Ensuring Our Assets are Safe and Reliable
TransCanada is a leader in research and development
Professor Adrian Gerlich was named by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) as the TransCanada Industrial Research Chair in Welding for Energy Infrastructure at the University of Waterloo in 2014. Finding thought leaders such as Gerlich to head up research projects — like the one he’s undertaking with NSERC and TransCanada in his new role — is critical to achieving state-of-the-art innovation. His enthusiasm for studying the microstructural behaviour of weld material has the potential to help shape the future for the pipeline industry in terms of advancing safety, integrity and quality.
“Something the public might not be aware of is that this is the most focused research effort on pipeline welding nearly anywhere in the world,” Professor Gerlich adds.
“I’m familiar with almost all the other major welding institutes around the world and virtually none of the other universities can claim to have even more than a couple students dedicated to welding of pipeline materials. But we’re going to have five or six at one time, which is a significantly bigger effort than most other places.”
The partnership at the University of Waterloo exemplifies one example of TransCanada’s extensive R&D program that supports research taking place across North America at major post-secondary institutions.
Learn more about how TransCanada ensure its assets are safe and reliable in the safety section of the 2014 CSR Report.
