Additive manufacturing and 3D printing represent the future of
manufacturing in America. As research in this field continues to
grow in importance, Northeast Ohio is playing a leading role in its
evolution thanks in large part to America Makes – the national
accelerator for additive manufacturing and 3D printing (3DP), which
is based in Youngstown, Ohio.
America Makes serves as the nation’s leading and
collaborative partner in additive manufacturing and 3D printing
technology research, discovery, creation, and innovation. The
ultimate goal of America Makes is to help the U.S. manufacturing
sector grow capabilities and strength in this emerging field.
Established in 2012, America Makes is the flagship Institute for
the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI).
Housed within a former furniture factory in downtown Youngstown,
most would be surprised by the innovative technologies being
developed within America Makes’ walls. By working to
understand common challenges among manufacturers, America Makes is
helping to find innovative solutions to help manufacturing
companies grow while “proving that you can manufacture almost
anything with a computer controlled laser process” (WKYC.com). Through a variety of public and
private partnerships, America Makes aims to increase the
applications of additive manufacturing and 3D printing in order to
make U.S. manufactures more globally competitive.
To see America Makes’ work first-hand, watch this short
video:
As America Makes continues to play a vital role in the future of
manufacturing in the United States, their work is supported by
Northeast Ohio’s vast experience and expertise in the
manufacturing industry. To this end, manufacturing represents the
largest sector of Northeast Ohio’s economy and a primary
driver of the region’s economic growth. Over the next 10
years, the industry is expected to grow by 25 percent, resulting in
49,000 job openings in production occupations. This growth
illustrates the importance of manufacturing to Northeast
Ohio’s economy and also demonstrates why entities like
America Makes are located in our region.
To learn more about America Makes and Northeast Ohio’s
manufacturing industry, follow the links below.