Technology

Canada to Unlock Critical Minerals Development in Northern Ontario with New Funding

Published

2 years ago

October 7, 2024

THUNDER BAY, ON, Oct. 7, 2024 /CNW/ – Investments in critical minerals infrastructure are essential to enable Canada to seize the enormous economic opportunity the low-carbon economy presents and to capitalize on our rich mineral resources. Canada is well positioned to be a global leader and a first-class producer of a wide variety of critical minerals that are essential to power the clean economy — including lithium and copper — and, in turn, create good jobs and support economic opportunities across critical mineral value chains — from mining to processing, manufacturing and recycling.

Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, along with the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, and Marcus Powlowski, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay, announced up to $13.8 million in funding, pending final due diligence from Natural Resources Canada, for five critical minerals infrastructure developments in Northwestern Ontario. This funding would be provided through the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (CMIF).

This investment would include:

$5.5 million to Green TM Resources Canada Ltd. to upgrade 112 kilometres of existing roads and replace three bridges to support the development of a lithium mine near Armstrong, Ontario, and bypass residential communities.$1.4 million to Rock Tech Lithium Inc. to upgrade and extend a 10-kilometre access road north of Nipigon, Ontario, that would enable the transportation of lithium from its Georgia Lake Project mine site, an open pit and underground mine.$6.1 million to Frontier Lithium Inc. to advance Indigenous engagement and engineering for a 56- kilometre all-season road and electricity infrastructure for the Pakeagama (PAK) Lithium Project in Northwestern Ontario.$771,100 to Generation PGM Inc. to undertake an engineering and design work for a five-kilometre access road, as well as feasibility studies for additional road and rail links to support the movement of copper concentrates from its Marathon Project to smelters and refiners.

The CMIF is a key program under the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy to address infrastructure gaps, enable critical minerals production and connect resources to markets through various clean energy, electrification and transportation infrastructure projects. Additional funding decisions for projects under the CMIF to further critical minerals infrastructure development are expected in the coming months.

These new critical minerals projects, alongside investments in clean energy and nuclear power that were announced earlier this year, are part of the Government of Canada’s partnership with Ontario through the Regional Energy and Resource Tables (Regional Tables). Ontario joined the Regional Tables process in 2022 as a way for the two levels of government to work closer together, and with Indigenous partners, to identify shared opportunities to seize the tremendous opportunities of the low-carbon economy. To get there, Canada and Ontario — in collaboration with Indigenous partners and with the input of key stakeholders — are finalizing a collaboration framework that will lay out joint actions that can be taken in the short and medium term to build tomorrow’s low-carbon economy. The collaboration framework will be released before the end of this year.

Critical minerals are essential components in products used for clean energy technologies such as electric vehicles, electrical transmission lines and batteries. Canada’s mining sector provides many of the building blocks of clean technologies, including lithium and copper, needed to fight climate change and build a clean economy.

Across the country, clean energy solutions are providing enormous economic opportunity for Canada. The critical mineral sector is already highly valuable to our economy. In 2022, the minerals and metals sector directly employed 420,000 people and contributed $109 billion of Canada’s total gross domestic product (GDP). Since 2020, automotive and battery manufacturers have announced investments of over $40 billion in electric vehicle production and the battery supply chain. With government support and with demand for critical minerals expected to double by 2024, these sectors will only grow.

Quotes

“These projects, under the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy’s flagship program, will develop the necessary infrastructure to access and transport our rich critical mineral resources in Northwestern Ontario to market. Developments like these help mines get built faster, and they are a key element in seizing the generational opportunity before us. These investments complement the long history and deep expertise of the region in mining, create good jobs in Ontario and drive economic growth, now and into the future.”

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

“These five energy and transportation infrastructure development projects will benefit a critical mineral region in Northern Ontario. It will also improve transportation safety, reliability and access to essential services, and reinforce our government’s commitment to a net-zero future.”

The Honourable Patty Hajdu
Minister of Indigenous Services and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario

“Thunder Bay and the surrounding area will play a huge role in an end-to-end domestic electric vehicle supply chain, including by providing the lithium needed for batteries. The federal government is making strategic investments to position Northwestern Ontario’s mining sector to benefit from the economic opportunities now and for generations to come.”

