"GM Canada's engineering know-how, combined with the expertise of Professor Trochu and his team (which comprises research associates, technicians and a dozen students) will contribute to our country's competitiveness in the automotive sector," said Robert L. Papineau, Director General of École Polytechnique. "Polytechnique is proud to partner with GM Canada, the vehicle manufacturer with the greatest presence in Quebec through its supplier base development investments in education and research and development. The fundamental research we are involved in, will look to find a scientific solution for manufacturing lightweight composite parts in the volumes and cost required by the auto industry."

David Paterson, Vice-President, Corporate and Environmental Affairs, General Motors of Canada said, "This research project will build on Quebec-based expertise to help develop lightweight, high quality parts that can improve fuel economy, contribute to a cleaner environment and have the potential to support the competitiveness of the Quebec auto supplier network."

"In addition, École Polytechnique is one of just eight universities we have invited to be a founding member of GM's new Canadian Automotive Innovation Network.  Together with automotive engineering students, researchers, suppliers and automotive parts purchasers like General Motors, to accelerate the commercialization of new R&D in an effort to put great ideas on the road faster," stated Paterson.

Tom Brzustowski, President of NSERC, added, "École Polytechnique de Montréal has made Dr. Trochu's work the cornerstone of its polymer processing activities. This institution's program provides students with a tremendous opportunity to conduct research and learn in a cutting edge field. This is a good foundation for a long-term partnership with General Motors of Canada that will benefit both the École Polytechnique de Montréal and GM."

Low Cost Composite Manufacturing : Developing New Processes
The Research Chair will study various polymer composites that offer great potential as lightweight and corrosion-free materials for industrial applications. The emergence of optimized and low-cost methods to manufacture high-performance composites is a major scientific and technological challenge. It is also of great industrial relevance, especially in the automotive sector to produce lightweight body parts at a competitive cost and high volume.

One of the main objectives of the new Research Chair will be to demonstrate the industrial feasibility, of a new flexible-injection moulding process known as Polyflex, which was developed by Dr. Trochu and Edu Ruiz, a new faculty member at École Polytechnique. It is anticipated that Polyflex will provide a radically innovative and cost-effective way of overcoming many of the deficiencies currently associated with composite manufacturing.

"Polyflex permits a highly controlled increase in the manufacturing speed of thermosetting polymer panels reinforced by continuous glass or carbon fibres," stated Professor Trochu. "Many different parameters can be controlled; most notably the flexibility of the mould wall and the temperature of the resin Polyflex will enable the manufacture of more complex and better-integrated parts. The challenge is to accelerate the development of this new injection technology to eventually compete with currently existing processes involving metal sheet stamping."

About École Polytechnique
Founded in 1873, École Polytechnique de Montréal is one Canada's top engineering teaching and research institutions and first in Québec for the size of its student body and the scope of its research activities. Polytechnique offers courses and programs in 11 engineering specialties and accounts for nearly one-quarter of university engineering research in Québec. The school has 220 professors and nearly 6,000 students. Its annual operating budget is $80 million, in addition to a $61-million research and infrastructure fund. Polytechnique is affiliated with Université de Montréal.

About General Motors of Canada
GM Canada has worked in partnership with key educational institutions ranging from elementary schools to universities across the country on several unique engineering design programs, including PACE (computer-aided design, manufacturing and engineering software, hardware and training), LEGO League, FIRST Robotics, Challenge X, 67 R&D projects with various universities and seven NSERC chairs in Canada.  Headquartered in Oshawa Ontario, General Motors of Canada employs over 20,000 people nationwide. GM of Canada manufactures a variety of vehicles, engines, transmissions and other components, and markets the full range of General Motors' vehicles and related services through over 785 dealerships and retailers across Canada. Vehicles sold through this network include Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Hummer, Saturn, and Saab.

Information: 
Chantal Cantin  
Director, Communications and Public Relations
(514) 340-4711, ext. 4970