Additive Manufacturing in Montreal, a Strength for the Local Industry

Additive manufacturing (or 3D printing) is well established in the Montreal area. Right from the start, it has brought new life to the manufacturing industry, which has a direct effect on the industrial and high-tech sectors, such as in the development of raw materials, the development of simulation and modeling software, and the development of specialized workmanship.

Industrial 3D printing gives industries the power to produce differently and represents an important link in the industrial value chain. Many multidisciplinary skills are directly involved in this economic activity. It includes, among others, materials engineering specialists, mechanical engineering technicians and designers, project managers…

In Montreal, and throughout Quebec, 3D printing benefits from a well-trained workforce and contributes to the synergy between manufacturers and research and development (R&D) that take place in our major technological schools and research organizations. Discover how this service uses Quebec resources to benefit manufacturers who supply a variety of products that are at the heart of human activity.

Additive Manufacturing, a Force to Be Reckoned With

Additive manufacturing entails several great qualities. This is why this service is so attractive to companies working in the fields of aerospace, defence, electronics, transportation and mobility, medical, and industrial applications. 

Robust and Complex Parts

Industrial 3D printing and advanced materials make it possible to produce robust parts of a quality that makes them ready to use in production. You therefore quickly get a product, once the mechanical drawing is compliant.

Production without Manufacturing Molds

Manufacturing with 3D printing does not require a mold, so it is faster and generally less expensive depending on the project, since tooling usually requires a considerable monetary investment.

A Profitable Service

In the current context of digital transformation, labor shortage, and energy transition, the use of additive manufacturing makes even more sense. According to Le livre blanc sur la fabrication additive au Québec, this technology contributes to better management of the energy transition and to a more personalised product offer in different fields. By optimizing the pressures exerted on resources, this technology creates new profitable business opportunities. 

A Tool for Research and Development (R&D)

For R&D, additive manufacturing is a major help because it makes it possible to produce a single part at a time, which can be tested in a real work assembly. This makes it quick and easy to make immediate changes to the design without incurring important expenses.

The Expertise of Additive Manufacturing Teams in the Greater Montreal Area

Entrepreneurs who offer additive manufacturing services in Montreal do not work in silos, far from it. They are in constant contact with the development of raw materials, simulation and modeling software, specialized labor, and standards and requirements. These development activities create a pole of attraction for leading-edge jobs in several fields while serving as a catalyst for economic growth.

Concentration of Talent and Skills in Quebec

A study by Réseau Québec 3D published in 2016 has demonstrated that a majority of organizations that are part of the additive manufacturing value chain in Quebec are located in the greater Montreal area. We also find that a significant number of manufacturing companies seek a local source of additive manufacturing products and services. All this economic activity generates a community dedicated to the improvement and diversity of the industrial 3D printing offer, in order to better serve companies. This community includes as much raw material suppliers as part manufacturers, engineers and parts post-processing service providers, among others. Additive manufacturing is also an important aspect of the work that concerns public research organizations such as CRIQ or IREQ, and universities and large colleges linked to technology transfer, such as McGill University, Université de Montréal, the ÉTS, and Concordia University.

Additive Manufacturing in Montreal: a Popular Technology

Additive manufacturing is already an important economic vector in Montreal and is bound to be so more and more.

The Wohlers Report, published in 2016, indicates that Canada has about 1.9% of industrial 3D printing equipment compared to 38.1% in the United States, while 17% of industries in Canada are already using industrial 3D printers. By making it possible to stimulate the manufacturing sector at the federal level, the expansion of the 3D printing industry generates economic benefits for all of Quebec as well. According to the study by Réseau Québec 3D, additive manufacturing activities could become a key factor for industrial innovation in Montreal, while sectors such as aerospace and health already are very active in the field.

Due to the many resources available to Quebec and more particularly Montreal (powder manufacturers, financial and academic support, etc.), it goes without saying that the province has the necessary assets to consolidate the ecosystem of additive manufacturing, and stimulate its integration.

Strong support for additive manufacturing in Quebec

Additive manufacturing has been able to drive the assets available in Quebec to come up with an optimal service offer to local industries.

Developed by PRIMA Québec, Le livre blanc sur la fabrication additive au Québec, highlights some of them.

Raw Material

The raw material is easily accessible. Incidentally, two of the world's largest manufacturers of metal powders in additive manufacturing are located in Quebec.

Renewable Energy Resources

Additive manufacturing equipment runs on electricity, which is one of the renewable energies available in large quantities and at competitive prices in Quebec.

Sizable Business Partners

Major business partners such as: Bombardier, Pratt & Whitney, 4 Kinova, CAMSO, Médicus, etc., help support the growth of industrial 3D printing service providers.

Specialized Workforce

Additive manufacturing is a pole of attraction for skilled workers in Quebec. These jobs bring, to additive manufacturing, expertise in R&D and materials engineering, among others.

Government Assistance Programs

Furthermore, Quebec benefits from government assistance programs, both provincial and federal, for R&D and for the acquisition of manufacturing equipment.

Solaxis: your Additive Manufacturing Partner in Montreal

One of the strengths of additive manufacturing is its immediacy. But what would immediacy be without speed of delivery? The possibility of having a service nearby is an additional advantage to the speed of execution of industrial 3D printing.

In addition to permitting fast delivery, Solaxis facilities located at less than an hour from Montreal provide customers with a multitude of advantages:

• The advanced industrial grade additive manufacturing service of Solaxis offers a wide range of materials adapted to different requirements.
• Our laboratory is not only used for development, it is also designed to carry out resistance and operating tests to ensure the quality of the parts delivered.
• Our operations have an efficient and automated quality system to ensure proper management of projects in high-tech sectors.

The demand for industrial additive manufacturing services is beginning an exponential growth in Quebec. Which is not surprising, given the range of possibilities offered by the manufacturing processes of this technology.

Solaxis is not on the sidelines. In collaboration with our customers and suppliers, we are constantly improving our service offers by providing innovative solutions. We are always on the lookout for new solutions and we invest continuously in the acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment, in the training of our employees and in the improvement of our offer to attract and retain the best talents in the industry.

An additive manufacturing service not only offers production, it also offers expertise and know-how to its customers. This service thus constitutes a bridge between design and execution. For a client, physical and cultural proximity allows for better interaction. The latter creates a synergy that advantageously replaces the efforts and investment that would require the addition of such a service internally. It's a win-win strategy that keeps on proving its profitability.

You have a project in mind? Contact us. Our team will be happy to assist you.