Organization’s declaration of a global pandemic and the onset of Canada’s unprecedented precautionary policies to stop the spread of COVID-19. While the social and economic impacts of the pandemic still linger, life for most people has returned to normal because of the ongoing co-operative efforts made around the world to control the virus.

During the global fight against COVID-19, RRC Polytech proudly demonstrated its trademark agility and willingness to help by leaping into action to support its industry partners in the healthcare sector. With supply chains decimated by restrictions, the College’s Technology Access Centre for Aerospace & Manufacturing (TACAM) offered its assets and expertise to local partners like CancerCare Manitoba to aid in the production of much-needed medical equipment.

Under normal circumstances, CancerCare Manitoba is well-resourced to manufacture its own equipment, but increased needs combined with a short timeframe during the pandemic forced them to outsource immediate production of wheelbases for more IV poles.

TACAM’s digital manufacturing capabilities allowed for large-scale and rapid production of the unique items needed. TACAM supported the production of 100 new wheelbases for the poles. Specifically, the team manufactured 500 castor mounts for the wheelbases, which require 5 castor mounts per wheelbase.

“CancerCare Manitoba appreciates the ability of RRC Polytech to support us in the manufacturing of these components,” said Keith Sutherland, Business and Innovation Officer at CancerCare Manitoba at the time. “TACAM’s specialized machinery allows for quicker manufacturing, which allows us to get the required IV poles into the hands of hospital staff much quicker than if we had to manufacture them on our own.”

Throughout the pandemic, TACAM remained on call with Health Canada as a potential supplier of services should they need help in manufacturing other medical equipment and/or devices, as well as the National Research Council Canada (NRC), in case additional support for medical equipment and devices was required.

“Our professional research teams are experts in fostering collaboration to overcome challenges, so they are well-prepared to react quickly and leverage the College’s facilities and talent to support our partners, even in a crisis situation like a global pandemic,” said Dr. Jolen Galaugher, Executive Director, Research Partnerships & Innovation at RRC Polytech. “We are eager to continue building these important relationships and working closely with industry and community to address Manitoba’s needs by solving problems through applied research.”

RRC Polytech continues to build capacity for innovative processes such as additive manufacturing, 3D printing, and reverse engineering with the recent addition of the Centre for Automation and Manufacturing Technology Transfer (CAMTT) at the Price Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics.

To demonstrate the impact that applied research projects make on all Manitobans, we present RPI’s 20 Stories for 20 Years. A compilation showcasing successful partnerships from the past and the present, with a constant focus on the future.

RRC Polytech’s Building Efficiency Technology Access Centre (BETAC) is providing a breath of fresh air to aging and heritage status infrastructure in Manitoba. Using high-powered fans and specialized equipment, researchers are pressurizing and depressurizing buildings of all ages and sizes to find out where they leak to help builders, engineers and property owners meet rising standards of energy efficiency.

BETAC supports the building industry by helping clients address the challenges of designing and constructing durable, energy-efficient building envelopes, components and assembly in an environment with extreme conditions. Its core purpose is to support the needs of those involved in the design, construction, renovation, commissioning and maintenance of a building’s envelope.

BETAC has been researching air tightness and methods of testing it since a 2012 pilot project, which means the partners who turn to BETAC for air tightness testing engage some of the province’s leading expertise in the field.

In the fall of 2021, BETAC completed an air tightness test at Gordon Bell High School, whose building features walls and mechanical systems that are more than 50 years old. The results provided insights into cost-effective measures for reducing energy usage at Gordon Bell, prior to its renovation.

Chris Buzunis, the Province of Manitoba’s Senior Energy Engineer and project manager for the Gordon Bell retrofit, says BETAC’s pre- and post-renovation air tightness testing has proven valuable on many projects like this.

“It helps identify problem areas to address at the start of a project and has also been a fantastic quality control tool when construction is complete. We have identified many deficiencies that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.”

