Research Institute & Core Research Platform

The McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI) develops intelligent solutions to issues faced by Canada’s manufacturers in all steps of machining processes.

Nearly every industry is experiencing technological disruption. In manufacturing, developing new tooling and processes to meet shifting demands allows MMRI’s partners to stay ahead of the disruption curve.

Since 1999, MMRI has been a strategic partner to industry, applying world-class expertise and cutting-edge facilities to solving manufacturers’ challenges — honing processes to maximize productivity and quality while reducing cost, facilitating product innovation and providing training across a wide range of materials and manufacturing processes. MMRI also supports entrepreneurial programs through prototyping and full-scale production ramp up services.

For prospective researchers excited about the future of manufacturing, MMRI is a leading institute spanning many manufacturing processes where you can grow your experience and career in advanced manufacturing.

Research Services

• Performing material property assessments with a focus on surfaces
• Material selection to support high performance manufacturing
• Science-based tooling selection and development
• Data-based process development and optimization
• Condition-based monitoring of production assets and machine performance assessment

These services are organized to provide prototyping and manufacturing ramp-up support for local SMEs and startups. MMRI is establishing a 5G network within the facility that can be used as a test bed for assessing 5G applications in manufacturing.

Scientific Director: Dr. Stephen Veldhuis
Facility Manager: Steven Remilli

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The Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy (CCEM) provides world-class electron microscopy capabilities and expertise to Canadian researchers and industry working in a broad range of fields. Our vision is to be one of the leading electron microscopy facilities in the world for the quality of the scientific research, to be the go-to provider of electron microscopy services to Canadian industry and to play a leading role in promoting interactions amongst researchers in various fields nationally and internationally.

Located at McMaster University and operated by the Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research, the CCEM features a state-of-the-art suite of instrumentation and experienced, dedicated staff capable of getting the best out of each instrument. We are happy to work with you to find solutions to your materials research and development questions.

Scientific Director: Dr. Nabil Bassim

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The BIMR plans for and operates sophisticated infrastructure for the production and advanced characterization of materials. It also both disseminates and celebrates research achievement covering a wide range of scientific and engineering interests, related to materials.

The BIMR is an interdisciplinary research organization with the mandate to develop, support and co-ordinate all materials research-related activities at McMaster. The facilities of the Institute and its pool of expertise are also available to industry and organizations that require assistance with materials research and development or material analysis. Its membership of 123 faculty members is drawn from 13 departments in the Faculties of Science, Engineering and Health Sciences and several Canadian and International Universities.

Founded by Howard Petch in the 1960’s, the IMR is the foundation on which McMaster’s internationally recognized, comprehensive programme in Materials Research has been built.

Director: Dr. Alex Adronov

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The Biointerfaces Institute (BI) is a state-of-the-art facility implementing high-throughput research pipelines to investigate the nature of the biological/material interface, or biointerface. The Institute is led by Dr. John Brennan, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Bioanalytical Chemistry and Biointerfaces. Dr. Brennan is a world leader in the development of advanced sol-gel based biomaterials, biosensor technologies and high-throughput drug screening platforms.

The Institute has ten additional core faculty members with expertise in high-throughput synthesis, surface characterization, polymer chemistry, bioassay development and opthalmic biomaterials, with backgrounds in Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering.

The Biointerfaces Institute houses approximately $15M in advanced equipment that is primarily utilized for the development and characterization of:

1. New diagnostic sensors, assays and rapid tests
2. New biomaterials
3. Biologically modified surfaces

All equipment is arranged into “suites” that focus on:

1. Production of biological entities, including DNA, proteins and cells
2. Rapid synthesis and screening of (bio)materials using robotics and printing methods
3. (Bio)surface development and characterization
4. Evaluation of surface, material or device performance

Co-Directors: Dr. John Brennan and Dr. David Latulippe

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The CAMC’s research focuses on materials engineering including themes like strip casting of sheet metal, light-weight material systems, material degradation and protection, and joining issues as they apply to automotive material innovations.

The Centre for Automotive Materials and Corrosion (CAMC) is located in the McMaster Automotive Resource Centre (MARC) The CAMC’s research focuses on materials engineering including themes like strip casting of sheet metal, light-weight material systems, material degradation and protection, and joining issues as they apply to automotive material innovations. The Centre is also investigating opportunities for developing magnesium-based components for lightweight fuel-efficient vehicles.

Director: Dr. Joey Kish

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Centre for Emerging Device Technologies (CEDT) is an organization that facilitates study of the optical, electrical, mechanical, and biological properties of semiconductors and related materials and promotes the development of technology based on these materials.

