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America Makes hosts largest members meeting yet
By Kalea Hall
YOUNGSTOWN
The 2017 America Makes Members Meeting & Exchange is the largest gathering of members since the inception of America Makes in 2012.
This year the event, which lasts through today, brought in nonmembers of America Makes for them to see what the program is about and to network with its members.
America Makes is the first additive-manufacturing hub created by former President Barack Obama’s administration.
It is managed and operated by the National Center for Defense, Manufacturing and Machining.
It is a collaborative partner in additive manufacturing and 3-D printing technology research, discovery, creation and innovation. America Makes works as a public-private partnership with member organizations from industry, academia, government and nongovernment agencies.
Every year, America Makes brings its members together to talk about the program and to network. This year, there are more than 250 people from all over the U.S. and some from outside of the country here for the event taking place at Stambaugh Auditorium.
“One of the big parts is really inviting the members for face-to-face interaction,” said Scott Deutsch, brand and communications manager for America Makes.
On Wednesday, America Makes awarded Jim McCabe, senior director, standards facilitation at the American National Standards Institute and Jim Williams, president of All Points Additive, each with the Distinguished Collaborator award.
The inaugural class of America Makes Ambassadors was also recognized during Wednesday’s event: Mike Garvey, M-7 Technologies; Lisa Camp, Case Western Reserve University; Teresa Clement, Raytheon; Marilyn Gaska, Lockheed Martin Co.; Tony Hughes, The Lanterman Group; Mark Cotteleer, Deloitte; Ashley Martof, Youngstown Business Incubator; and Terry Wohlers, Wohlers Associates.
Also at the event, Youngstown Business Incubator CEO Barb Ewing discussed YBI becoming the first customer site for XJet Ltd., an Israel-based additive-manufacturing company.
In January, XJet will bring to Youngstown its Carmel 1400 additive-manufacturing system that features the patented NanoParticle Jetting technology for the production of metal or ceramic parts through inkjet printing.
The system will be installed in YBI’s new Tech Block Building No. 5 at the corner of Boardman Street and Vindicator Square in January.
It will be used for ceramic materials for research and development and parts production.
Glenn Richardson, managing director for advanced manufacturing at Jobs-Ohio, which helped bring XJet here, called the effort a great opportunity at Wednesday’s event.
“It helps us to continue to be at the forefront of additive-manufacturing technology,” he said. “We have a long history in manufacturing so we have to be aware of emerging technologies.”