Automotive and surface transportation
General Manager
Key business contact
Craig A. Ceppetelli
Telephone: 613-998-9388
Email: Craig.Ceppetelli@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
NRC Automotive and Surface Transportation offers the transportation industry access to:
- unique infrastructure and expertise;
- state of the art testing and experimentation services;
- advanced manufacturing processes;
- rail vehicle/track interface and instrumentation to monitor railcar and road vehicle;
- Novel materials and design concepts for vehicle lightweighting.
NRC supports your company with developing engineering solutions that address the many challenges facing the sector.
Building on Canada’s excellent reputation for turning research into innovative solutions, we can help you take ideas from concept to commercialization. With a proven track record, unmatched research, development and demonstration capabilities and access to innovation support, NRC has earned a reputation as a valued contributor to the automotive and surface transportation sector including: passenger vehicles, heavy-haul and light rail, heavy-duty trucking fleets, specialized military vehicles, and first response vehicles.
What we offer
NRC supports Canadian vehicle manufacturers and their supply chain by strengthening their research and technology development, product innovation and manufacturing process capabilities to achieve commercially viable products and systems. Our focus is on:
- improving vehicle lightweighting through the use of aluminum and biomaterials as an alternative to steel and traditional plastics;
- enhancing the energy efficiency of propulsion systems through advanced engineering design of systems and manufacturing processes;
- working with parts suppliers to reduce component design times by leveraging design-to-manufacture software;
- improving fabrication process efficiency through process simulation and optimization;
- fabrication cost reduction through functional prototyping, low cost tooling and tool repair;
- lowering manufacturing costs attributed to vehicle electrification;
- reducing the incidence of derailments;
- enhancing the safety of vehicles and their operators;
- reducing maintenance costs associated with vibration and accelerated wear; and
- improving the operational efficiency of vehicles under all environmental conditions.
In addition, we specialize in delivering value-added engineering and testing services to the spectrum of transportation industry.
Why work with us
NRC Automotive and Surface Transportation has a well-established history of working with clients by providing them with leading edge research, technical and engineering services, and developing innovative technology solutions that solve their materials & manufacturing challenges
Our unique facilities provide our clients with cutting edge infrastructure that is routinely leveraged to tackle the most challenging product development needs, engineering challenges and product testing requirements. NRC recognizes that having timely access to such facilities is essential for our client’s success in this highly competitive and global industry.
NRC Automotive and Surface Transportation’s strength lies in its multidisciplinary team of over 300 experts. Tap into our highly experienced and specialized staff that includes technical experts, researchers, metallurgists, physicists, chemists, software designers, programmers, and engineers in the fields of automotive systems and components, engines, batteries, fuel cell, chemistry, structures, materials, manufacturing and systems.
This world-class research infrastructure and unique expertise, customizable service options and high ethical standards make us the ideal technology choice to support your vision with innovative services and solutions.
How to work with us?
NRC offers an array of R&D facilities and access to highly specialize scientific, technical and commercialization experts. NRC develops and transfers technologies through consortia, collaborative research contracts, services agreements and licensing arrangements, tailoring business opportunities to the needs of individual clients, partners and licensees. Contact us to develop a project to meet your R&D challenges.
Research and business opportunities
NRC Automotive and Surface Transportation performs research, technology development and demonstration aimed at helping the entire automotive supply chain, providing technology solutions ranging from targeted component development, advanced manufacturing process and prototype development, evaluation and testing, fuel efficiency, aerodynamic performance, power management, vehicle intelligence, climatic challenges, safety, and environmental impact.
NRC Automotive and Surface Transportation offers a wide range of expertise, but focuses our innovation efforts on the following:
- Vehicle lightweighting using aluminium, composites and hybrid structures. These lightweight cars, trucks, buses and trains will have greatly improved fuel efficiency without compromising safety and quality.
- Low cost vehicle electrification through advanced materials and reduced manufacturing cost for engines, batteries and fuel cells – helping bring about new, more affordable hybrid electric and electric vehicles with increased range.
- Improving engine and powertrain efficiency through material selection and lower friction surface materials.
- Design systems and advanced manufacturing bringing revolutionary new technologies to the factory floor aimed at reducing manufacturing costs and increasing production efficiencies.
- Bioplastics and biocomposites that deliver lighter, stronger and lower cost materials derived from Canada’s plentiful biomass.
- Ground vehicle health management through improved auxiliary power systems and aerodynamics.
- Advanced rail vehicle monitoring for maintenance management and reliability through autonomous instrumented wheel sets, data analysis and cutting-edge sensor technologies.
Technical and advisory services
NRC Automotive offers you one-stop access to a vast array of highly specialized services and on-site support such as:
- Materials manufacturing & processing
- Polymer and bioplastic;
- Polymer composites and biocomposites;
- Battery and fuel cell;
- Process simulation software;
- Powder forming metallurgy;
- Thermal and cold spray coatings;
- Laser manufacturing and micromanufacturing technologies;
- Surface modification; and
- Aluminum joining and forming.
- Vehicle testing and analysis
- Vehicle aerodynamics (Wind Tunnels);
- Full scale vehicle testing;
- Full scale vehicle testing;
- Vehicle and component analysis under severe climatic conditions;
- Heavy vehicle engineering and testing;
- Vehicle characterization;
- Vehicle accident and incident resolution; and
- Fleet optimization.
- Product testing and characterization
- Battery and fuel cell;
- Polymer and bioplastic;
- Polymer composites and biocomposites;
- Aluminum and multi-materials assembly;
- Rail impact testing; and
- Stress and fatigue testing and analysis.
- Computer modelling and simulation
- Dynamic and structural computer modeling and analysis; and
- Environmental simulation and analysis.
Research facilities
NRC Automotive and Surface Transportation maintains national research and technology development facilities in Ottawa, Boucherville, Saguenay, London, Concord and Vancouver.
- Aluminium Technologies Centre (Saguenay, QC)
- Polymer, Composite and Biomaterial Processing and Testing (Boucherville, QC)
- Laser Processing and Surface Modification (London, ON)
- Fuel Cell Development and Testing (Vancouver, BC)
- Powder Metallurgy and Spray Coatings (Boucherville, QC)
- Vehicle Aerodynamics and Severe Climate Testing (Ottawa, ON)
- Heavy Vehicle Testing (Ottawa, ON)
- Rail Vehicle Testing (Ottawa, ON)
- Design systems and Modelling Software (Boucherville, QC)
- Magna-NRC Composites Centre of Excellence (Concord, ON)
Licensing opportunities
NRC Automotive and Surface Transportation has developed significant intellectual property, in the form of know-how, patented inventions, software, processing, and material technologies, that is available for licensing. To discuss licensing opportunities that fit your specific needs, please contact our business advisors today.
Contact
Craig A. Ceppetelli
Telephone: 613-998-9388
Email: Craig.Ceppetelli@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
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