Plans for new AM training facility at University of Louisville.
Global safety science organisation UL LLC, and the University of Louisville have partnered up to launch a new 3D printing training facility called the UL Additive Manufacturing Competency Centre (UL AMCC).
Set to open adjacent to the university later this year, the facility will be a hub for advancing manufacturing knowledge and workforce expertise designed to cater to established additive manufacturing professionals.
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.”
Interior plans for AM training facility.
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 every six to 12 months. UL also plans to develop a formal workforce additive manufacturing certification program next year to help designers, engineers and operators expand from traditional manufacturing techniques into additive manufacturing techniques.
