National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute Announced

By DE Editors

The U.S. Department of Commerce and Department of Defense announced a new National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute (NAMII). A $30 million grant was awarded to the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining  as a partnership between dozens of companies, universities and nonprofit organizations in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The goal of the pilot institute, scheduled to launch in September, is to increase the successful transition of additive manufacturing technology to manufacturing enterprises within the U.S. The announcement was made by White House National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling, Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank,  Under Secretary of Defense Frank Kendall and other senior administration officials.

The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) will be involved in technology transition and dissemination, and the education and training of practitioners through the institute.

“Through the technical expertise and passion of its members, SME has helped to move this technology forward,” said Debbie Holton, SME director of industry strategy and events. “SME’s core purpose is to share manufacturing knowledge, and we look forward to supporting the NAMII by communicating the discoveries and capabilities of the institute and attracting industry support and participation. SME will also be supporting the institute’s workforce development initiatives.”

SME will hold its RAPID - Additive Manufacturing Solutions event in Pittsburgh, June 10-12, 2013, to advance the work of the NAMII, according to the organization.

The NAMII serves as the pilot institute for the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation introduced by President Obama earlier this year. Each institute will integrate capabilities and facilities required to reduce the cost and risk of commercializing new technologies and to address relevant manufacturing challenges on a production-level scale.

For more information, visit the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.