BETAC offers a variety of non-destructive tests that target specific building sizes and challenges. The process usually starts with a walkthrough to assess door locations, HVAC intake and exhaust grills, power supply, and whether the building can be isolated.

During the test itself, powerful fans pressurize and depressurize the building, while equipment measures how much air is moved into or out of the building and tracks the corresponding pressure difference across the building enclosure. 

The results of the envelop test speak to the general durability of the building, and the continuity and performance of the air barrier. A second set of tests, conducted with all intentional openings left open, measures the energy performance of the building more directly. At this stage, testers may deploy smoke pencils and infrared thermography cameras to identify specific air leakage pathways.

All together, these tests can take anywhere from several hours to three days, depending on the size and complexity of the building. The results deliver quantifiable data that can help owners of existing buildings locate problem areas and determine the costs and benefits of a retrofit. For new buildings, a final air tightness test can complement air leakage testing performed throughout construction.

Demand for tests like these will only increase as more cities and governments incorporate air tightness and energy efficiency into their building codes and green mandates. In addition to air leak testing, BETAC has committed to ongoing public outreach efforts to share the findings of its research. The results of BETAC’s work continues to inform the Province of Manitoba’s Green Building Policy and low carbon initiatives.

Prairie Fava’s Hailey Jeffries speaking at the opening of PRK

To demonstrate the impact that applied research projects make on all Manitobans, we present RPI’s 20 Stories for 20 Years. A compilation showcasing successful partnerships from the past and the present, with a constant focus on the future.

Prairie Fava and RRC Polytech’s Prairie Research Kitchen (PRK) are a dynamic applied research duo. So much so that in 2020, PRK won the Canadian Association of Research Administrators’ (CARA) Research Partnership Award for its ongoing work with Prairie Fava.

“PRK, and in particular, Mavis McRae, have assisted us since I brought in one of my first bags of beans for assessment and product development support in 2016,” says Hailey Jeffries, President of Prairie Fava, ​​Canada’s leading grower and ingredient supplier of fava beans. 

“PRK has played a role in so many stages of our growth and is an invaluable resource for Canada’s plant-based food industry.”

​​Hailey Jeffries founded Prairie Fava after searching for alternative protein sources for her mother, who was undergoing cancer treatment. She knew fava flour could enhance fibre and protein content in a wide range of recipes, but the market was limited in 2016, and so was Prairie Fava’s capacity for culinary research and recipe development. 

At the time, PRK was still the Culinary Research & Innovation program (CRI). The program’s goal was to help food manufacturers better access the Manitoba food service industry, and Prairie Fava was the perfect candidate. 

So PRK started developing recipes for Prairie Fava that built on the fava bean’s greatest strengths while addressing the absence of gluten, which is typically essential for dough structure and teaching culinary students food science skills. Together, they’ve done extensive recipe development to prove that fava flour products can enhance the nutritional profile of existing food formulations and be used to develop new products, like plant-based fava bean spread. 

“Having input from an applied research team provided me with valuable insights and direction that could only come from a place where culinary and food sciences are combined,” says Jeffries. 

Both parties have grown immensely over the course of the partnership. In 2019, the CRI program received a game changing Technology Access Centre (TAC) grant, the Culinary Research Innovation Suite opened and all of the programs and the new facility were pulled together under one name: Prairie Research Kitchen. The same year, Prairie Fava won the Start-Up of the Year Award at the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce Business Awards.

Outside of recipe development and optimization, PRK does plenty of other research to support Prairie Fava. Most notably, in 2022, the PRK pioneered a unique processing method that led to the creation of the first commercialized allergen-free fava tofu.

“Prairie Fava has been a great partner of ours since the beginning. Working with them has showcased our ability to bring a chef’s experience and perspective to applied research,” says Mavis McRae, Director of the Prairie Research Kitchen. “We’re grateful for their support, and thankful to have grown alongside each other over the years.”

