SAIT's metallurgy lab gets ready for an upgrade
Metallurgy — the study of metal's physical and chemical properties — is at the core of all the infrastructure, tools, and vehicles that make our everyday lives possible, from bridges and oil pipelines to computers and shopping carts.
"If we don't understand how materials behave, we can't design or produce products that are safe and reliable," says Josh Brewster (WET '14), Interim Associate Dean of the School of Manufacturing and Automation.
Metallurgy expertise is essential for building the future. To continue to provide an exceptional educational experience and meet the needs of incoming SAIT students, Brewster and the team are looking to raise $200,000 for upgrades to the metallurgy lab in the Aldred Centre.
Initially located in Heritage Hall, the lab is believed to have been established in the 1940s. Since then, around 450 students have used the lab every year. Several pieces of equipment in the lab date back to the 1960s and 70s.
While the tools available are still the industry's gold standard for metallurgical study, the department wants to purchase additional pieces of key equipment and modernize those that are due for an upgrade.
At the top of their wishlist is a second Vickers hardness tester — a benchmark tool in the industry. "It's a crucial piece of equipment that helps students learn the mechanical properties of materials so they can apply that knowledge to their work," says Adam Dyck (WET '24), former president of the Welding Engineering Technology student club. "We currently have a bottleneck around the Vickers hardness tester," Brewster says. "It can take over an hour to scan welds and students often wait to use it."
The metallurgy lab at SAIT is also one of the last that still does sample preparation manually. Acquiring machines that automate the process will also save on class time.
"Having additional equipment and being able to use it more efficiently would free up the program to diversify the learning content. It would also ensure that students feel confident taking on more types of jobs," Dyck says. "Metallurgy is integral to our society. It's so important that this lab remains at the forefront of cutting-edge technology."
For more information on how to make a donation to the School of Manufacturing and Automation, please get in touch with Greg Ball, Academic Chair of Welding Engineering Technology and Non-Destructive Testing, at greg.ball@sait.ca.
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SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.
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