Blairsville, Pa. — April 30, 2019. The National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) with its National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, America Makes and partner Catalyst Connection proudly announce the launch of AMNOW, a new program to support additive manufacturing (AM) technology insertion into the existing U.S. Army supply chain.
“Logistically, military supply chains are some of the most complex in the world,” said Ralph Resnick, NCDMM President and Chief Executive Officer and Founding Director of America Makes. “The long-term implications of the AMNOW program for the U.S. Army and its supply chain are substantial.”
Structured as a potentially multi-phase, multi-year contract, AMNOW is funded by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Aviation & Missile Center through the U.S. Army Manufacturing Science and Technology (MS&T) Division under the newly formed U.S. Army Futures Command.
The award of the initial phase of AMNOW, valued at $3.7M in funding, was secured jointly by NCDMM in partnership with Catalyst Connection, a private not-for-profit organization headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa. that provides consulting and training services to small- to medium-sized manufacturers in southwestern Pa. (SWPA). Catalyst Connection is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST’s) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network™, a unique public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions to U.S. manufacturers, fueling growth and advancing U.S. manufacturing.
“The work of the initial phase of AMNOW will be instrumental in creating a solid foundation and a clear path on how to best advance AM technologies into the Army’s supply chain,” said Mr. Resnick. “On behalf of all of us at NCDMM and America Makes, we look forward to leading the initial phase of AMNOW in conjunction with the team at Catalyst Connection. As a long-standing partner and a founding member in America Makes, Catalyst Connection brings a depth of expertise in business development, manufacturing, and additive. I am confident that we will be successful in the initial and subsequent phases of AMNOW.”
Petra Mitchell, Catalyst Connection President and CEO, added, “Catalyst Connection has maintained an ongoing strategic partnership with NCDMM since its inception. With the AMNOW Program, we are excited to play an integral role in advancing AM technologies into the U.S. Army’s supply chain while growing our region’s manufacturing capabilities. The AMNOW Program signifies a tremendous regional economic growth opportunity for small- to medium-sized manufactures within the SWPA region. By developing a fully integrated plan to help these local manufactures adopt AM technologies and demonstrate the return on investment of AM for them would be an economic game-changer for the manufacturing sector of our region.”
The initial phase of AMNOW will serve as the foundational work for the pursuit and implementation of subsequent phases. Specifically, this initial phase will prepare to integrate and accelerate the dissemination, transition, and use of innovative, cross-cutting AM technologies for the Army to enhance operations. By enabling a robust AM supply chain and clear technology AM transition path, AMNOW will be poised to help increase the U.S. Army’s readiness and facilitate on-demand production of materials in support of warfighters and commanders on the battlefield.
“The insertion of AM technologies into the existing U.S. Army supply chain will undoubtedly enable significant strategic and tactical advantages for the Army and its state of overall readiness,” said Rob Gorham, NCDMM Executive Director of America Makes. “The ability to leverage AM technologies to produce low-volume, critical parts on-demand and on-site anywhere in the world could dramatically alter the Army’s supply chain, making it far more efficient and cost-effective.” For more information about NCDMM, visit ncdmm.org.
About NCDMM
NCDMM delivers innovative and collaborative manufacturing solutions that enhance our nation’s workforce and economic competitiveness. NCDMM has extensive knowledge and depth in manufacturing areas—both commercial and defense—continually innovate, improve, and advance manufacturing technologies and methodologies. Our experienced team specializes in identifying the needs, the players, the technologies, and processes to attain optimal solutions for our customers. We connect the dots. That’s the NCDMM methodology. NCDMM also manages the national accelerator for additive manufacturing (AM) and 3DP printing (3DP), America Makes and the V4 Institute. For additional information, visit the NCDMM at ncdmm.org.
About America Makes
America Makes is the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute. As the national accelerator for additive manufacturing (AM), 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, non-government agencies, and workforce and economic development resources, we are working together to innovate and accelerate AM to increase our nation’s global manufacturing competitiveness. Based in Youngstown, Ohio, America Makes is the first Institute within the Manufacturing USA infrastructure and is driven by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM). For more information about America Makes, visit americamakes.us and follow @AmericaMakes on Twitter.
About Catalyst Connection
Catalyst Connection is a private not-for-profit organization headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa. It provides consulting and training services to small manufacturers in southwestern Pennsylvania, accelerating revenue growth and improving productivity. Through active collaboration with its clients and the manufacturing community at large, Catalyst Connection contributes to the growth, vibrancy, and ongoing robustness of manufacturing in the southwestern Pennsylvania region. Catalyst Connection is supported, in part, by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community and Economic Development, and by the National Institute of Standards (NIST) and Technology’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). The MEP National Network is a unique public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions to U.S. manufacturers, fueling growth and advancing U.S. manufacturing. For more information, visit catalystconnection.org.
Source: NCDMM
