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University of Windsor
 | Monday,May 16, 2005 |
| Windsor chosen as site of truck R & D centres | |
| The creation of new research and development centres for advanced truck manufacturing and clean diesel technologies is an important step in building on the University of Windsor 's position as Canada's leading university in automotive engineering, manufacturing and design, says President Ross Paul.~ The new centres, announced Monday, represent collaboration between the university, the International Truck and Engine Corporation (ITEC), and the federal and provincial governments. ITEC is contributing about $65 million, Ottawa $33 million and the Ontario government $32 million. “The future of our auto industry is in high-end research and innovation," Dr. Paul says. "This venture with ITEC further strengthens our expertise with diesel engine technology and gives wonderful hands-on opportunities to our students and faculty alike.” Seven University of Windsor engineering students have already been involved in setting up ITEC's Centre for Innovation on Deziel Drive in Windsor. The centre will eventually house two mock assembly lines for research into "lean manufacturing" — which Leo Oriet, head of the university's Department of Industrial & Manufacturing Systems Engineering, terms "designing products for assembly at lower cost, to compete worldwide." He expects the centre will employ 10 co-op students a year, in addition to contracting work to professors and graduate students. The second centre, which will focus on research into cleaner, more efficient diesel engines, will build on the university's expertise in this field, says Graham Reader, dean of engineering. "This will mean tremendous opportunities for co-op and graduate students to gain leading-edge training and work experience in a world-class research centre,” Dr. Reader says. Students in disciplines besides engineering will benefit as well — in programs from kinesiology to sociology. Susan McDaniel, the university's vice-president research, says the choice of Windsor reflects growing recognition of the excellence of research conducted by Windsor faculty: "This is one of the many exciting research partnerships that put the University of Windsor at the forefront in developing Canada's knowledge-based economy. Work done in the innovation centre draws on many areas of expertise from across the university — it's truly an interdisciplinary research endeavour. " Paul points out that Windsor won two competitions to land the centres, beating out other research-intensive Ontario universities. He credits the victory to the vision and commitment of the Government of Ontario, specifically Economic Development and Trade Minister Joe Cordiano; the federal government, especially retiring Chatham-Kent-Essex Member of Parliament Jerry Pickard; ITEC; Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis and City Council; the Windsor-Essex County Development Commission and Chatham-Kent Mayor Diane Gagner. Click here for more information. Officials from the University of Windsor and the City of Windsor welcomed Monday's announcement of the new research and development centres. Standing in front of an ITEC truck are, from left: Ross Paul, University of Windsor president; Graham Reader, dean of engineering; Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis; Peter Frise, engineering professor and CEO of the AUTO21 Network of Centres of Excellence; Susan McDaniel, vice-president research; and Leo Oriet, department head of industrial & manufacturing systems engineering. |