Red River College and StandardAero have been named recipients of the 2011 John Convey Innovation Award, for the contributions to training and technological development made possible by the Centre for Aerospace Technology and Training (CATT).

Awarded by ASM International (formerly the American Society for Metals), the annual honour recognizes companies for their contribution to furthering the development of the materials engineering industry in Canada.

In particular, the 2011 award recognizes RRC and StandardAero for their “excellence in the areas of innovative education/training partnerships and technological development in the implementation of the Centre for Aerospace Technology and Training.”

A joint partnership between RRC, StandardAero, the Composite Innovation Centre and the federal and provincial governments, the CATT provides access to advanced technologies and equipment, including an array of cutting-edge laser systems capable of welding, cladding and cutting parts with complex geometries and thickness variations.

The CATT also affords a number of other knowledge-producing benefits, chief among them a cost-effective model that benefits both the College and StandardAero. Under the terms of the partnership, RRC provides StandardAero with an applied research venue in which real-world industry problems can be explored and solved. In return for access to RRC’s academic resources (including training of operators, technicians and engineering technologists), StandardAero provides the facility, equipment maintenance, shop access and supplies, as well as trained operators and on-the-job trainers for RRC project support.

The 2011 John Convey Innovation Award will be formally presented during the ASM Leadership Awards in Columbus, Ohio, in October, as part of the Materials Science & Technology 2011 Conference & Exhibition.