18°c A few clouds
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Farm-grown tractors
Local firms work on plant-based vehicle parts
Buhler Versatile si working on tractor prototypes that will replace traditional tractor parts with ones made from plant-based fibres. (FREE PRESS ARCHIVES)
Manitoba farmers may soon be able to grow their own tractors.
That's because Winnipeg tractor company Buhler Versatile is now working with the Composites Innovation Centre to develop exterior parts made from composite materials made with locally grown hemp and flax mixed with agave fibre.
Paul Manaigre, director of engineering at Buhler Versatile, said the hope is the prototypes for four exterior parts -- the hood, fan shroud, crossover panels and fenders -- will be completed by spring so they can be fitted on engineering models and tested in locales around the world for the following year.
"The proof will be in the field testing," Manaigre said.
Buhler is in the process of rolling out a new tractor model and eventually a full line of farm equipment. Manaigre said being able to include something as innovative as parts made from agricultural fibre would be a winning feature.
"The key take-away from Buhler Versatile is that we have invested millions in developing a new tractor," he said. "Next year will be our biggest year for capital R&D spending."
Funding for the Buhler project and another one that will develop the use of flax fibre as a lightweight reinforcement in injection-moulded plastic for use in car interiors will be aided by an additional $210,000 funding from the federal government, which was announced Friday. The new money comes from the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program, which is delivered provincially by the Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council (MRAC).
Sean McKay, the CEO of the Composites Innovation Centre, said these projects are additional pieces of the puzzle that the CIC has been working on for many years.
"One engages a major manufacturer and the second project gets us looking at alternative utilization of the biomass," McKay said.
The CIC has been developing bio-fibre products and technologies with several different industry partners for many years. For instance, parts made from hemp-based fibre designed for Motor Coach Industries coaches are in various stages of development.
"We have 20 projects running at the moment in different stages," McKay said. "We are developing the supply chain, doing product demonstrations, filling in the technology gaps and commercialization of the material. It is a whole-ecosystem development."
Manaigre said from Buhler's perspective, there are many attractive elements to the project.
"This could potentially give Versatile an edge over the competition," he said. "It's exciting to think we might be able to produce a tractor that the farmers supply the raw material for. From a marketing perspective, it is a tremendous win."
One of the key elements to the whole bio-fibre supply chain that still needs to materialize is a local shop that can produce the bio-fibre matting that would then be mixed with resins and baked into the parts that are being designed.
McKay said headway is being made in that area but as its stands now, the work is being done in plants in Edmonton and Pennsylvania.
martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 1, 2012 B4
More Business
- Back to Top
- Return to Business
More Business
(1 of 34 articles for today)
Consumers buy new, cheaper cameras instead of fixing existing ones
7:07 AM 0
Poll
Most Popular Business
- Shark Club opens in citiplace
- McMunn & Yates absorbs five McDiarmid locations
- Daycare-subsidy rules bad for business
- Magellan signs MOU to produce F-35 tails
- Consumers buy new, cheaper cameras instead of fixing existing ones
- Carriers turned off by Canada's wireless law
- Local business incubator gets new name
- U.S. hedge fund increases its ownership stake in Tim Hortons to 5.5%
- Mountain Equipment Co-op unveils new logo, name to appeal to urban customers
- Price of oil rises near $99 as traders await comments by US central bank chief Ben Bernanke
- Sobeys expanding reach in Western Canada with Safeway acquisition
- McMunn & Yates absorbs five McDiarmid locations
- Shark Club opens in citiplace
- Aircraft maintenance engineer taking off
- Two CBC reporters freed after being detained in Turkey
- St. Vital Centre's energy savings help managers snag BOMA awards
- Toronto condo market poses economic risk to Canada
- Daycare-subsidy rules bad for business
- New owner for lumber stores
- Canadian credit unions an eye-opener
- New owner for lumber stores
- Earls Pembina says goodbye after 18 years
- Sobeys expanding reach in Western Canada with Safeway acquisition
- Grove Pub to take over former home of Papa George's
- New rules let customers cancel phone contracts without penalty after two years
- McMunn & Yates absorbs five McDiarmid locations
- MTS to sell Allstream to Egyptian investment group, focus on Manitoba market
- Where is easy street? Survey of city's richest routes may surprise
- Shark Club opens in citiplace
- Custom-made suits no longer just for the ultra-wealthy
- McMunn & Yates absorbs five McDiarmid locations
- Consumers buy new, cheaper cameras instead of fixing existing ones
- Daycare-subsidy rules bad for business
- Study: Wiser medication use could save US $213 billion a year in avoidable health care costs
- Knights riding in with cash to spend
- Transcona transformation
- Target exceeds sales goal at Canadian stores
- The $2-million question
- Accounting merger adds and subtracts
- Newfoundland and Labrador premier talks up new offshore rules before China trip
- Sobeys expanding reach in Western Canada with Safeway acquisition
- McMunn & Yates absorbs five McDiarmid locations
- Toronto condo market poses economic risk to Canada
- Cutting edge, made-in-Manitoba tech finds buyer -- in Manitoba
- Google unveils Internet beaming balloons launched into stratosphere
- Warren Buffett -- Winnipeg-style
- Accounting merger adds and subtracts
- St. Vital Centre's energy savings help managers snag BOMA awards
- Daycare-subsidy rules bad for business
- Consumers buy new, cheaper cameras instead of fixing existing ones
- New owner for lumber stores
- Snowbirds: It's that time of year again
- Sobeys expanding reach in Western Canada with Safeway acquisition
- Custom-made suits no longer just for the ultra-wealthy
- New rules let customers cancel phone contracts without penalty after two years
- Where is easy street? Survey of city's richest routes may surprise
- Value Partners cracks $1-B mark in assets
- MTS to sell Allstream to Egyptian investment group, focus on Manitoba market
- Manitoba Movers
- Grove Pub to take over former home of Papa George's
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.