Robotics experts to assist in tech development.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: Master Builders Inc. and MD Robotics to help Northern Centre for Advanced Technology develop technologies for construction and mining sectors - Brief Article

The Northern Centre for Advanced Technology (NORCAT) is set to lure the largest world supplier of shotcrete applications and the makers of the Canadarm to Sudbury as major anchor tenants for their residency program.

Darryl Lake, NORCAT's president and CEO, intends to finalize agreements shortly with Master Builders Inc. of Cleveland OH and MD Robotics, Canada's leading advanced robotics experts to assist them in developing high-end technology prototypes and new products for the mining and construction industry.

NORCAT needs to think on a global scale, "not just limit ourselves to Northern Ontario,"' says Lake, who modelled the anchor tenant concept from a government subsidized technology park he toured in Oulu, Finland.

"We need to spin off new products to local enterprise that fit our industries here and partner with them for added value," Lake says. The Sudbury non-profit corporation has developed an impressive track record over six years as a local driver for economic development. Situated next door to Cambrian College, one of their partners, Lake estimates about 120 high tech jobs and 18 small companies have been spun off by NORCAT and its partners and clients since 1995. He says this latest endeavor could add 10 to 12 small-business support jobs and 4 to u5 new products.

NORCAT has made its mark as the development and testing department for many small and medium-sized local companies and budding entrepreneurs either strapped for cash or without the needed technical know-how to develop their product.

The major drawing card for their new venture partners is NORCATs underground centre, a retired mine in nearby Onaping Falls used for training and prototype-development testing.

Lake says the idea behind selecting the anchor tenants was to attract large reputable international companies inclined to do a substantial amount of business in the mining industry or in the Sudbury area. It's hoped these additions will develop a batch of products and spring off a number of new and existing Sudbury businesses to support them.

The partnership deal with Master Builders has already received the blessing of Mines and Northern Development Minister Tim Hudak last October at MINExpo International 2000 in Las Vegas.

Master Builders Inc., a Zurich-owned company with international trade connections, already has long-standing ties with NORCAT in developing and testing products such as shotcrete and membrane technologies that could be used in underground mining...