Canada's SAE Pavilion: Exhibitors With Cars on the Brain

DETROIT, March 7, 2004 -- Some 27 Canadian automotive suppliers, research centers and alliances have come together within the Canadian Consulate General's pavilion to demonstrate that Canada, with its long record of success in the auto industry, has world-class expertise in vehicle assembly, metal forming and casting, lightweight materials, advanced manufacturing, fuel cell technologies, and tool-die-mold.

Global best practices in such areas as hydroforming, environmental technologies, distribution and logistics, comprise "automotive intelligence" that drives the future of the global auto industry.

Exhibits from Canada's supply base of more than 500 parts manufacturers, most of which are clustered between Toronto and Windsor, complement the nation's private-public R&D partnerships such as the AUTO21 network of centers of excellence.

Located across the Detroit River at the University of Windsor, Auto 21 (Booth 1320) is a brain trust that is pioneering materials, manufacturing, health and safety, design, powertrains, fuels and emissions, intelligent systems ... even issues that affect society.

Diverse exhibits at SAE Congress typify Canada's automotive intelligence. Braintech (Booth 1221), for example, is giving production robots an ability to see in three dimensions using a single camera concept so radical that for the first time, assembly line parts no longer have to be precisely fixtured. With applications for material handing, engine assembly, welding and windshield decking, Braintech's vision guided robotics earned the company the prestigious Henry Ford Award for Technology Excellence late last year.

Software and hardware from Opal-RT Technologies (Booth 1222) smartly and cost-effectively integrates computing and off-the shelve technologies to give engineering customers a full-range of low-cost real time simulation capability.

Sekam Technologies (Booth 1411), which introduced fine cold forming to the North American auto industry, offers unique solutions in fine blanking, fine cold forming, transfer systems and difficult progressive stamping.

Trimag/SDM Group (Booth 1421) is a one-stop shop for total solutions in magnesium applications, from rapid prototyping to production.

Other exhibitors are showing the best in custom tooling, injection molding, die casting, impact extrusion, calibration, cold forming, injection molding, roll forming, deep draw stampings, transformers and wire wound coils, and browser based quote tracking.

Moreover, the voice of the Canadian components industry, the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association (Booth 1415) can elaborate on these and other contributors to Canada's automotive intellectual capital.

The Canadian National Stand clearly shows a country that has cars on the brain.