The goal of the NRC Aluminium Technology Centre (NRC-ATC) is to provide Canadian industry with the expertise and technical support needed to develop value-added aluminium-based products and services. Located on the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC) campus, the NRC-ATC fulfills the mission of the NRC Industrial Materials Institute (IMI) by strengthening the national infrastructure in the field of aluminium transformation in synergy with the Canadian R&D community.

Aluminium Technology Centre (ATC) building at Saguenay

Located on the UQAC campus, the NRC-ATC architecture highlights the use of aluminium

NRC-ATC

60 employees
20 guest researchers
Cutting-edge equipment and labs
6000 m²

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Mission

The principal goal of NRC-ATC R&D programs is to help Canadian industries manage, adopt and develop new fabricating technologies for aluminium products. Together with more efficient methods and the fabrication of value-added products and services, these technologies will help businesses maintain and improve their position in Canadian and world markets.

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NRC-ATC: A force for change in Canada

Research and development fields: Forming and joining

Laser welding
Research on laser welding for increased welding speed, distortion analysis, welding various alloys and laser deposit cladding.

Structural adhesive assembly solutions
Research on multi-material and new materials adhesive assemblies for groundbreaking structures needed by numerous sectors such as aeronautic and automotive.

Forming
Research on hydroforming for applications in transport safety. The NRC-ATC conducts full-scale modelling and characterisation and works to develop and optimise moulds.

Semisolid casting
Research into semisolid aluminium forming (SEED process) in collaboration with Alcan. Pressure die casting of semisolid aluminium paste produces higher quality parts than using liquid aluminium!

Some sectors in which NRC-ATC scientists are working:

Laser-MIG hybrid welding
Friction stir welding
Adhesive bonding
Heat treatment optimisation
Numerical simulation of mechanical deformations
Thixomoulding
Laser cladding and wear-resistance coating

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NRC-ATC: Cutting edge tools and laboratories

Analytical instruments

Instruments for metallurgical and physical analysis plays an important role in our research.

The availability of cutting-edge tools contributes to successful projets.

Laser robot cells
Welding and cladding experiments are conducted in complete safety using two robotic cells and our 4 kW YAG laser system.

Presse hydraulique de 1000 tonnes Large-scale labs (LSL)
The 1000-ton hydraulic press shown above illustrates our capacity for lage-scale characterisation. Our LSLs can be configured to emulate industrial conditions.

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A world of ideas, knowledge and innovation

Participating today in the world of tomorrow - nothing could be more exhilarating. The NRC-ATC brings together the best expertise that contributes actively to the creation of wealth for Canada through science and technology.

Research on hydroforming and numerical modelling of aluminium parts

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NRC-ATC: Providing business support

Access to information and training

CISTI (Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information)
Technology groups and seminars
Joint Masters and Doctorate programs

Access to partnership and collaboration

Access to NRC-IRAP (Industrial Research Assistance Program) advisors
Support to teaching institutions
Programs for industrial researchers at ATC facilities

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Industrial sectors

NRC-ATC expertise is pertinent for all industrial sensors where aluminium plays a part, notably:

Transportation (automobile, recreational vehicles, trains, boats)
Construction
Energy
Consumer goods

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Aluminium Transformation Cluster

Cluster initiatives across Canada are generating results as critical masses of skilled people, capital and entrepreneurial drive come together to create beneficial technologies for markets around the world. The NRC Aluminium Technology Centre is fully engaged in the aluminium transformation cluster initiative, working in partnership with stakeholders on a number of key research projects.

[More about the aluminium technology cluster]

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Contact NRC-ATC

Aluminium Technology Centre
501 Université Boulevard East
Saguenay (Chicoutimi), Québec G7H 8C3
Tel.: (418) 545-5545
Fax: (418) 545-5345

Bernard Arsenault Director Tel.: (418) 545-5544 Fax: (418) 545-5543 E-mail: Bernard.Arsenault@imi.cnrc-nrc.gc.ca
Alain Simard Business Development and Communication Tel.: (418) 545-5099 Fax: (418) 545-5543 E-mail: Alain.Simard@imi.cnrc-nrc.gc.ca