To demonstrate the impact that applied research projects make on all Manitobans, we present RPI’s 20 Stories for 20 Years. A compilation showcasing successful partnerships from the past and the present, with a constant focus on the future.

When the prototype was unveiled in 2012, Manitoba’s premier called the All-Electric Bus “the future of public transport.” He was right: the All-Electric Bus (e-bus) was one of Manitoba’s most impactful advanced-vehicle innovation projects.

This project began in 2010, when the Province of Manitoba signed an MOU with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) to develop and demonstrate electric buses. Five partners assembled to make it happen: the Government of Manitoba, Manitoba Hydro, MHI, New Flyer Industries (New Flyer) and RRC Polytech. The total value of the project was $3 million, with contributions of $1 million each from the Government of Manitoba, Manitoba Hydro and MHI. 

Beyond investing in the e-bus and charging system development, the Province of Manitoba also contributed to the creation of an electric vehicle (EV) technology and education centre at RRC Polytech which was the foundation for the current Vehicle Technology & Energy Centre. VTEC continues to evolve and support EV technology innovation through applied research and training.

“RRC has played a key role alongside NFI and other companies in establishing Manitoba as a leader in heavy equipment and vehicle manufacturing, especially within the zero-emission space,” said Thomas Small, Director of New Product Development at New Flyer. 

“The goal was to bring industry and academia together to demonstrate battery technology and application, including charging. In this project, the partnership was ideal as RRC Polytech became the conduit for the partners to accomplish these goals.”

The prototype bus was built using New Flyer’s advanced Xcelsior glider platform. It then went to VTEC to develop the charging infrastructure, compare different types of batteries and perform the data performance analysis. The final step, a limited-run operational demonstration, was a success. 

It was finally time to start trying to take the e-bus, public.

The City of Winnipeg and the provincial government formed a joint task force on transit electrification with representatives from Manitoba Hydro, New Flyer and RRC Polytech. 

“RRC Polytech was part of the Joint Task Force on Transit Electrification, which assessed the economics and the greenhouse gas emission profiles for electric transit buses relative to diesel buses,” said Jojo Delos Reyes, Program Manager, Research Partnerships & Innovation (RPI). 

“One key component of integrating e-buses into the current fleet is providing training. This is where we saw an opportunity to approach Winnipeg Transit about supplemental training courses.”

New Flyer provides an intensive e-bus course to transit maintenance technicians across North America. While this training is immersive, the VTEC team saw a need for reskilling and upskilling transit mechanics and technicians in preparation for the New Flyer course. 

So VTEC worked with Winnipeg Transit to develop the Electric Bus Technology program, which focuses on battery safety and electrical fundamentals. 

“We have delivered this program several times, and we are known for it, specifically thanks to the training aids developed by VTEC in partnership with the industry,” said Delos Reyes.

NFI still regularly works with RRC Polytech to develop and validate its e-bus offerings.

“With the availability of the MotiveLab™, NFI is able to test a number of designs locally rather than move the vehicle and personnel to other test facilities. We also see RRC Polytech as a resource for a sounding board for various design issues we may come across,” said Small.

“As for battery technology, we have many suppliers that we leverage, however, the initial project experience gave us a good foundation in understanding the nuances of the technology from battery chemistry, controls, charging, etc.”

Speaking of batteries, the e-bus project also gave RRC Polytech access to the battery technology that would later be used in the 2021 EV Tundra Buggy project. 

“The EV Tundra Buggy would not have been possible without the batteries from New Flyer,” said Delos Reyes. “Mainly because of the high cost of buying new batteries compared to using free, and safe-to-use repurposed batteries.” 

Currently, the staff and students at VTEC are leading the Electric School Bus Conversion project in partnership with Noble Northern (the company that supported the Tundra Buggy conversion).

