Polymers & Plastics in Advanced Manufacturing Applications

Ontario has gained an international reputation for high-quality machinery and mould manufacturing. More than 77% of Canada's plastics machinery establishments and 71% of its mould makers are located in Ontario.

Southern Ontario companies are amongst the top in North America in sales in many plastics-related categories, including mold making, pipe, profile and tubing extruders.

Toronto Region companies benefit from synergies that have developed between mold makers, equipment manufacturers, and plastics processors. The plastics industry is closely connected to other sectors in 'Canada's manufacturing heartland' and is an important part of the automotive, construction and medical supply chain.

The Toronto Region is a hub of industrial activity and is home to headquarters of global industry-leading companies such as Husky Injection Molding, Royal Group Inc., Mold Masters, ABC Group Inc., Magna International, and the Woodbridge Group.

Research Expertise and Publications

In addition to the strong industrial base, the Toronto Region is an active hub of polymer and plastics-related research activities.  In particular, the region is exceptionally strong in R&D related to plastics processing - research related to the manufacture of plastics and plastic products including extrusion, injection molding and in-mold decorating:

  • Awarded 29% of NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada) and 46% of the CFI (Canada Foundation for Innovation) for polymer- related R&D in the physical sciences and advanced manufacturing, 1999-2009
  •  100 researchers engaged in related research at approximately 30 institutes and centres in the region

  • 13 Canada Research Chairs (CRC) and two NSERC Industrial Chairs in the area of polymers and plastics

The Toronto Region is one of the top North American regions in the number of scientific publications related to the field of polymers and plastics

  • Ranked #2 worldwide in the number of scientific publications and second overall in scientific impact (citations per publication)
  • Ranked #5 in North America for scientific publications related to plastics resins(petrochemicals) and renewable sources (plants), 1999 -2009
  • Ranked #6 in publications related to polymer composites and hybrids 


The Toronto Region is home to large-scale multidisciplinary projects that push the innovation frontier in the plastics industry thus providing the private sector with the opportunity to tap into the expertise and advanced equipment of Toronto Region universities.  Click on the links below to learn more about these research projects:

Ontario BioAuto Council Ontario BioCar InitiativeIntelligent Food PackagingNSERC Network for Innovative Plastic Materials and Manufacturing Processes (NIPMMP)
Download the Polymers & Plastics Innovation Snapshot for more information. 

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