America Makes to Open Satellite Center at UTEP

America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute (NAMII), has announced it will open its first Satellite Center at the University of Texas at El Paso in collaboration with the W.M. Keck Center.

Founded in 2012 and partly funded by the federal government, the NAMII is led by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining based in Youngstown, Ohio. The consortium’s members include companies, research universities, colleges and non-profit organisations.

“With this new America Makes Satellite Center model, we are able to expand our current regional, industrial and technological footprint while further maximising the reach and capabilities of the satellite through enhanced collaboration”, said Kevin Creehan, Ph.D., America Makes Deputy Director of Technology Transition.

Out of a short list of potential members for consideration for the new center, UTEP’s W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation had been selected. With more than 50 additive manufacturing machines, the laboratory focuses on fundamental research in 3D printed electronics, airplanes and satellite components, biomedical implants and future energy systems.

The UTEP center is leading an Americas Makes member team including the University of New Mexico, Youngstown State University, Northrop Grumman Corp., Lockheed Martin Corp., rp+m Inc. and Stratasys. Funded by a grant of $ 2.2 million, the team will further investigate and develop 3D printing technologies for rapid manufacturing of aerospace systems.

Ralph Resnick, America Makes Founding Director, (NCDMM) President und Executive Director: “This expansion strategy to establish our first satellite center at UTEP marks a new level of national reach for America Makes. It also capitalizes on the synergies between America Makes and UTEP’s Keck Center, as both of our organizations are dedicated to accelerating the adoption of additive manufacturing and 3-D printing technologies to increase our nation’s global manufacturing competitiveness.”

“This new relationship is beneficial for both America Makes and UTEP,” explains Ryan Wicker, Ph.D., Keck Center director and professor of mechanical engineering at UTEP. “UTEP brings an armada of state-of-the-art equipment, cutting edge research, education and workforce training to the partnership, and UTEP stands to benefit from the national and international spotlight on America Makes. NCDMM, the parent organization, has a broad base of defense and industrial partners that will afford UTEP dramatic new opportunities.”