“RRC Polytech has been leading the way in EV technology for a number of years and we’re proud to work with our partners to expand the technology to different types of vehicles,” said Delos Reyes. “Reducing emissions and sourcing renewable energies for fuel is one of the ways we are hoping to make a positive impact on our environment and create a sustainable future.”

To demonstrate the impact that applied research projects make on all Manitobans, we present RPI’s 20 Stories for 20 Years. A compilation showcasing successful partnerships from the past and the present, with a constant focus on the future.

Since its launch in 2022, Big Mountain Foods Soy-Free Tofu has become a bestseller for the company.

Most plant-based foods are made using soy, wheat, and yellow or green peas, so consumers are demanding a wider range of plant-based food products. Big Mountains Foods Soy-Free Tofu filled a gap in the market by being free from all common allergens, made with Canadian-grown fava beans and loaded with plant based proteins. It presents an alternative for people allergic to soy that are looking for the indulgence and benefits of tofu as this product presents the same taste, colour, functionality, and texture as traditional tofu. 

It’s the world’s first allergen-free tofu, which is probably why this groundbreaking product took home Best in Produce and Best in Innovation and Originality at the 31st Annual Canadian Retail Grand Prix Awards in 2024.

RRC Polytech’s Prairie Research Kitchen (PRK) first developed the prototype and the bench top production process for fava tofu in 2019 alongside several research and industry partners as part of The Prairie Plant Protein Project. Canada is one of the largest producers of pulses and lentils globally, and the research project aimed to bring more plant protein consumer-packaged goods to market.

“We used different protein extraction methods and specialized equipment to make new types of tofu using Manitoba-grown beans, soy and hemp. The fava tofu had the best texture,” explained Elena Gomez Haro, PRK’s Industry Liaison Manager.

This research provided fundamental knowledge about how different plant proteins work as tofu and highlighted value-added uses for their by-products. Prairie Fava, a partner of the PRK since 2016, was an ingredient supplier and industrial partner in the project.

Then, in 2020, Big Mountain Foods approached PRK to commercialize the prototype by conducting product and process validation with their newly purchased state-of-the art equipment. The PRK team supported Big Mountain Foods in its process validation work and adjusted the product to their production capacity and facilities. Thanks to an investment from Protein Industries Canada (PIC), this partnership grew into an ongoing one, and PRK became Big Mountain Foods’s product development partner. 

“The technical knowledge provided by the Prairie Research Kitchen team was crucial to our product development,” says Jasmine Byrne, President of Big Mountain Foods. “From many refinement trials to on-site troubleshooting, their expertise helped guide us to achieve the results we’d been looking for.”

The partnership turned out to be good not only for Manitoba but for the whole country since Big Mountain Foods now sells this product at over 3000 stores across Canada and the United States. Gomez Haro says the initial fava tofu prototype wouldn’t have been possible without previous product development work with Prairie Fava and the contributions of RRC Polytech students.

“Culinary students worked on recipes and explored creative ways to use fava while following a scientific method to ensure the results were backed by research. Life Sciences students also helped develop methodologies and techniques for instrumental testing,” says Gomez Haro. “Their contributions added immense value at every stage of the process.”

Internal collaboration across all areas of the College is one of RRC Polytech’s strengths, which maximizes facilities and expertise to provide clients with solutions.

To demonstrate the impact that applied research projects make on all Manitobans, we present RPI’s 20 Stories for 20 Years. A compilation showcasing successful partnerships from the past and the present, with a constant focus on the future.

QDoc is a free, provincially funded software application that connects patients to doctors using real-time video. This allows patients in Manitoba, Nunavut and NW Ontario to access non-emergent healthcare from the comfort of their home, potentially saving hours of driving or waiting time. 

Looking back, Ralph Dueck, Chair of RRC Polytech’s ACE Project Space, says, “The collaboration with QDoc stands out because of both the impact and the innovation in healthcare that it brings to the local community.”