Marcus Powlowski
Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay–Rainy River

“By upgrading and extending vital roadways in Northern Ontario, we are improving access to key mining sites and also strengthening Canada’s supply chain for clean energy technologies. These projects will boost local economies and help position Canada as a global leader in the production of essential minerals needed for the low-carbon future.”

The Honourable Anita Anand
President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Transport of Canada

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank NRCan for the conditional approval of key infrastructure for the Seymour project. This road and bridge upgrade project is essential for advancing the mine’s development and will bring significant benefits to the local community, such as improving road safety and reducing traffic through town. Mining projects are always challenging to get off the ground, so we greatly appreciate the federal government’s support for this critical infrastructure.”

Cameron Henry
Managing Director, Green TM Resources Canada Ltd.

“We are honoured to receive this funding to support the development of our Georgia Lake mining project. The construction of the Fairloch Lake Road is built upon on a strong partnership with First Nation communities, which is central to our vision of sustainable development and shared value creation. Partnerships are not only key to Rock Tech’s progress but also to the broader growth of the EV supply chain in Canada. Alongside funding of other lithium projects in the region, this initiative will support the development of our Red Rock lithium converter and drive economic revitalization for the region.”

Dirk Harbecke
Chief Executive Officer, Rock Tech Lithium Inc.

“Frontier Lithium is pleased to receive Critical Minerals Infrastructure Funding for the advancement of an all-season road and electricity infrastructure in the region of the PAK Lithium Project. This Government of Canada support reflects the importance of Indigenous engagement and collaboration in developing key infrastructure in Northwestern Ontario.”

Trevor Walker
President and CEO, Frontier Lithium Inc.

“The Marathon Project is one of the most advanced copper-palladium projects in Canada. Support from the Government of Canada’s Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund will be used to advance work on transportation infrastructure while we continue to work toward securing construction financing. With all federal approvals for construction having been obtained, and only three outstanding provincial permits expected to be granted by year-end, the work undertaken with this funding could support construction activities in 2025.”

Jamie Levy
President and Chief Executive Officer, Generation PGM Inc.

Quick Facts

Canada has developed its own critical minerals strategy with the aim of advancing the development of these resources and related value chains to drive the transition to a low-carbon economy and support advanced technology and manufacturing.The Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy addresses five core objectives:supporting economic growth, competitiveness and job creation;promoting climate action and strong environmental management;enhancing global security and partnerships with allies;advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples; andfostering diverse and inclusive workforces and communities.Canada’s whole-of-government approach to critical mineral development is collaborative, forward-looking, iterative, adaptive and long-term. The initiatives presented in the Strategy will be implemented and refined in collaboration with provincial, territorial, Indigenous, industry and other Canadian and international partners.The CMIF is a key program under the Strategy to support enabling clean energy and transportation infrastructure projects necessary to increase Canada’s supply of responsibly sourced critical minerals.The CMIF supports strategic priorities such as decarbonizing industrial mining operations, strengthening supply chains through transportation infrastructure and advancing economic reconciliation by supporting the participation of Indigenous Peoples in infrastructure and critical minerals projects.The Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy released its first Annual Report on September 25, 2024, outlining how the Government of Canada has advanced the objectives of the Strategy, including the implementation of all the associated programs and initiatives with funding to bolster sustainable critical minerals development, from exploration, extraction, processing and manufacturing to recycling of critical minerals.In addition, the federal government is helping to develop Canada’s abundant critical minerals through NRCan’s Regional Energy and Resource Tables. These regional tables are joint partnerships with individual provinces and territories — in collaboration with Indigenous partners and with the input of key stakeholders — to identify and accelerate shared economic priorities for a low-carbon future in the energy and resource sectors.

Related Information

Backgrounder: Canada to Unlock Critical Minerals Development in Northern Ontario with New Funding – Canada.ca

Associated Links

Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy Government of Canada Launches $1.5-Billion Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy Annual Report Canada and B.C. Invest in Infrastructure Upgrades to Support Critical Minerals Development in Northwest B.C. and Create Jobs Across the Province Canada Announces Significant Funding to Unlock More Critical Minerals Development in Northern British Columbia and the Yukon Programs and funding for critical minerals projects Regional Energy and Resource Tables Rock Tech Lithium Green Technologies Metals Frontier Lithium Inc.Generation PGM Inc.

SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

Technology

Monport MEGAS Brings Advanced LightBurn Features to Desktop CO2 Laser Engraving

Published

26 minutes ago

July 27, 2026

New 70W desktop CO2 laser engraver brings LightBurn’s advanced feature set — autofocus, wireless connectivity and live camera placement — directly into the software, closing a gap most “LightBurn compatible” machines leave open.

SEATTLE, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As LightBurn continues to be the preferred software for makers, educators, and small manufacturing businesses, Monport is emphasizing the advanced workflow capabilities of its MEGAS 70W desktop CO2 laser engraver. The system enables users to perform autofocus, wireless connectivity, and live camera positioning directly inside LightBurn, creating a more streamlined production workflow than the basic compatibility offered by many desktop laser systems.

The integration allows users to complete nearly every production step directly inside LightBurn rather than switching between multiple software applications.

The announcement positions the MEGAS as a candidate for best CO2 laser engraver among software-focused buyers: makers, Etsy and Shopify sellers, and small production shops who run LightBurn daily and have grown frustrated switching between a manufacturer’s app and the software they actually use to build and send jobs. The feature announcement coincides with Monport’s Summer Sale, which drops the MEGAS to $2,799.99 for a limited time.

Why “LightBurn Compatible” Doesn’t Always Mean Full Support

LightBurn is the industry-standard control software for hobbyist and small-business laser systems, but compatibility varies widely between machines. Many desktop CO2 laser engravers can send basic cut and engrave jobs to LightBurn, yet require a separate manufacturer app for autofocus, camera alignment or wireless setup—breaking the workflow and adding extra steps every time a job changes materials or needs repositioning.

Industry buyers researching a 70W laser engraver often discover this gap only after purchase: a listing says “LightBurn compatible,” but autofocus still means picking up a manual gauge, and camera alignment means opening a second piece of software just to preview where a design will land.

Going Beyond Basic LightBurn Compatibility

Many competing desktop laser systems support basic LightBurn functions for cutting and engraving. Advanced features such as autofocus, wireless camera positioning and complete wireless workflow integration, however, are often limited, and may require proprietary software, or are unavailable inside LightBurn itself.

The Monport MEGAS was engineered to provide these advanced functions directly within LightBurn, helping users spend less time switching between applications and more time producing finished products— one of the reasons Monport designed the MEGAS specifically for LightBurn power users.

Autofocus Without Leaving LightBurn

On the MEGAS, autofocus is triggered and confirmed directly inside LightBurn, so operators can set material height and start a job without switching to a separate focusing tool or app. For a 70W laser engraver running frequent material changes—from thin acrylic sheet to thicker basswood board—that single-window workflow removes one of the more repetitive steps in a typical production day.

Wireless Connectivity Simplifies Shop Workflow

The wireless connection also enables operators to send jobs to the machine without repeatedly reconnecting USB cables, making the workflow especially useful in classrooms, shared makerspaces and production environments where multiple computers may access the laser.

The MEGAS connects to LightBurn over Wi-Fi, removing the tethered USB connection many desktop CO2 laser engravers still require. That means the machine can be positioned away from a workstation and run jobs sent wirelessly, a common request among small-shop and classroom users managing limited floor space or shared equipment.

Live Camera Placement Inside LightBurn

An onboard wireless camera streams a live view of the work surface into LightBurn, letting users position and align artwork on pre-printed or irregular material directly on screen instead of manually measuring and test-firing the laser.

From Design File to Finished Product

For many laser users, efficiency is measured by how quickly a design becomes a finished product. With the MEGAS, users can import artwork into LightBurn, position the design using the live wireless camera, activate autofocus with a single click, and begin engraving without leaving the software.

By keeping every major production step inside one interface, the workflow reduces setup time, minimizes alignment errors, and simplifies repeat production for businesses engraving dozens—or even hundreds—of personalized products each day on their desktop CO2 laser engraver.

