Launched in 2004, the University of Waterloo's Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing (MSAM) Lab is now Canada's largest metal additive manufacturing research facility, boasting over $25 million in infrastructure for enhanced research, training and industry partnerships.
The lab's co-directors, Dr. Ehsan Toyserkani and Dr. Mihaela Vlasea, both professors from the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, are focused on developing next-generation metal additive manufacturing technologies while ensuring a commitment to sustainability through the adoption of eco-friendly materials and waste reduction techniques.
The lab's new 15,000-square-foot facility, located in Kitchener's Catalyst137, houses state-of-the-art equipment such as a quad-laser powder bed fusion machine. This expansion, supported by grants from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, and the National Research Council, consolidates critical devices, streamlines operations and fosters collaboration among researchers and industry partners.
MSAM's growth has attracted top research talent and strengthened Waterloo's global standing in additive manufacturing. The lab serves as a central hub for research teams and offers unique facilities for undergraduate and graduate students, providing a gateway for industry to explore additive manufacturing technologies and collaborate on research and development initiatives.
“Some post-graduate students who worked at MSAM as research associates and project managers have gone on to establish start-ups like Brickeye, OptiFab, and Formions,” Vlasea says. “Others have become professors at top universities in Canada and the United States or joined leading AM companies.”
By integrating advanced scientific discoveries with industrial applications, the MSAM Lab is shaping the future of manufacturing, driving economic growth, and promoting innovation in sectors critical to the global economy.
Go to From small lab to global additive manufacturing powerhouse for the full story.