North Forge FabLab marks 10 years

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This article was published 01/11/2021 (1621 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The North Forge Technology Exchange Fabrication Lab (FabLab) recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.

Founded by four Winnipeg entrepreneurs, North Forge is the largest, most accessible facility of its kind on the continent.

The non-profit now has four locations across the province: North Forge Smart Park on the University of Manitoba campus, North Forge (East) in Pinawa, North Forge (North) in The Pas and the Exchange District lab.

North Forge offers access to $3-million in manufacturing equipment, including 3D printers, laser cutters, computer-guided routers, vacuum formers, and a collection of other machines that process wood, plastic, metal and glass.

The idea behind North Forge is twofold — to give innovators quick access to the equipment they need to produce a prototype and, to host makers who are working on long-term ventures. The company estimates that nearly 3,000 entrepreneurs have passed through its doors since inception.

One of those minds is Matthew Olson, 30, founder of Prysm Manufacturing. Olson lends his design engineering and technical manufacturing expertise to companies that want to get a product on the market, fast.

The Winnipeg-born creative first connected with North Forge as a 21-year-old student when the hub was just starting out. At the time, Olson was building snowboards with a CNC (computer numerical control) machine, a hobby of his.

At the beginning of the pandemic, Olson partnered with Rob Ranson, who was the managing director of the department of otolaryngology at the Health Sciences Centre, to prototype and develop COVID-19 face shields.

“When everybody wanted medical stuff, like sure, we can do that,” Olson said.

During the span of one-and-a-half-months, Olson said the pair had the product in-hand and had locked down a multi-million dollar contract. Making the prototype took just three days, however. Prysm Manufacturing set up its own 35,000-square-foot facility to continue the work in the months that followed.

“That’s sort of what me and my team bring to people: you have ideas or things you want to commercialize, we have the talent and background to do that,” he said.

North Forge’s 3D printers, lasers and vacuum forming machines helped Olson create the original prototype. Once the design was solidified, Olson used North Forge’s machines to build new machines — from scratch — that would then churn out product parts.

“A lot of people think about the lab as a prototyping focused space, but it’s also a support space for companies that might not need a $100,000 3D printer all of the time, but it’s very nice to have one when you need it,” he said.

David Bernhardt co-founded North Forge with Mike Legary, Chris Johnson and Kerry Stevenson, when the four were originally working under the name AssentWorks.

“One of the big things for me is inspiring others to create,” Bernhardt said. “At the time we didn’t really know what we were building here. There was a vision, we had an idea, and we wanted to continue to let the idea evolve as we started to gather members.”

Since its inception, North Forge helped innovators belonging to more than 170 companies create at least 7,500 prototypes.

“The equipment is world class,” he said.

North Forge hosts an open house each Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Exchange District location on the 3rd floor of 125 Adelaide Street. To sign up, visit www.northforge.ca

For $155 per month, members gain 24-7 access to the 15,000-square-foot facility.