Real-World Material Performance

To demonstrate production versatility, during internal testing, Monport evaluated the MEGAS across several materials commonly used by Etsy sellers, gift businesses and production workshops:

Plywood — crisp engraved wooden signs with clean edgesAcrylic — polished awards and plaques with sharp detailLeather — high-contrast wallet engraving with minimal scorching

The testing demonstrates that a single desktop CO2 laser engraver can handle multiple product categories without requiring significant workflow changes.

Better ROI for Small Businesses

Monport also compared estimated material costs with typical retail pricing across four popular product categories:

Engraved plywood sign: Approximately $35 retail price with about $5 in material costs.Engraved acrylic award: Approximately $45 retail price with about $8 in material costs.Engraved leather wallet: Approximately $55 retail price with about $12 in material costs.

Based on estimated material costs alone, these products show potential material-cost margins of approximately 75% to 85%, before accounting for labor, packaging, shipping, platform fees and other operating expenses. Monport says the combination of higher-margin products, intelligent batch engraving, and a streamlined LightBurn workflow can help small businesses, Etsy sellers, and Shopify merchants recover their investment more quickly as production scales.

Built for Professional LightBurn Users

While M-Design Hub, Monport’s free Windows and macOS software, offers AI-powered image processing, one-click material settings and intelligent batch engraving, Monport says the MEGAS was equally designed for experienced LightBurn users who prefer complete control over every project.

Supporting both software environments gives creators the flexibility to choose an automated workflow for everyday production or LightBurn’s advanced tools for more complex engraving jobs—a combination Monport believes makes the case for the MEGAS as a best CO2 laser engraver choice regardless of skill level.

“LightBurn has become the workflow that thousands of makers and small businesses rely on every day,” said Monport CEO.

“Our goal with the MEGAS was to eliminate unnecessary software switching by bringing advanced features like autofocus, wireless connectivity and live camera positioning directly into LightBurn. That lets users focus on production instead of setup.”

Explore Advanced LightBurn Features on the MEGAS

Monport is positioning the MEGAS as an entry point for LightBurn users who want to explore the software’s advanced feature set without adding a second app to their workflow. Full setup guides and LightBurn configuration walkthroughs for the MEGAS are available on Monport’s website.

Summer Sale Pricing

As part of Monport’s Summer Sale this July, the MEGAS desktop CO2 laser engraver is available at a special offer price of $2,799.99—the limited-time promotional price on the machine to date. The discount is applied automatically at checkout; no promo code is required. The offer runs for a limited time or while supplies last and includes two complimentary laser marking spray bottles, used to prepare bare metal surfaces such as stainless steel for laser marking.

Availability

The Monport MEGAS 70W desktop CO2 laser engraver is available through Monport’s official website.

About Monport

Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Seattle, Monport designs desktop and industrial CO2 and fiber laser engraving and cutting machines for makers, small businesses and workshops, backed by U.S.-based technical support.

Media Contact:

Monport Laser
Email: official@monportlaser.com
Website: https://monportlaser.com

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SOURCE Monport

Technology

Tredence Launches Domain Native Forward Deployed Engineering to Close the Last Mile of Enterprise AI

Published

26 minutes ago

July 27, 2026

The FDE practice builds an elite class of engineers at the intersection of domain expertise and data & AI, solving enterprises’ hardest business problems.

BENGALURU, India and SAN JOSE, Calif., July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Tredence, the world’s leading data & AI services company, today announced the launch of its Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) practice, committing to build a dedicated pool of 200 FDEs over the next 12-18 months. Through this practice, the company intends to build the most domain-native engineering capability in the market, helping clients move faster from problem to impact.

Built to tackle high-impact challenges for Fortune 100 enterprises, Tredence’s FDEs are domain specialists first and engineers second. A Retail FDE understands markdown cycles and assortment planning. A supply chain FDE understands network constraints and demand volatility. A revenue growth management (RGM) FDE understands trade spend and price elasticity.

Each Tredence FDE brings that depth to the work of building and scaling agentic systems, applying deep engineering expertise to the business decisions that matter most, from pricing and promotions to the data and semantic foundations that power enterprise operations. They are platform agnostic by design, working across clients’ existing technology stack, including Databricks, Google Cloud, Microsoft, Snowflake, AWS, and leading frontier model providers.

