What: Ribbon-cutting ceremony for America Makes Satellite Center at the W.M. Keck Center for 3-D Innovation
When: 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7 (Lunch will be provided at noon to media. Please submit an RSVP to news@utep.edu.)
Where: College of Engineering foyer
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will officially mark the opening of America Makes’ first satellite center at the W.M. Keck Center for 3-D Innovation in the College of Engineering at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).
Remarks from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, U.S. Representative Beto O’Rourke, UTEP President Diana Natalicio, UTEP Professor Ryan Wicker, and Director of Manufacturing Technology Adele Ratcliff from the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense will take place prior to the ribbon cutting.
As the national accelerator for additive manufacturing (AM) and 3-D printing, America Makes is the nation’s leading and collaborative partner in AM and 3DP technology research, discovery, creation and innovation.
Structured as a public-private partnership with member organizations from industry, academia, government, nongovernment agencies, and workforce and economic development resources, America Makes partners are working together to innovate and accelerate AM and 3DP to increase our nation’s global manufacturing competitiveness.
America Makes, operated by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), was launched in August 2012 and is the nation’s first Institute within the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation. America Makes is managed by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) through the Defense-wide Manufacturing Science and Technology Program — Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy. AFRL on behalf of OSD leads an interagency team composed of the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standard and Technology, Department of Energy, Department of Education, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the National Science Foundation.
With more than 50 ongoing manufacturing technology research projects, and 145 member organizations participating, America Makes is convening the best and brightest minds in the nation to address key industry research in AM and 3DP.
“This new relationship is beneficial for both America Makes and UTEP,” said Ryan Wicker, Ph.D., Keck Center director and professor of mechanical engineering at UTEP. The purpose of the America Makes Satellite Center is to extend the reach of the existing America Makes mission and to complement and expand America Makes’ current regional, industrial, and technological footprint. As a satellite center, UTEP will create a regional presence for America Makes’ initiatives in technology development, industry partnerships, workforce development and educational outreach.
Founded in 2001 as part of a $1 million grant by the W.M. Keck Foundation, UTEP’s Keck Center is a lab like no other. Led by Wicker, the Keck Center features a 13,000-square-foot, state-of-the art facility with more than 50 additive manufacturing machines and more than 50 involved faculty, staff, students and researchers with multiple successful national and international collaborations.
Wicker said, “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.”