Rod Bruinooge, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced federal support for the Composites Innovation Centre (CIC) to establish a centre for the innovative use of agricultural products.

"Our Government is helping ensure that Canada remains at the cutting edge of the composites industry," said MP Bruinooge. "Through this investment we are helping Canadian manufacturers gain a competitive advantage in this growing sector."

The investment of $1.9 million, through the Western Diversification Program, will help the CIC purchase equipment to establish the Prairie Agriculture Fibre Characterization Industrial Technology Capability (FibreCITY) centre. As Canada's first agricultural fibre grading centre, this facility will efficiently evaluate and grade the capabilities of agricultural fibres that are used in key industries. The centre will help Canadian manufacturers gain a competitive advantage through advancing the commercialization of biofibre products.
"Of paramount importance to having industry, for example ground transportation vehicle manufacturers, readily accept using agriculturally grown natural fibres in their products, is to have an assurance that these materials will last the life time of the vehicle," said Sean McKay, Executive Director of the Composites Innovation Centre.

"The intent of FibreCITY is to develop the necessary test capabilities, material data bases and standards that will result in a very simple and easily applied test method to ensure that natural fibres selected for specific end uses will be consistent with their requirements thus securing widespread adoption by industry."
The Composites Innovation Centre (CIC) is a non-profit organization established in 2003 to support and stimulate economic growth through industry-driven applied research and development of industrial applications for advanced biocomposite materials.

To learn more visit:  www.compositesinnovation.ca