NORTHBROOK, Ill. and LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 12, 2015 — UL LLC, a global safety science organization, and the University of Louisville are launching a 3D printing training facility called the UL Additive Manufacturing Competency Center (UL AMCC). It is set to open in fall 2015 adjacent to the university campus.
Developed for established additive manufacturing technical and business professionals, the end-to-end training center will be a hub for advancing manufacturing knowledge and workforce expertise.
Specifically, the UL AMCC will offer hands-on training in additive manufacturing for metals and curriculum covering design set up, design corrections, machine set up, part production, post-processing and parts inspection, testing and validation. The training will allow professionals to understand how to produce metal parts and emerging materials through additive manufacturing, establish safety systems, identify hazards from materials and machines and manufacture parts with safety built into designs.
“Applying the University of Louisville’s deep and practical research expertise in metals and manufacturing education with UL’s rich history in safety science will bridge the workforce development gap and empower professionals with cutting-edge training in this advanced technology,” said UL CEO Keith Williams. “Through the UL AMCC, UL is committed to meeting ever-evolving safety and quality needs and accelerating knowledge transfers within the 3D printing industry.”
“We’re excited about our partnership with UL,” said University of Louisville President James Ramsey. “This is another collaboration with a world-class company that will help us build our reputation as THE university for advanced manufacturing, training and moving research to the marketplace.”
The UL AMCC will join UofL’s global advanced manufacturing campus, the Institute for Product Realization (IPR), and collaborate and share knowledge with other corporate residents, including GE and Local Motors’ FirstBuild.
“As an integral part of the IPR, the UL AMCC will provide engineers and manufacturers with a melting pot of valuable information and resources and provide a direct connection from our academic research and UL’s certification and safety expertise to practical 3D printing applications,” said Neville Pinto, dean of the J.B. Speed School of Engineering and a professor of chemical engineering at UofL.
As additive manufacturing technologies rapidly evolve, UL AMCC will update course curriculum and introduce new content every six to 12 months. Looking forward, UL will develop a formal workforce additive manufacturing certification program during 2016 to help designers, engineers and operators expand from traditional manufacturing techniques into additive manufacturing techniques.
“We anticipate the UL AMCC will expand over time to take on additional innovations to advance manufacturing,” said Simin Zhou, vice president of Digital Manufacturing Technologies at UL. “As additive manufacturing gets deeper and more integrated into production lines, the training center will evolve real time to arm workforces with the most up-to-date knowledge and best practices.”
To learn more about UL AMCC, visit UL.com/3dptraining. For information on specific courses or to register, email 3dprinting@ul.com.
About UL 3D Printing
UL 3D Printing is a trusted and reliable partner to 3D printing equipment and material manufacturers, retailers and commercial and industrial companies. UL, with its 120-year history in safety science, is collaborating with the emerging 3D printing industry to advance education and training, close the knowledge transfer gap, enhance and simplify compliance and interact with regulators on future issues. UL has a rich history as an independent organization with deep expertise in standards, compliance, testing, certification, manufacturing processes and engineering.
About UL
UL is a premier global independent safety science company that has championed progress for 120 years. Its more than 10,000 professionals are guided by the UL mission to promote safe working and living environments for all people. UL uses research and standards to continually advance and meet ever-evolving safety needs. We partner with businesses, manufacturers, trade associations and international regulatory authorities to bring solutions to a more complex global supply chain.
About UofL
The University of Louisville is a state supported research university located in Kentucky’s largest metropolitan area. The university has three campuses. The 287-acre Belknap Campus is three miles from downtown Louisville and houses seven of the university’s 12 colleges and schools. The Health Sciences Campus is in downtown Louisville’s medical complex and houses the university’s health-related programs and University of Louisville Hospital. The 243-acre Shelby Campus is located in eastern Jefferson County.