Enterprise AI often struggles at the last mile, where data, systems, and business decisions must come together to create measurable value. Tredence’s Forward Deployed Engineers combine speed, powered by deep AI, data, and engineering expertise, with depth, built through years of domain experience, to turn AI into business outcomes faster.

“Enterprise AI is at an inflection point, and success now depends on combining AI-native engineering with industry depth to turn technology into real business outcomes. Our FDEs are designed to solve the hardest business problems, lead end-to-end AI transformations, and take ownership all the way from business problems to enterprise-scale deployment. That’s the level of accountability enterprise AI needs today,” said Shub Bhowmick, Co-founder and CEO, Tredence.

Why Tredence’s FDE Model Is Different-

More than a decade of deep domain expertise across industries
FDEs bring years of experience in supply chain, customer analytics, built through work with 100+ Fortune 500 clients.AI native engineering as the default way of working
FDEs build with AI from the start, reinforced by Tredence’s AI Forge program, which is centered on AI-first problem solving.Frontline ownership, powered by specialized teams
Tredence FDEs lead from the front, anchoring small, elite teams and owning everything from business problems to enterprise-scale deployment.Hands on depth across hyperscaler, frontier AI, and data platforms
Tredence FDEs help shape the very platforms they build on, with seats on the product advisory teams of leading hyperscalers and ISVs.

About Tredence

Tredence is a global AI and data science solutions provider focused on solving the last-mile problem in AI, the gap between insight creation and value realization. Tredence leverages deep domain expertise, advanced data platforms and accelerators, and strategic partnerships to provide tailored, cutting-edge solutions to its clients. The company has 4,200+ employees across the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, Riyadh, Dubai, London, Toronto, and Bengaluru, serving top brands in Retail, CPG, Hi-tech, Telecom, Healthcare, Travel, and Industrials. For more information, please visit www.tredence.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

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Technology

Fractus and Geotab settle U.S. patent litigation

Published

26 minutes ago

July 27, 2026

Additional agreements reinforce Fractus’ role in the IoT technologies ecosystem

BARCELONA, Spain, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Fractus, a pioneer in antenna technology and patent licensing, today announced that it has reached a settlement with Geotab, resolving the patent infringement litigation filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The terms of the agreement are confidential.

The settlement is an important milestone for Fractus in the connected fleet and transportation market. It brings an end to the dispute with Geotab and confirms the relevance of Fractus’ patented antenna technology in IoT applications where reliable wireless performance is essential.

Fractus also welcomes the growing list of its IoT licensees, which further strengthens Fractus’ position in the IoT ecosystem and demonstrates the growing value of its technology in fleet management, cargo visibility, and mobile asset monitoring.

Fleet telematics and cargo tracking are expanding quickly as transportation and logistics companies look for better visibility, safety, compliance and efficiency. According to Berg Insight, fleet management systems in active use in North America are forecast to grow from 19.2 million units at the end of 2024 to 33.2 million units by 2029. Berg Insight also expects the global installed base of tracking devices for trailers, containers and other cargo-carrying units to grow from 13.8 million units in 2024 to 26.9 million units by 2029.

In these markets, antenna performance is more than a technical specification. Connected devices must communicate across networks, frequency bands, countries and difficult operating conditions, often within space-constrained designs installed on vehicles or other mobile assets. Fractus’ patented antenna innovations help enable the compact, high-performance, multiband connectivity that these IoT devices require.

“We are very pleased to have reached this resolution with Geotab and to see Fractus’ technology gaining further recognition in the IoT market,” said Jordi Ilario, CEO of Fractus. “Fleet management, trailer monitoring and asset tracking are clear examples of how wireless connectivity is transforming transportation. These recent agreements are an important validation of our innovation, and they encourage us to keep building constructive licensing relationships with companies that value strong technology and intellectual property.”

About Fractus

Fractus is an early pioneer in the application of advanced geometry and mathematics to antenna design. The company’s patented innovations enable compact, high-performance, multiband antennas used across smartphones, IoT devices, network infrastructure, connected health and transportation applications. Fractus holds a portfolio covering more than 40 inventions and licenses its technology to leading companies across the wireless ecosystem.

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