Conducts applied research in manufacturing and advanced materials, with expertise in materials characterization, robotics, artificial intelligence, and additive manufacturing.
The Centre for Innovation and Research in Advanced Manufacturing and Materials (CIRAMM) at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology’s (SAIT) Applied Research and Innovation Services (ARIS) conducts applied research in advanced manufacturing and materials. Its multidisciplinary team of principal investigators, laboratory supervisors, technicians, and research assistants leverages state-of-the-art facilities and equipment to support the synthesis, processing, characterization, and manufacturing of advanced materials.
CIRAMM's expertise spans materials characterization, robotics, artificial intelligence, and additive manufacturing across five specialized laboratories. The Centre supports regional, national, and international partners in advancing concepts, designs, and prototypes for applications in the aerospace, construction, defence, energy, and manufacturing sectors.
As one of 13 designated NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) centres in Canada, CIRAMM contributes to defence and dual-use technology innovation. The centre is also home to the Alberta Aerospace Research Centre (AARC) and the Alternative Construction Technologies (ACT) Hub.
- Mechanical, physical, and chemical testing of materials
- Advanced microscopy and materials imaging
- Synthesis and processing of novel alloys, ceramics, composites, and polymers
- Product design, computer simulation, and reverse engineering
- AI-enabled robotics and automation
- AI-driven machine vision and inspection
- Additive manufacturing
- CNC and robotic machining
- Robotic welding and cladding
- Aerospace and satellites
- Construction (including building, civil engineering, specialty trades)
- Defence and security industries
- Manufacturing and processing
Specialized labs and equipment
- Precision CNC machining: Manufacture complex, high-precision components and prototypes through advanced multi-axis milling and machining processes (HAAS UMC 750 5-Axis Vertical Machining Center).
- Robotic concrete additive manufacturing: Produce custom concrete structures and free-form geometries using robotic fabrication and large-scale additive manufacturing technologies for construction materials research (ABB IRB 6700 Robot with Linear Track).
- Nanoscale surface imaging and characterization: Analyze the topography and surface properties of thin films and nanomaterials with sub-nanometre resolution atomic force microscopy (Park FX40 Atomic Force Microscope).
- Metal additive manufacturing: Fabricate complex metal components, functional prototypes, and lightweight lattice structures using powder-bed fusion 3D printing (Nikon SLM 125 HL Metal 3D Printer).