Making advanced manufacturing technology accessible is only the beginning. The real opportunity lies in helping companies turn manufacturing challenges into practical, testable solutions.
For many manufacturers, the question is not simply whether large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM) is an impressive technology. It is whether it can solve a specific production challenge, improve an existing process, or make a new product possible and how to explore those opportunities without making a major investment in equipment and specialized expertise.
This is the vision behind the new LFAM capability at INNOV, the innovation and applied research network of the Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB). At our Advanced Materials Centre in Caraquet, New Brunswick, we want to bridge the gap between emerging manufacturing technologies and their practical adoption by Canadian industry.
Developed around a KUKA KR120 R3900 industrial robot and integrated with Rapid Fusion technology, our new platform combines large-format pellet-based 3D printing with CNC machining capabilities.
With a heated 2 × 2-metre printing surface, the system creates opportunities to prototype large components, develop industrial tooling and moulds, and experiment with geometries and manufacturing approaches that may be difficult or expensive to explore through conventional methods.
Its hybrid configuration is particularly valuable. Components can be additively manufactured and subsequently machined using the same robotic platform, bringing together the flexibility of 3D printing and the precision of subtractive finishing.
But the real value goes beyond the equipment.
Our objective is not simply to print larger parts. It is to help companies determine whether additive manufacturing can provide a better way to address their industrial challenges and, when it does, accelerate the journey from idea to product.
One of the strengths of our Caraquet centre is its existing expertise in composite materials, mechanical testing, material characterization, and manufacturing process development.
This allows us to approach LFAM as a research and innovation platform rather than simply a production tool.
Our teams have already begun exploring alternative feedstocks, including the printing of prototype components using a composite formulation containing 60% wood flour. These initial trials highlight the potential to investigate bio-based materials and explore new uses for material resources relevant to Atlantic Canada's industrial landscape.
There are many potential directions to explore, from composite moulds and manufacturing tooling to customized industrial components and functional prototypes. Potential applications serve a broad range of sectors, including marine, manufacturing, aerospace, and autonomous vehicle technologies for aerial, ground, and maritime environments.
Each application comes with its own technical requirements. Material behaviour, mechanical performance, dimensional accuracy, surface finishing, and economic feasibility all need to be evaluated before a promising concept can become a reliable industrial solution.
This is where applied research plays an essential role.
Our longer-term ambition is to develop a collaborative environment where manufacturers, technology providers, and research teams can investigate real industrial applications of LFAM.
For companies, working with INNOV can mean exploring a manufacturing concept, testing materials, developing a prototype, validating a process, or assessing the technical feasibility of adopting additive manufacturing before committing to a larger investment.
We see particular value in working with businesses that have a manufacturing problem but may not yet know whether LFAM is the right answer.
By combining equipment, research expertise, and industry collaboration, we aim to help transform technological potential into practical knowledge, validated applications, and new opportunities for Canadian manufacturers.
Ultimately, our goal is not simply to demonstrate what a robot can produce, but to demonstrate what businesses can achieve with the right technology and expertise.
An invitation to Canadian industry!
Have a large component, mould, prototype, or manufacturing challenge worth exploring?
We invite manufacturers, material developers, and industrial partners across Canada to connect with our team.
Whether you want to investigate a new material, assess the feasibility of a complex component, explore an alternative manufacturing process, or develop a proof of concept, INNOV can help you evaluate the possibilities.
You don't need to come to us with a fully defined additive manufacturing project. Bring us your challenge, and let's explore the right solution together.
Learn more about our capabilities and connect with our team: https://innov.ccnb.ca/en/
