Anup Rana, PhD
Researcher
anup.rana@innotechalberta.ca
780-632-8427
Facilities
InnoTech Alberta’s Engineered Composites Facilities help organizations develop, evaluate, and commercialize innovative wood and fibre-based products. Using pilot-scale manufacturing infrastructure and specialized testing capabilities, we support product development, process optimization, technology validation, and commercial scale-up initiatives.
Our facilities are designed to bridge the gap between laboratory research and industrial production, allowing companies to evaluate new materials, formulations, and manufacturing approaches under conditions that closely reflect commercial operations.
Organizations use our facilities to:
Whether you’re improving an existing product or developing a new one, we have the expertise, infrastructure, and experience needed to support informed business and investment decisions.
The Engineered Composites Panel Pilot Plant enables clients to evaluate products and manufacturing processes under conditions that closely replicate those found in modern commercial facilities. The highly automated facility supports both research and industrial projects while providing the flexibility required for product development and process innovation.
The facility supports the development and evaluation of:
The facility is operated by experienced technical personnel and provides industry-relevant manufacturing conditions for product and process validation.
A key challenge in engineered composites innovation is understanding how products and processes will perform at industrial scale.
Our pilot-scale manufacturing equipment allows organizations to evaluate production variables, optimize process parameters, and generate representative product samples before making significant commercial investments.
Key infrastructure includes:
These systems support realistic manufacturing trials while generating the performance data needed for scale-up and commercialization decisions
The OSB Large-Scale Pilot Line provides a highly automated environment for the development and evaluation of strand-based composite products. The facility can manufacture full-size product panels (5’ × 9’ press) while allowing researchers and industry partners to study process conditions, evaluate material performance, and optimize production methods. It is the only public R&D facility of its kind in North America, offering unique scale-up capabilities.
This capability allows organizations to move beyond laboratory testing and evaluate technologies under conditions that closely resemble commercial manufacturing operations.
The MDF Refiner Pilot Plant supports the development and evaluation of fibre-based panel products. Researchers and product developers can investigate fibre preparation, refining methods, material characteristics, and manufacturing approaches that influence final product quality and performance.
The facility helps organizations assess process changes and new product concepts before implementation in commercial operations.
Product performance is essential to successful commercialization. Our testing laboratory provides the capability to evaluate product properties, validate manufacturing outcomes, and compare alternative materials, formulations, and processing approaches. We provide CCMC evaluation and technical support for binder systems used in OSB and waferboard manufacturing, supporting both new resin systems and existing formulations. Our expertise helps manufacturers evaluate binder performance and support product development and certification requirements.
Testing and evaluation services support:
Our facilities regularly support: