Applied Research Project to Quicken Access to Legal Marijuana
Aug 22, 2017 | Canadore College
(NORTH BAY, ONT.) – The Innovation Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Production (ICAMP) at Canadore College is working on an applied research project with a North American company to develop a more exacting process for curing medicinal marijuana.
Trichromes Ltd., a product design and innovation company, approached ICAMP to develop the CureCap, and automated curing system that works with glass mason jars.
“As Canada approaches its deadline to legalize recreational marijuana in less than one year, industry experts predict that there won’t be enough cannabis plants produced to meet demand,” said Weston Sagle, founder of Trichromes Ltd. “We see that we can play a role in accelerating access to legalized product to the marketplace with this innovative processing technology.”
The CureCap simplifies the “burping” method of curing marijuana by automating the air release from glass jars, reducing the amount of error associated with the technique.
Sagle completed the initial prototype with ICAMP in 2016 and is hoping to have the final version complete this fall for market well in time for legalization in July 2018.
“Working with ICAMP I was able to secure the funding necessary to make this brainstorm a reality,” said Sagle. “The facility and its staff have provided all of the resources needed.”
This project was made possible in part by Ontario Centres of Excellence Voucher for Innovation and Productivity I (VIP I) program, which helps eligible companies develop, implement and commercialize technical innovations by supporting partnerships between Ontario's industry and publicly funded post-secondary institutions. Projects funded through VIP I enable the development of new products and/or processes, facilitate productivity improvements, and help generate new revenues and high-value jobs for Ontario.
Trichromes also leveraged the Innovative Manufacturing and Facilitation Program (IMFP) through Innovation Initiatives Ontario North (IION). IMFP funded by Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP,) is intended to assist incorporated for-profit enterprises looking to accelerate innovation and commercialization in the advanced manufacturing sector.
About ICAMP
Canadore College’s Innovation Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Production (ICAMP) consists of 13,300 sq. ft. of industrial lab and design space capable of helping small- and medium-sized enterprises conceptualize, design, prototype, test and manufacture products. The Centre includes a large boardroom and 12-seat 3D theatre and specializes in additive manufacturing, precision 3D scanning, design and simulation software, CNC manufacturing, robotics, microscopy, destructive material testing, and non-destructive material testing. Resources include EOS and Stratasys equipment, Creaform scanning equipment, 3DS Solidworks, Solidthinking Inspire and Geomagics, 9-axis machining centre, waterjet cutting, YuMi robot, scanning electron microscope, multiple optical microscopes and more.
Canadore trains people through applied learning, leadership and innovation. It provides access to over 75 full-time quality programs and has outstanding faculty and student services. The College and its students add nearly $290 million to the regions of Nipissing and Parry Sound. Approximately 1,000 students graduate from Canadore each year, and they join 44,000 alumni working across the globe.
For more information, please contact: Jessica Charette at 705.475.2538 or jessica.charette@canadorecollege.ca; Carrie Richmond at 705.474.7600, ext. 5216 or carrie.richmond@canadorecollege.ca