Sudbury MP announces investment to support Cambrian College and RufDiamond project – July 21

SUDBURY, ON – Today, Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament for Sudbury, announced an investment of $150,000 for Cambrian College, from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to support an innovative applied research project that will advance Canadian-made technology for remote and extreme environments.

Through Cambrian R&D, the applied research division of Cambrian College, the college will partner with RufDiamond Ltd. on a project to expand the capabilities of the Fat Truck, a Canadian-made amphibious vehicle renowned for its ability to operate in terrain inaccessible to conventional vehicles. Including RufDiamond’s cash and in-kind contributions, the total value of the project is $227,500.

The two-year initiative will explore new ways to transform the Fat Truck into a more versatile, multi-purpose platform capable of supporting operations in key sectors such as defence, mining, forestry, and emergency response.

The project will focus on two major innovations: developing a lighter and more efficient lifting system using advanced materials and structural optimization techniques and designing a custom drag-behind toboggan that will enable safer and more effective transportation of supplies and equipment across Arctic terrain.

Over the next 18 months, the team will design, build, and test prototypes using Cambrian R&D’s advanced fabrication and testing facilities. The initiative will provide valuable hands-on learning opportunities for students in Cambrian’s mechanical, electrical, and welding programs, helping prepare the next generation of skilled workers for careers in advanced manufacturing and vehicle design.

“Sudbury is a hub for innovation, and this investment in Cambrian College demonstrates the important role our post-secondary institutions play in driving research, supporting local businesses, and preparing the skilled workforce of tomorrow. By partnering with RufDiamond, Cambrian R&D is helping strengthen some of Northern Ontario’s most important sectors. I’m proud to see federal investments supporting made-in-Sudbury innovation that creates opportunities for students, businesses, and ultimately communities across Canada.” – Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament Sudbury 

“This applied research project with Ruf Diamond, with funding from the federal government’s Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, is a great fit for all the partners involved. It advances Cambrian’s strategic priorities of preparing students for career success and growing partnerships with industry, it increases the versatility and capabilities of Ruf Diamond’s Fat Truck, and it contributes to the federal government’s strategic initiatives in the areas of infrastructure development, critical minerals, and national sovereignty and defence. Thank you, MP Viviane Lapointe, NSERC, and Ruf Diamond for this partnership. We look forward to its success.” – Kristine Morrissey, President of Cambrian College 

“RufDiamond is proud to partner with Cambrian College on this next chapter for the Fat Truck. We are grateful for the support of the federal government and MP Viviane Lapointe, whose commitment to investing in Northern Ontario innovation makes projects like this possible. This project reflects exactly the kind of collaboration that keeps Canadian innovation working for Canadians, building technology here in the North that can serve our defence, mining, forestry, and emergency response sectors. We are especially pleased that Cambrian students will be directly involved in the design and testing process. Investing in their hands-on experience today is how we build the skilled workforce this country will rely on tomorrow.” – Daryl Adams, President, RufDiamond LTD.