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Cluster's success is rooted in collaboration
Aluminium production and transformation is a significant industry in Canada. It provides our economy with 17,500 jobs, which translates into $1.2 billion in salaries, and $12 billion in annual revenues.
The Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean technology cluster, which has a long history of economic success, is home to a wide range of large, anchor organizations as well as more than 70 innovative SMEs. The community’s collaborative culture is critical as the cluster tackles a host of complex industry and marketing issues too challenging and broad in scope to be addressed by a single organization.
In partnership with the region’s more than 300 aluminium technology researchers, NRC’s Aluminium Technology Centre (NRC-ATC) is devoted to developing key technologies that appeal to Canadian and international markets.
Commercialization and technology transfer
Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean’s technology cluster has prospered recently from the addition of state-of-the-art, specialized equipment that supports laser welding, aluminium forming, and semi-solid casting—all critical to key emerging aluminium transformation processes. In 2008–2009, 35 companies in the cluster community accessed this equipment, which is housed at NRC-ATC.
Over the last 20 years, many cluster SMEs have developed and commercialized equipment required by aluminium giant, Rio Tinto Alcan (RTA). RTA has provided its Arvida Research and Development Center for these projects. Innovations include liquid metal transfer trucks, manufactured by Mecfor Inc., aluminium compact degasser equipment, and the development of the treatment of aluminium in crucible process, commercialized by STAS Inc.
Partnerships and collaborations
Members of the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean cluster have struck many fruitful collaborative arrangements that involve the sharing of ideas and technology toward the common goal of producing marketable products.
A $10.5 million deal between Rio Tinto Alcan and NRC to develop an industrial prototype plant led to the installation of the plant at STAS inc. (a cluster company) in early 2003. The purpose was to develop revolutionary semi-solid die casting technology and, in 2009, the technology entered the market.
A three-year joint project with the University of Waterloo and General Motors Canada is evaluating the behaviour of hydro-formed automotive structures under crash conditions. The project takes advantage of NRC-ATC’s leading-edge parts design, performance evaluation and process modelling capabilities.
International networks and linkages
The cluster works with international partners to develop globally competitive technology R&D in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region. In particular, cluster members such as Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Centre Québecois de Recherche et Développement de l’Aluminium and Rio Tinto Alcan are establishing lucrative market opportunities around the globe. Key international collaborators include France’s CTIF, the USA’s Alcoa Technical Centre and Spain's INASMET.
Since NRC established a steady presence in the region, NRC-ATC has catalyzed 33 R&D agreements, several with international partners. NRC’s Industrial Research Assistance Program has also supported several international missions with SMEs to international trade shows and exhibitions in Germany, France, USA, United Arab Emirates, China and Italy.
Learn more about Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean's aluminium transformation cluster
Fact sheet available in HTML or PDF version.
Related Information
NRC Aluminium Technology Centre (NRC-ATC)
NRC Industrial Materials Institute (NRC-IMI)
