Playing in a technology sandbox: Canadore's ICAMP takes innovation to new heights.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: DESIGN BUILD - Canadore College

Walk into the reception area of Canadore College's ICAMP facility and you'll meet "Baxter."

With his largely chunky arms and kindly, expressive cartoon eyes peering from a computer monitor face, he's the unofficial ambassador and greeter at the Innovation Centre for Advanced Manufacturing.

Supplied by Rethink Robotics of Boston, the five-foot-tall mobile industrial robot, mounted atop a pedestal with casters, can be programmed to work on assembly lines, pack boxes, or even fetch a cup of coffee for his human companion.

He also provides a futuristic glimpse of the factory floor.

"We thought he would be a good asset to ICAMP," said Tracie Marsh-Fior, the facility's coordinator and the college's dean of trades and technology.

The whole premise behind building the 8,500-square-foot innovation centre was to work closely with local small and medium-sized manufacturers to take their production capacity and innovative abilities to a new level.

"Innovation centres are not a new concept for colleges and universities in Ontario, but ours is a little different," said Marsh-Fior. "There's no academic program associated with the centre; it's about industry"

The facility, which opened its doors in September 2013, was built inside the college's Commerce Campus, located within a North Bay industrial park subdivision.

With its array of technology it serves as a kind of research and development arm for many companies that wish to design, test and prototype new products on some leading-edge equipment that would normally be too expensive to buy.

The facility is outfitted with 3D printers, an electron microscope, Solid Works design software packages and a waterjet cutting table.

One interesting feature is a handheld optimal scanner that takes precise measurements of objects. It's a handy tool to have for examining the wear and tear on parts, or for reverse engineering purposes for pieces that aren't made any more or come without drawings.

Each piece acquired by ICAMP was done with local industry input.

More than four years ago, the college began talks with local manufacturers about the concept of a technology "sandbox" where companies could come in and try out new equipment on processes that would contracted to an out-of-town provider. "We went to industry to ask, what is it that you need to help your business grow or be competitive?"

Marsh-Fior said they were careful not to purchase equipment that would take away business from local machine and fabrication...