QDoc has rapidly expanded since launching in May 2022. The service sees over 4500 patients a month and saves 550 ER visits a month on average, and those numbers keep increasing month-over-month, according to QDoc. While they initially only had doctors available, in early 2024, QDoc completed a pilot project that brought nurse practitioners onto the platform. Now, QDOC has over 200 local healthcare providers. 

RRC Polytech got involved back in June 2021. With tight timelines and many projects going at once, QDoc co-founders Dr. Norman Silver and David Berkowits reached out to existing partners at the College to see if students could help with the software development. It was a perfect opportunity for the ACE Project Space, an interactive workspace where students, entrepreneurs and other companies can collaborate to bring ideas to life.

“The partnership not only allowed Red River students to develop software development skills but also benefited our company by introducing fresh perspectives,” says Blessings Manatsa, QDoc’s Software Developer Team Lead.

Working with ACE Project Space is unique because students lead and act as consultants rather than joining the staff and working within their structure. For QDoc, RRC Polytech students led four projects, including building a scheduling assistant that created interconnections between the app and free time in doctor calendars, using optical character recognition (OCR) to automatically upload patient health cards directly into the application and user testing of the online platform. 

“While they were in the learning phase, their contributions sparked ideas and inspired changes, some of which were ultimately implemented. Their efforts reflect how collaboration with emerging talent can drive innovation,” says Blessings.

Since working with RRC Polytech to build out its application, QDoc has expanded its partnership with the College to other areas, namely business administration and operations. In fact, many of QDoc’s current operations team came from the Business Administration and Business Management internship programs.

Karen Kabel, the Associate Dean of Creative Arts and Applied Computer Education at RRC Polytech, says all the leaders at the College are very proud of their students and QDoc. How could they not be? In 2024 alone, QDoc took home The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Prairies Award, the Spirit of Winnipeg Technology Award, the Digital Health Canada Community Leader Award and was one of the CIO Awards Canada winners.

To demonstrate the impact that applied research projects make on all Manitobans, we present RPI’s 20 Stories for 20 Years. A compilation showcasing successful partnerships from the past and the present, with a constant focus on the future.

On January 15, 2025, the Government of Canada announced that RRC Polytech has been chosen to lead a national network of post-secondary institutions and collaborative partners to bring more academic research ideas to reality, support Indigenous business and drive economic growth.

As part of a national innovation strategy to increase entrepreneurship and research commercialization across Canada, the College has been awarded $24.1 million in federal funding over five years through a Lab to Market grant — becoming one of four network leaders to share in a total investment of $95.3 million.

Administered by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), in collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), this is the largest tri-council grant ever awarded to or led by a college in Canada.

“For over 20 years, RRC Polytech has been solving industry problems and training tomorrow’s future leaders through applied research, and today we are honoured to continue to build on our strengths as a polytechnic and lead this collaborative, nation-wide network through the largest ever tri-council investment in a college,” said Fred Meier, RRC Polytech’s President and CEO.

“Our shared goal is to find solutions for the challenges that all Canadians are facing. This network combines the unique abilities of researchers at colleges and universities and connects them directly with industry and community to accelerate innovation.”

The College-University Lab to Market Network for Entrepreneurship and Research Commercialization spans eight regional hubs from B.C. to Nova Scotia and brings together 38 post-secondary institutions, along with other collaborators — including RRC Polytech’s Mittohnee Pogo’ohtah, one of three Indigenous hubs.

The support of Indigenous business growth is a foundational objective. Tailoring mentorship and resources to support Indigenous entrepreneurs while ensuring all research respects the principles of OCAP® (Ownership, Control, Access and Possession) is a shared goal that differentiates this network from other proposals that were considered.

Another unique element is including both colleges and universities, as they traditionally take a different approach to research. The network is designed to maximize the strengths of all contributors.

“Canada is home to world-class researchers, who generate ground-breaking technologies and innovations, and they need support to successfully commercialize their work,” said the Hon. François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. “Through these networks, researchers will receive the support they need to bring their innovations to market, benefiting communities from coast to coast to coast.”

