3D-printed nylon camera housing prototype, showing improved durability, enhanced measurement precision, and suitability for industrial application.
For years, Corpex Computers has helped manufacturers keep their production lines running smoothly with their machine vision quality assurance systems. Based in Mississauga, the company is known for its expertise in software, but in the world of armoured conduit production, one problem kept resurfacing: measuring the dimensions of a conduit along its entire length with traditional methods was slow, inconsistent, and often unreliable.
While Corpex found a software solution, they always relied on an external partner for their hardware. This solution, however, came with limitations. It could only measure in one axis and handle a narrow range of diameters. To put an end to this problem, Corpex turned to Mohawk College’s Additive Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC) at IDEAWORKS, leveraging support from the Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation and funding fromthe Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
Together, the team set out to reimagine the solutions to their problems. The vision was ambitious: create a design that could shift and move cameras into position for nearly any size of conduit, measure across two axes, and while keeping the sensitive lenses perfectly aligned and protected from dust and debris.
“Being part of the Corpex project gave me the chance to apply what I’ve learned in class to a real-world challenge. Working on the mechanical design and seeing how our work could make an immediate difference for an industry partner was incredibly rewarding.” – Cole Johnston, Co-op student at AMIC.
AMIC introduced additive manufacturing to solve the problem where the housings for Corpex’s precision optics were redesigned, strengthened, and 3D printed in nylon, making them 30% lighter and significantly easy to transport. Lead times reduced from half a year to just 4 weeks, while production costs fell to 35% of their original cost. The sleeker design gave Corpex an edge at trade shows.
“Our collaboration with Corpex is a strong example of how AMIC helps companies turn technical challenges into real opportunities for growth,” said Simon Coulson, AMIC General Manager, “By combining Corpex’s machine vision expertise with our applied research and advanced manufacturing capabilities, we were able to create a solution that enhances their flexibility and competitiveness in the marketplace.”
This wasn’t the first time Corpex had placed its trust in AMIC. In an earlier SONAMI project, the company faced an almost impossible bottleneck. Without in-house hardware production, each new unit meant a six-month wait and an expensive $5,000 bill.
“We’ve partnered with AMIC more than once, and each time the experience has been collaborative and innovative,” noted Peter Spitzer, Corpex Managing Director. “The first project helped us cut costs and speed up production, and now we’re working together again to expand the capabilities of our inspection systems.
“It’s been a true partnership, and we’re excited to keep building on that momentum.”
“Being part of the Corpex project gave me the chance to apply what I’ve learned in class to a real-world challenge. Working on the mechanical design and seeing how our work could make an immediate difference for an industry partner was incredibly rewarding,” said Cole Johnston, Co-op student at AMIC.
Today, one of those redesigned systems is humming away on a customer’s production line, inspecting conduit in real time and ensuring that every cable meets the mark. For Corpex, the partnership with Mohawk was more than just a technical fix —it was a turning point. By combining Corpex’s software expertise with AMIC’s engineering and manufacturing know-how, they created a solution that not only solved immediate challenges but also gave the company agility and independence.
Corpex and IDEAWORKS proved that when innovation meets collaboration, you can become more competitive, more efficient, and better prepared for the future.
About FedDev Ontario
For over 15 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impact the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our investment profiles, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn accounts.