Today, the Centre is made up of faculty members and graduate students from the various departments under both Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Sciences:

• Engineering Physics
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Materials Science & Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Chemistry & Chemical Biology
• Physics & Astronomy
• Geography & Earth Sciences

The Centre’s focus has been on photonics and optical materials & devices, however, the approaches and applications are extremely diverse. Further, the research interests span a diverse area. We develop lasers, MEMS, detectors, waveguide devices, and much more. Industrial collaborations take place frequently and new initiatives are always welcome.

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A world class research and development Centre that promotes hybrid technology and its transfer to Canada while working with industrial partners to enhance their global competitiveness and augment their capabilities in training and recruitment.`

Director: Dr. Saeid Habibi

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The Centre of Excellence in Protective Equipment and Materials (CEPEM) will assist research and development needs for Canadian companies, both existing and new, so that they can meet today’s needs for Canada but also develop the next generation of personnel protective equipment to become global leaders in the future.

Our vision is to create the next generation of personnel protective equipment to become global leaders. The funding will establish the center as a core facility to assist the large number of new companies that are being setup in Canada to design and develop PPEs, choose appropriate materials and their combinations as well as develop and provide advanced technology that will make them leaders in the world.

Director: Dr. P. Ravi Selvanganapthy

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The Centre assists industry in the development of cost-effective products and construction processes through sponsored and collaborative research.

The basic objective of the Centre is to link research with education to produces engineers who:

• understand durability of materials
• possess advanced analytical skills
• can identify client-specific needs
• can integrate design with the construction process
• can integrate sustainability considerations including maintenance and service life
• can include building envelope and services considerations.

The Centre will assist industry in development of cost-effective products and construction processes through sponsored and collaborative research. In addition, it is a goal of the Centre to increase recognition of the value of effective design to include optimum design, including timeliness of completion of construction. Also, the Centre will focus on practices that satisfy the need for comprehensive evaluation and documentation of design to limit extra costs, delays, compromised utility, and high operating and maintenance costs.

Co-Directors: Dr. Wael El-Dakhakhni and Dr. Mike Tait

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The SRC combines research objectives established by the steel industry with government funding supporting wealth creation through science and McMaster’s own identification of Science-based Manufacturing as a key research area. Developing exploitable technologies motivates and sustains a talented academic research team for the benefit of the steel industry, while producing a stream of knowledgeable engineers ready to make careers in steel. There are three components to the SRC’s mission:

Research leading to commercially relevant new approaches to ironmaking, steelmaking process control, waste processing, steel product design and metal forming technologies.
Training of highly qualified personnel to provide the means of transferring new technology to the steel industry.

Continuing education for steel industry engineers to enhance the receptor capacity for innovation.
Guidance from the Centre’s industrial members is an essential principle of the organization. We have built up a membership consisting of the world’s major steel producers, as well as suppliers and engineering consultants to the industry.

Director: Dr. Joe McDermid

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The McMaster Advanced Control Consortium (MACC) was established in 1988 to promote and advance process automation and related process systems engineering technologies through academe-industry interactions. Over the years, company membership grew and also diversified, with current member companies spanning the petroleum, chemical, steel, food and control technology vendor industries. The research in the consortium is directed by five faculty members from the Department of Chemical Engineering at McMaster University, with the remaining research complement comprising of graduate students, research engineers, post-doctoral fellows at various points in time, and undergraduate research students.

MACC continues to thrive after more than 30 years, and has provided significant benefits to both McMaster University and member companies. Numerous graduate students with Ph.D. and Master’s degrees who graduated from here have high technical skills that are developed through their course work at McMaster University combined with industrially relevant research. They are highly sought-after and are valuable assets to the process industries and their technology suppliers.

Director: Dr. Christopher Swartz

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The McMaster Institute for Energy Studies (MIES) is an interdisciplinary institute for the study of energy extraction, transformation, generation, transportation and end-use. Its research mission emphasizes the economic and environmental impacts of all stages in the energy process. MIES counts researchers from the sciences, engineering, social sciences and business administration among its members.

McMaster has a long and distinguished track record in energy matters. MIES was founded in 1980 in the Faculty of Engineering as an interdisciplinary institute for the study of energy extraction, transformation, generation, transportation and end-use. In the following decades the Institute also developed a focus on policy and economics.

Internally, MIES provides a forum for cooperation and interdisciplinary interactions between McMaster faculty members in the energy area and acts as a point of contact at McMaster for energy-related opportunities and to communicate them to the McMaster community. It encourages and fosters an interdisciplinary systems approach to the solution of energy problems in order to establish a credible capability for the assessment and evaluation of energy systems, thus providing authoritative advice to governments and industry.

Director: Dr. Dave Novog

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