Canadian researchers continually make discoveries with extraordinary potential across all sectors of the economy and society, but additional guidance and support is required for their ideas to become the next great products and processes.

The infrastructure and expertise in industry-facing applied research found at Canada’s colleges and polytechnic institutions is critical for translating university-led academic research into innovation for the market and community users.

“This investment is a significant step in supporting Canadian researchers by giving them the tools, resources and support they need to turn their ideas into real-world solutions,” said the Hon. Terry Duguid, Minister of Sports and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, who was at RRC Polytech’s Notre Dame Campus to make the announcement.

“By connecting academic research with industry, we are helping to create new opportunities for innovation and economic growth across Canada.”

The new network will provide researchers with what they need to transfer scientific, social and service innovation to market or to community users. This support includes the sharing of best practices, digital resources to enhance awareness and knowledge of commercialization processes, mentorship and business coaching, financial assistance and access to an established Canada-wide network of Technology Access Centres.

RRC Polytech’s strong reputation for collaboration, central location and commitment to deepening partnerships and Truth and Reconciliation made it a natural fit to lead the network — another first, considering its size and scope.

“The college, university, community and industry partners in this initiative are the links in a chain of innovation and entrepreneurialism,” said Dr. Jolen Galaugher, RRC Polytech’s Executive Director, Research Partnerships and Innovation.

“By working together to ramp up productivity through the commercialization of Canadian research and IP, we’ll enhance our global competitiveness and positively affect all aspects of life for Canadians — economic, social or environmental.”

The Lab to Market initiative provides stable, long-term funding for all disciplines within the natural sciences, engineering, the social sciences, the humanities and health. RRC Polytech will immediately begin building capacity to lead its network of participants dedicated to fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem that accelerates the economic and societal impact of Canadian research.

“Lab to Market grants bridge the gap between research ideas and their translation into economic and social innovation,” said NSERC President Alejandro Adem. “I can’t wait to see the results that will emerge from this new initiative.”

Co-applicant institutions:

British Columbia Institute of Technology, Cégep de Sherbrooke, Cégep de Thetford, College of the North Atlantic, Humber Polytechnic, Lethbridge College, Loyalist College of Applied Arts and Technology, MacEwan University, Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology, Mount Saint Vincent University, New Brunswick Community College, NorQuest College, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Northwestern Polytechnic, Nova Scotia Community College, Olds College, Red Deer Polytechnic, Saint Mary’s University, Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Selkirk College, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, University College of the North, University of Alberta, University of Lethbridge, University of Manitoba, University of Regina, University of Saskatchewan, United College – University of Waterloo, Western University, Yukon University 

Collaborating partners:  

MTA, NorthForge, Mitacs, Polytechnics Canada, Tech Access Canada, C2R2, Applied Pharmaceuticals Innovation, Edmonton Regional Innovation Network, CARIN, Calgary Innovation Coalition, Innovation Saskatchewan, Cultivator powered by Conexus, Synchronex, Axelys, Springboard Atlantic, Atlantic Colleges Atlantique

To demonstrate the impact that applied research projects make on all Manitobans, we present RPI’s 20 Stories for 20 Years. A compilation showcasing successful partnerships from the past and the present, with a constant focus on the future.

Not many companies can say they literally reinvented the wheel, but RAIN Irrigation (previously Cascade Manufacturing) worked with RRC Polytech’s Technology Access Centre for Aerospace and Manufacturing (TACAM) to be able to make that claim.

The typical agricultural irrigation system has steel rims and air-filled rubber tires that eventually lose pressure or go flat, leading to repair downtime and maintenance issues. RAIN’s all-steel bolted wheel for irrigation systems is low-maintenance by design.

“The improved irrigation wheel enhances equipment reliability and efficiency, directly benefiting Manitoba’s farming community,” says Ryan Cummine, Research Manager, TACAM.

