Amazon.ca adds industrial, scientific supplies to online store

A United Parcel Service driver delivers packages from Amazon.com in Palo Alto, Calif. on June 30, 2011. (AP / Paul Sakuma)

TORONTO - Amazon.ca is now selling scientific and industrial supplies such as microscopes, power tools and 3D printers as company the looks to expand its offerings in Canada.

The new category of business, industrial and scientific supplies is aimed at hospitals, universities and business looking for commercial supplies.

The popular online retailer has added several new categories of products to its Canadian store over the past 12 months, including clothing, shoes and wearable electronics.

Amazon.ca spokeswoman Katie McFadzean said the company offers more than 100 million items in more than 30 categories in Canada and is constantly working to expand selection.

Amazon's American store offers a much wider range of products and, for Americans, the company's Prime premium shipping membership also gives them access to a library of streaming content that is unavailable in Canada.

Amazon has expanded into two new office spaces in Canada over the last two years, one in Vancouver and one in Toronto. The company said last March that it was testing delivery drones at an facility in rural British Columbia.