2 minute read
Opening Doors for Industry Partners
Opening Doors for Industry Partners
What started as a request for employee upskilling led to new program development and cutting-edge research
North Star Windows and Doors has become a valued partner of Fanshawe’s Advanced Industry and Business Solutions (ABIS). ABIS is an internal College network that provides support for external partners and provides services including corporate training and upskilling, employee recruitment, research and product testing.
“We’re committed building the leaders of tomorrow; we worked with Fanshawe on training opportunities for our staff and to create the Window and Door Installer microcertification program,” says Sheldon Dyck, general manager of North Star.
This led to an exciting joint research project. Ultra-violet lights, specifically UV-C, are known to disinfect both the air and surfaces. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many hospitals and long-term care facilities increased their use of these lights to help curb the spread of the virus.
Testing the effects of UV-C light on glass surfaces.
“What isn’t known yet is what effect UV-C lights have on glass surfaces,” says Glenn Schmitchen, engineering manager at North Star. “For example, we use laminate film on coloured windows, and we don’t know if UV-C light may deteriorate the laminate.”
Through Fanshawe’s Centre for Research and Innovation (CRI), North Star secured a research grant from the Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation (SONAMI) to help answer this important question.
Led by Niagara College, SONAMI is a network of nine postsecondary institutions, including CRI, backed by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). SONAMI leverages faculty, students and state-of-the-market equipment to support manufacturing in Southern Ontario.
The research will take place at Fanshawe’s ABIS facility on Bonder Road in east London.
“Through ABIS, we are creating a pathway for external partners to access the College,” says Candace Miller, director of strategic initiatives and business development at Fanshawe. “North Star has been involved in almost every pillar of ABIS, and we are so grateful for the innovation they bring.”
