Smart starts here
Powered by Industry 4.0 technologies, the Toyota Smart Factory Learning Hub at the Cambridge – Fountain Street campus is transforming how students learn and prepare for careers in advanced manufacturing.
Using the latest technologies in automation, robotics and digitalization, students in the School of Engineering & Technology develop career-ready skills aligned with current and emerging industry standards. The hub also serves as a collaborative space for Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc. (TMMC), its affiliates, suppliers and other industry partners, strengthening the connection between education and industry.
Integrated programs
Integrated into multiple engineering and technology programs, this facility offers hands-on learning that prepares career‑ready graduates and supports the manufacturing sector’s changing workforce needs.
Bachelor of Engineering - Mechanical Systems Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Technology - Robotics and Automation (Optional Co-op)
Opportunities for collaboration
From applied research, capstone projects, co‑ops, mentorship and employee upskilling, there are countless ways to partner with the Toyota Smart Factory Learning Hub.
Email engineering@conestogac.on.ca to get started.
“This was very helpful for me to get into the mindset of trying to proactively solve issues in a design that could affect assembly or maintenance. I can say that participating in this project has improved my design skills and will help me be a better engineer in the future than I would have been otherwise.”
Explore training, research and facilities
Training and research opportunities
Supports employee upgrading in:
- Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) programming
- Robot programming
- Industrial device and network configuration
- Vision-guided robot programming
- Safety PLC programming
- Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) and servo tuning and programming
- Vision inspection
- Industrial engineering and time study
- Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems
- Data collection and analysis
- Cloud integration
Smart Automation Factory Lab
The lab consists of four fully integrated assembly lines that assemble and package dart-launcher toys.
Within each line, you’ll find valve banks and sensor blocks on Ethernet IP, Profinet, EtherCAT and IOLink communication protocols that can be controlled by a variety of Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) manufacturers on each station within the line.
Other highlights include:
- Siemens and Rockwell safety PLCs
- Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) and servos
- Vision-guided robots with line tracking
- Laser markers
- Dot peen markers
- Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
- Beckhoff eXtended Transport System (XTS) conveyor
- Cognex and Keyence vision systems
- Collaborative robots on mobile robots
Robotics Lab
The lab consists of eight automated cells that use four industrial robot applications (CNC tending, debur/polish, assembly, palletize) and four robot manufacturers (ABB, Yaskawa, Kuka, Fanuc).
Each station can be controlled by the robot or by a Rockwell CompactLogix that serves as the master controller of the cell and interacts with the robot via Ethernet/IP.
Students leverage offline robot simulations to minimize time spent on program generation, allowing them to focus on fine-tuning paths and positions when working with the robot.
