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Wellmaster and Lambton College launch commercialization project with support from Ontario government

Tillsonburg – Wellmaster, manufacturer and wholesaler for the groundwater and other industries, has partnered with Lambton College in Sarnia, Ont., to launch a collaborative research project to support the commercialization of the Press x Press coupling.

The partnership is made possible through the Ontario government’s Voucher for Innovation and Productivity program. Led by the Ontario Centre of Innovation, the VIP program supports collaboration between academia and industry to develop, implement and commercialize new technical innovations that solve existing industry challenges.

“Wellmaster is excited to work with Dr. Reaume and the outstanding research team at Lambton College,” said James White, Wellmaster vice-president of business development. “The project will support product design and performance testing to commercialize the Press X Press coupling as a superior casing connection for the water well and structural piling applications.”

“Wellmaster brings decades of applied manufacturing experience to the design of the Press X Press coupling,” said Dr. Stephen Reaume, Lambton College research operations manager. “It is great to support an Ontario manufacturer to commercialize a product that has the potential to disrupt the North American water well and structural piling sectors.”

The Press x Press couplings provides a no thread, no weld, friction taper connection for water well casing and structural piling. By using the same downward force used by drillers to advance the borehole the Press x Press connects and seals the casing. Able to accommodate plain end casing, the Press X Press has the potential to save drillers time and money by a providing a solution superior to conventional casing connections. Watch the Press X Press product demonstration video.

“Connecting academic research with local industry and commercializing made-in-Ontario IP into valuable products that meet immediate market needs is the very essence of the VIP program,” said Claudia Krywiak, president and chief executive officer of the Ontario Centre for Innovation. “Reflecting the Government of Ontario’s strong interest in driving rural innovation, OCI is proud to support collaborative R&D in every region of the province.”

Through the VIP program, the research project received $30,000 in support from the Ontario government. This was matched with $30,000 in industry contribution and an additional $30,000 from the NSERC Engage program, for a total project value of $90,000.

Wellmaster is a North American manufacturer of couplings and tubular products for the groundwater and oil and gas sectors, and horticultural material handling solutions for the nursery and greenhouse sector.

The Ontario Centre of Innovation, formerly the Ontario Centres of Excellence, maximizes the commercial impact of research developed in Ontario’s colleges, universities, and research hospitals, and accelerates the commercialization of Made-in-Ontario intellectual property and technologies. Learn more about the Voucher for Innovation and Productivity (VIP).