Known for innovation, Waterloo is home to Canada’s largest Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing (MSAM) lab.
Launched in 2004 in a small room on the University of Waterloo’s campus, the MSAM Lab is now located within Kitchener’s Catalyst137 facility with over $30M in infrastructure and more than 15,000 sq. ft of lab space.
The facility provides industry partners and students with access to cutting-edge equipment and expertise to develop, test and validate products – from raw materials to finished goods.
The lab offers comprehensive additive manufacturing solutions including developing advanced materials, simulation tools, prototypes, closed-loop control systems and characterization methods.
“We support customization and cost-effective production of complex geometries, helping strengthen supply chain resilience and drive innovation across various sectors,” says Dr. Mohsen Keshavarz, Industry Liaison & Senior Scientist at MSAM Lab.
What is additive manufacturing?
Additive manufacturing, also called 3D printing, is a technique of manufacturing parts and prototypes from scratch, layer by layer, through raw materials such as metal powders.
With applications in prototyping, advanced manufacturing, automotive, healthcare and aerospace to build more precise and lighter parts, the global additive manufacturing industry is expected to grow at a rate of 23.3% between 2023-2030.
Partnering with MSAM
While Additive Manufacturing (AM) is still a niche market in most industry sectors, the applications are rising for industries that need a more efficient and sustainable way to prototype and design products.
Aerospace, defense, automotive, biomedical, OEMs and energy companies are some of the main users of the lab’s R&D and manufacturing services.
MSAM Lab has a strong network of partner organizations that use the lab’s R&D and production services. These include GE Healthcare, GE Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Rio Tinto, VueReal, Mount Sinai Hospital, Siemens Energy and Promation.
“We’ve been in a long-term partnership with GE Aerospace which also led to several patents with them,” shared Keshavarz. The complete list of industry partners is available on the lab’s website as well.
" We have a world-class lab for testing, prototyping or specialized characterization facilities. If there’s something that’s not readily or commercially available, we can do special characterization in our lab. "
Mohsen Keshavarz
Industry Liaison & Senior Scientist at MSAM Lab
Here are three ways businesses can take advantage of MSAM Lab’s additive manufacturing capabilities:
1. R&D and advanced prototyping
Businesses constantly strive for faster time-to-market and better manufacturing processes. Additive manufacturing can help with rapid prototyping and customization. Thankfully, MSAM Lab is well positioned to help businesses across various industries.
“We welcome businesses of all kinds to collaborate with us on R&D projects and leverage advanced technologies and infrastructure. We also offer selected services for industries that need prototyping or small-scale production,” said Keshavarz.
“Our metal additive manufacturing facility includes technologies like laser powder bed fusion, electron beam melting, binder jetting, nano-powder material jetting and filament fabrication.”
The lab also offers ceramic and polymer based additive manufacturing at a smaller scale. It also helps that as an academic research centre for the University of Waterloo, the lab provides subsidized services to businesses when local industries have limited access to such facilities in the service bureaus.
“We also have grants and funds available from federal and provincial agencies that businesses can use for R&D and other services,” shared Keshavarz.
2. Customization and material innovation
From designing custom handlebar risers in bicycles for Tokyo Olympics to creating made-to-order golf club designs and innovating a space thruster to optimize rocket propulsion, MSAM Lab helps businesses improve durability, sustainability, performance and cost-efficiency.
The lab has the perfect mix of infrastructure and expertise to help businesses with customizing and creating complex geometries that go beyond traditional manufacturing methods.
“If there’s something that’s not readily or commercially available, we can do special characterization in our lab,” said Keshavarz.
3. Multi-disciplinary training and courses
“There’s a shortage of trained experts, which is a barrier to scaling up of additive manufacturing across Canadian industries. To address this gap, MSAM offers a range of training programs supported by FedDev Ontario,” shared Keshavarz.
These programs, which include webinars, industry workshops, in-person training and online courses, aim to build a sustainable pool of trained advanced manufacturing professionals.
The lab plans to launch a comprehensive modular training program in 2025, offering web-based courses followed by hands-on training for those who complete the online modules.
Through these initiatives, 1,500 students, research associates and industry personnel will be newly trained, making them work-ready for companies seeking expertise in advanced manufacturing technologies.
“We’re also designing trainings and courses for people at different levels of hierarchy in an organization. For example, some programs will be geared towards technicians and engineers, while others will be for managers about how to adopt the technology,” said Keshavarz.
Industry 4.0 is here
Additive manufacturing has the potential to drastically reshape manufacturing in the digital era. With our region’s manufacturing and innovation leadership, MSAM Lab is a strong weapon in the armor for businesses who collaborate with the lab.
“It’s a whole new manufacturing technology with its own applications from the design perspective and all the way to production,” said Keshavarz.
We can help you access resources and government incentives to expand your manufacturing capabilities. Contact us today to learn more.