Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory
MSAM is the University of Waterloo's metal additive manufacturing research lab, offering LPBF, DED, binder jetting, characterization, and training services to Ontario manufacturers, SMEs, and industry partners through grant-funded programs including CSS-MAM and the Metal AM Voucher Program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersKitchener, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory does
Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory (MSAM) is a university research laboratory housed within the University of Waterloo's Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering in Kitchener, Ontario. Founded in 2017, MSAM is led by Research Director Dr. Ehsan Toyserkani (Canada Research Chair Tier 1 in Intelligent Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing) and Co-Director Dr. Mihaela Vlasea (Canada Research Chair Tier 2 in Sustainable Additive Manufacturing), with a research bench of 65+ post-doctoral fellows, research associates, and graduate students. The lab operates across the full metal additive manufacturing stack — feedstock and alloy development, process research (laser powder bed fusion, directed energy deposition, binder jetting, fused filament fabrication), in-situ monitoring and quality assurance, modeling and simulation, process control software, post-processing, and metrology — applied to ferrous, titanium, aluminum, copper, nickel, and cobalt-based superalloy families.
MSAM's commercial-facing offerings are delivered through three primary channels: the Metal Additive Manufacturing Voucher Program (up to $7,500 per business per year for first-time metal AM exposure by Southern Ontario SMEs), the Ontario Research Fund – Commercialization Project Funding (ORF-CPF, up to $25,000 per project for industry adoption), and the CSS-MAM consortium (a $5M federally-backed industry consortium targeting 65 partnerships, 86 businesses supported, and 50 IP rights by 2029). Core revenue is grant-based — $27M in 2017, $5.5M NSERC in 2018, and $5M FedDev Ontario in 2025 — supplemented by industry R&D partnerships with Siemens, NRC, Renishaw, Rio Tinto, Dana Inc., and others, as well as free online training courses (AM101/AM102/AM103) for workforce development. MSAM does not pursue external venture capital; it operates as a non-profit university facility with a hybrid academic-commercialization model.
Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory
- Legal name
- Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory
- Website
- https://msam.uwaterloo.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- MSAM is the University of Waterloo's metal additive manufacturing research lab, offering LPBF, DED, binder jetting, characterization, and training services to Ontario manufacturers, SMEs, and industry partners through grant-funded programs including CSS-MAM and the Metal AM Voucher Program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Metal Additive Manufacturing Research Services
- NAICS
- Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Additive Manufacturing Research & Innovation Labs (IMAAAJAA)
Keywords
Where Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kitchener
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Government Research Funding: CSS-MAM consortium funded by Government of Canada through Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), supporting sustainable scale-up in metal additive manufacturing R&D
- ORF Commercialization Project Funding (CPF): Ontario Research Fund program providing up to $25,000 per project for industry adoption of metal AM technologies, administered through MSAM's Industry Voucher Services program
- Metal AM Voucher Program: Vouchers up to $7,500 per year for eligible SMEs to access metal AM services including printing, design, characterization, training, and consultation
- Industry Research Partnerships: Collaborative R&D projects with industry partners including equipment access, expertise, and technology transfer
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Metal Additive Manufacturing Voucher - Up to $7,500 per business per year |
| Other | Multi-year contract | ORF-CPF Program - Up to $25,000 per project (typically $15,000) |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | AM101 - The Business Case for 3D Printing - Free |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MSAM is a University of Waterloo research laboratory that provides metal additive manufacturing services spanning laser powder bed fusion, directed energy deposition, and binder jetting printing, complemented by design, characterization, and consulting support. It also delivers open-access industry training courses (AM101/102/103) and runs industry-engagement programs such as CSS-MAM, the Metal AM Voucher Program, and ORF-CPF. The lab monetizes primarily through government grants, industry-partner research projects, and voucher-funded work for manufacturers rather than direct fee-for-service printing.
Product overview
MSAM is a research laboratory at the University of Waterloo offering a comprehensive portfolio of metal additive manufacturing services and programs. The core offerings include advanced metal AM printing services (DED, powder bed fusion, binder jetting), characterization, and design optimization. These are supported by the CSS-MAM consortium for sustainable scale-up, the Metal Additive Manufacturing Voucher Program (up to $7,500 per business per year), and the Ontario Research Fund Commercialization Project Funding (up to $25,000 per project). MSAM also provides industry training courses (AM101, AM102, AM103) covering business case development, AM fundamentals, and material science. The lab serves aerospace, automotive, nuclear energy, and other manufacturing sectors through direct services, industry partnerships, and workforce development programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Metal Additive Manufacturing Services End-to-end metal additive manufacturing services for industry and academic clients, including powder bed fusion printing, directed energy deposition, binder jetting, design support, in-situ monitoring, and post-process characterization. Used by manufacturers and researchers who need access to advanced metal AM equipment and expertise without in-house capital investment.
- CSS-MAM Consortium An industry consortium enabling member companies to co-fund and co-develop multi-process metal additive manufacturing research at MSAM. Targeted at large Canadian manufacturers and OEMs in aerospace, automotive, and nuclear sectors.
- Metal AM Voucher Program A voucher-based program that subsidizes Southern Ontario small and medium-sized manufacturers to access MSAM's metal AM services, including printing, design, and characterization. Designed to lower the barrier to entry for SMEs adopting metal additive manufacturing.
- ORF-CPF Program An Ontario Research Fund program delivered through MSAM that supports workforce development and community outreach, including engagement with Indigenous and rural populations around advanced manufacturing.
