AM Challenge for Small Businesses

In conjunction with America Makes, the nation’s leading and collaborative partner in additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing technology and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Penn State’s Center for Innovative Materials Processing through Direct Digital Deposition is sending an open invitation to Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across the nation to present ideas for how Additive Manufacturing can revolutionize their business. The challenge will be focused on concepts that util ize additive manufacturing for improving a current product or developing a new product. Although the Challenge will focus on additive manufacturing of metals, applications involving polymer printing will also be considered depending upon the impact of improving or developing a product through additive manufacturing. The top five submissions will be awarded stipends and access to Penn State and America Makes’ world class facil ities and research personnel in order to validate, demonstrate, and showcase their ideas. Because great ideas also need support and nurturing, the MEP has also agreed to collaborate with small businesses having an interest in participating .