State-of-the-art Rolling Mill Unveiled at Natural Resources Canada's Hamilton Facility

HAMILTON, ON, Feb. 19, 2015 /CNW/ - Building on the importance of the manufacturing sector to the Canadian economy, a new, $5.96-million rolling mill was put into service today at Natural Resources Canada's CanmetMATERIALS facility in Hamilton. With its unique features, the mill will offer significant benefits to both the pipeline and automotive manufacturing industries and will attract innovative projects to Canada.

With this mill, CanmetMATERIALS can now develop steel alloys in the most comprehensive, efficient and economical way, creating the conditions in the manufacturing sector to provide both jobs and opportunities for the local economy.

Smart alloy design and innovative processing methods are essential to producing the high-quality, low-cost steel and aluminum sheets that improve the fuel efficiency and safety of passenger cars and light-duty trucks. The mill will also help develop high-strength and thick-pipe steel alloys to further enhance Canada's world-class pipeline safety system.

The mill is accessible to industry interested in R&D work on a cost-recovery basis.

Quick Facts

• The Pilot Scale Rolling Mill will allow CanmetMATERIALS scientists to accelerate the production of new steel alloys for pipelines and the development of lightweight, crash-resistant steel and aluminum components for vehicles, making them more fuel-efficient.
• Since the rolling mill can roll samples with initial thickness similar to those used in industry, the cost of development and the time to market will be reduced.
• CanmetMATERIALS works in collaboration with universities and industry. This new facility will provide a training ground for Canadian students and accelerate transfer of technology to industry.
• The CanmetMATERIALS laboratory was relocated from Ottawa to Hamilton in 2010 in order to better support innovation in Canada's manufacturing sector.

Quotes

"Our government is a strong supporter of the Canadian manufacturing sector. It is great to see that our investments in this state-of-the-art rolling mill will support the Canadian automotive and pipeline industries and promote opportunities and jobs for the residents of Hamilton."

David Sweet
Member of Parliament (Ancaster–Dundas–Flamborough–Westdale)

SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

Alexandra Lemieux, Press Secretary, Office of Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, 613-996-2007; Media Relations, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, 613-992-4447; The general public may contact: Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. EST, Telephone: [phone], TTY: 613-996-4397, (teletype for the hearing-impaired), E-mail: [email protected]; Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan); NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media