- Industry Training Courses (AM101, AM102, AM103) A suite of open-access foundational training courses (AM101, AM102, AM103) covering metal additive manufacturing fundamentals, processes, and applications. Targeted at working engineers, technicians, and managers seeking vendor-neutral introductory training.
Quantifiable outcome
- 25% reduction in print times through optimized support strategies
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature4 records
Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- University of Waterloo Technology Transfer (WatCo)coreTechnology transfer office providing governance for ORF-CPF program awards and IP treatment according to University of Waterloo Policy 73
- Rio TintocoreCollaboration to create novel recipe for water atomized pure iron for LPBF, reducing powder costs and support requirements, with economy of scale through partnership
- SiemenscoreStrategic partnership to accelerate industrial additive manufacturing through technology integration and expertise sharing
- National Research Council of Canada (NRC)corePartnership to boost industrial 3D printing capabilities in Canada through collaborative research and development
- PromationminorIndustry partnership advancing innovation in additive manufacturing
- The Barnes Global AdvisorscoreCollaboration for U.S. Air Force Advanced Manufacturing Olympics Materials Hurdles challenge, successfully printing Scalmalloy artifacts using LPBF technology
- U.S. Air Force Rapid Sustainment OfficecoreOrganizer of Advanced Manufacturing Olympics competition where MSAM-TBGA team won silver medal in Materials Hurdles challenge
- Toyal AmericaminorSupplied Scalmalloy powder for the U.S. Air Force Advanced Manufacturing Olympics challenge within one week of request
- Expanse Microtechnologies Inc.coreOntario-based startup providing customized CT imaging and advanced data analytics for AM materials and products, developed from close relationship with MSAM
- Dana Inc.minorRadial Fan Demonstrator project using water atomized pure iron LPBF, with design optimization reducing print times by 25%
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Singapore A*STAR SIMTech: Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research SIMTech operates metal AM R&D and industry consortium programs — comparable as a government-funded applied AM research institute with consortium and industry-services model.
- Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC): UK-based independent RTO running large-scale additive manufacturing programs for aerospace, automotive, and defense — comparable as a non-profit applied AM research organization funded by government and industry with similar consortium/service-bureau hybrid model.
- Precision ADM: Canadian metal additive manufacturing service bureau and contract manufacturer specializing in medical, aerospace, and industrial parts — directly comparable as a Canada-based metal AM service provider serving overlapping industry verticals.
- Can-AM Center (Carleton University): Carleton University's Canadian additive manufacturing research centre focused on metal AM process development, characterization, and industry partnerships in Canada — directly comparable as a Canadian university-based AM research lab serving industry clients.
- University of Texas at Austin — DREAMS Lab: UT Austin's Design, Research, and Education for Additive Manufacturing Systems lab — comparable as a leading US university AM research center with process monitoring, materials, and industry collaboration focus.
- National Research Council of Canada (NRC) — Automotive and Surface Transportation / AM Program: NRC operates metal additive manufacturing R&D programs in Canada with industrial partnership model — comparable as a government-funded Canadian AM research counterpart and an active MSAM strategic partner.
- Fraunhofer IAPT: Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Additive Manufacturing Technologies, focused on metal AM process development, qualification, and serial production — directly comparable as a publicly funded applied AM research institute offering R&D services to industry.
- CSIRO — Additive Manufacturing: Australia's national science agency running metal AM R&D programs in titanium, aerospace, and biomedical applications — comparable as a publicly funded national-level AM research organization with industry partnership model.
Broad incumbents
- Renishaw Solutions Centre: Global AM equipment OEM operating North American Solutions Centres providing metal AM process development and consulting — comparable as an industry-facing AM services organization and MSAM equipment supplier.
Emerging players
- Expanse Microtechnologies: Ontario-based startup spun out of MSAM providing CT imaging and advanced data analytics for AM materials characterization — directly comparable as an MSAM spinoff offering characterization services to the same customer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory social profiles
Digital presenceMulti-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory
What does Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory do?
MSAM is a University of Waterloo research laboratory that provides metal additive manufacturing services spanning laser powder bed fusion, directed energy deposition, and binder jetting printing, complemented by design, characterization, and consulting support. It also delivers open-access industry training courses (AM101/102/103) and runs industry-engagement programs such as CSS-MAM, the Metal AM Voucher Program, and ORF-CPF. The lab monetizes primarily through government grants, industry-partner research projects, and voucher-funded work for manufacturers rather than direct fee-for-service printing.
Is Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory a public or private company?
Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory founded?
Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory based?
Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory is headquartered in Kitchener, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government Research Funding is the primary driver. The others are ORF Commercialization Project Funding (CPF), metal AM Voucher Program and industry Research Partnerships.
Who are Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Singapore A*STAR SIMTech, Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), Precision ADM, Can-AM Center (Carleton University), University of Texas at Austin — DREAMS Lab, National Research Council of Canada (NRC) — Automotive and Surface Transportation / AM Program, Fraunhofer IAPT and CSIRO — Additive Manufacturing. Renishaw Solutions Centre is listed as a broad incumbent. Expanse Microtechnologies is listed as an emerging player.
Does Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory have an API?
No public API is recorded for Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory.
What industry is Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory in?
Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory's product category is Metal Additive Manufacturing Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAAAJAA, Additive Manufacturing Research & Innovation Labs. Its NAICS code is 5417 and its SIC code is 8731.