Ribbon cut on $26M automotive research centre in Ontario
by Canadian Manufacturing Daily Staff
McMaster Automotive Resource Centre in Hamilton, Ont., will be automotive innovation hub
HAMILTON, Ont.—A former warehouse has been transformed into a $26.4-million facility that will be home to the development of automotive innovations in Ontario.
Located in Hamilton, Ont., about 70 kilometres southwest of Toronto, McMaster University celebrated the grand opening of its McMaster Automotive Resource Centre (MARC) during the 2013 Hamilton Economic Summit, a facility geared toward accelerating technology development and advanced manufacturing in the automotive industry.
“The opening of this centre is especially gratifying because it brings together several important principles that are the focus of our work at the university,” McMaster president Patrick Deane said in a statement.
Housed in 80,000-square feet of space, the centre will focus on new development, prototyping and large-scale product trials to market newly-developed automotive technology for mass production.
MARC is expected to be home to approximately120 to 150 workers.
Local small- and medium-sized businesses will be able to utilize MARC to develop innovative automotive technology, particularly in hybrid and electric powertrains, batteries and lightweight materials.
The Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) chipped in $11.5-million from its Prosperity Initiative to build the centre.
