Edmonton, Alberta, Canada - Apollo Machine & Welding Ltd. will receive an investment through the National Research Council of Canada's Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) to improve its laser cladding processes and output, which will benefit the oil and gas industry.
Apollo will receive up to C$172,800 (US$165,476) from NRC IRAP to enhance its laser cladding process, a technique that can extend the lifespan of metal parts for the oil and gas industry by 60 percent.
In business for more than 40 years, Apollo Machine & Welding Ltd. provides world-class machining, milling, and laser cladding for the global oil and gas industry. Laser cladding, which uses high-performance lasers to weld different types of metals onto existing metal parts, not only restores parts but also makes them stronger and more sustainable. In 2007, Apollo became the first Canadian company to offer this innovative technology.
"The financial support provided by the National Research Council of Canada's Industrial Research Assistance Program has allowed us to make technological advancements that propel us to yet a higher level of Canadian ingenuity," said Laurie Willis, CEO, Apollo Machine & Welding Ltd.
NRC IRAP provides a range of technical and business-oriented advisory services, as well as necessary financial support, to qualified innovative small and medium-sized enterprises in Canada. It engages in cost-shared research and development (R&D) projects with its clients. Firms helped by NRC IRAP are better equipped to perform basic R&D, commercialize new products and processes, and access new markets, allowing them to grow and thrive.
"Thanks to funding provided through NRC IRAP, businesses across Canada and right here in Edmonton, like Apollo, are doing innovative work to take their ventures to the next level," said Greg Rickford, Canadian Minister of State for Science and Technology. "These businesses are the motor of the Canadian economy, and our government will continue to put in place the right conditions for them to create jobs, grow and secure their long-term prosperity."