Matt Waldner, CEO of RAIN, started working on the prototype for the bolted wheel in 2018 but eventually encountered issues with the steel cracking. RAIN partnered with TACAM to review the design and identify the causes of failure. 

“We support local industries by providing access to high-level technical capabilities that smaller companies might not have in-house,” says Cummine. “This project showcases how TACAM customizes its research and development services to address specific industry challenges, bridging the gap between theoretical solutions and practical applications.”

With 3D CAD files provided by RAIN, TACAM used 3D modelling and finite element analysis (FEA) to evaluate the stresses throughout the wheel. By testing solutions virtually, TACAM significantly reduced the development time and costs. 

“With TACAM’s expertise on how to minimize stress concentration points, we were able to produce a bolted wheel with thinner grade material than we thought possible,” said Waldner. “The FEA study they conducted determined that the stresses were within tolerance, which gave us the confidence to manufacture and test the product in field conditions.”

RAIN used TACAM’s recommendations to redesign the wheel. The original bolted wheel failed under 10,000 load cycles; after the redesign, it is expected to last over 200,000. In 2023, RAIN start manufacturing and selling the product to local and international customers.

To demonstrate the impact that applied research projects make on all Manitobans, we present RPI’s 20 Stories for 20 Years. A compilation showcasing successful partnerships from the past and the present, with a constant focus on the future.

Manitoba’s aerospace industry faced a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) challenge: repairing aircraft components made from alloys highly susceptible to degradation and oxidization. These materials are lightweight but costly to maintain and repair—until now.

A collaboration between StandardAero and RRC Polytech’s Technology Access Centre for Aerospace and Manufacturing (TACAM) proved that cold spray technology can provide an innovative solution that meets the Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) standards.

“I was very appreciative of the work that RRC Polytech performed on this project and pleased with the collaboration between the two technical teams to produce an output we’ll hopefully be able to use for years to come,” says Brent Ostermann, Vice President of Product Assurance and Quality at Standard Aero. “[Cold spray] is going to help us advance our business, technology and capability in the future.” 

Cold spray is an additive manufacturing process where metal particles half the thickness of a strand of hair move at 23 times the speed of sound, impacting to a surface to form a bond. Light alloys are highly reactive so they can’t be repaired using traditional methods like welding, but they can be repaired using cold spray because the process occurs at a very low heat.

StandardAero worked with RRC Polytech researchers, faculty and students to identify which alloys had the best bonding properties and prove the technology’s capacity to repair those materials.

“Now that we have the proof of concept on specific materials, we’ll look at the data and identify some candidates from all the products we service…Sometime in 2025, we’ll start applying the technology to those products,” says Ostermann. “We believe this project has positioned us to be right there with the demands of the OEMs as they need new and advanced repair technologies to support their products.”

TACAM’s strong presence in the aerospace sector, experience with cold spray technology from ongoing projects and long-standing relationship with StandardAero made the Centre an ideal partner. 

“We were a bit challenged on having some of the internal expertise,” says Ostermann. “The collaboration gave us the bandwidth to get to the end result much quicker.

The year-long project took place at the Centre for Aerospace Technology & Training (CATT), co-located at StandardAero’s Plant 5 facility, engaging RRC Polytech researchers, faculty and students. It allowed the College and StandardAero to build in-house capabilities, provide training and foster technology transfer to support this MRO method. 

Along with producing highly skilled graduates, this project will have a broader impact across our province: The new experience and capabilities developed with cold spray technology can be transferred to support partners in other sectors across Manitoba.

“This project showed TACAM’s ability to push the boundaries of advanced manufacturing and repair techniques for critical aerospace components,” says Ryan Cummine, Research Manager, TACAM. 

“We are proud to have supported one of the province’s leading aerospace companies in developing innovative techniques for aircraft component repair by combining advanced manufacturing technologies and applied research.”