Auburn University launches two additive manufacturing centers of excellence with ASTM, NASA

Auburn University in Alabama has been an active proponent for additive manufacturing and application research. Last year, for example, the university was selected as a recipient of a Concept Laser Mlab cusing 100R metal printer through GE Additive’s Education Program. Now, with the launch of not one, but two new additive manufacturing centers of excellence, we can expect its AM R&D to increase significantly.

The new “Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence” (AMCOE) at Auburn has been launched in partnership with global standards organization ASTM International, NASA, engineering and tech company EWI and the UK-based Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC). The second center, the National Center for Additive Manufacturing Excellence (NCAME), has been launched by Auburn University in collaboration with NASA.

The new centers will reportedly be aimed towards advancing and accelerating R&D, standardization and overall innovation in the additive manufacturing sphere.

“The synergy among EWI, MTC, Auburn, and NASA will help fill the gaps in technical standards that this industry needs to drive innovation,” commented Katharine Morgan, President of ASTM International. “As a result, we’ll empower industries that are eager to apply additive manufacturing to aerospace, auto, medical, and more.”

AMCOE launched internationally at the MTC earlier this month, an event which brought together members of European industry and government to celebrate the AM initiative. With the Auburn launch yesterday, AMCOE’s advisory board, consisting of public and private sector leaders from the U.S. and abroad, met for the first time. The launch this week also featured meetings for R&D, education and workforce teams.

“Auburn is committed to growing research, solving real-world problems and establishing partnerships that support these transformative initiatives, such as our thriving additive manufacturing program,” added Auburn University President Steven Leath. “By investing in skilled researchers and first-rate facilities, we aim to drive additive technology forward and unleash its full potential. We look forward to continuing to work with our industry and government collaborators.”

Presently, Auburn University is completing renovations to its Gavin Engineering Research Laboratory, which, when finished, will house the research funded through both AMCOE and NCAME.