State advances plans for smart manufacturing hub
INDIANAPOLIS (Inside INdiana Business) – In 2021, Indiana will launch a smart manufacturing hub designed to support the long-term growth of the state’s manufacturing industry. The Emerging Manufacturing Collaboration Center, or EMC2, will be located at the 16 Tech Innovation District in Indianapolis and is expected to open by summer 2021.
The project was first announced earlier this year as a part of the Economic Activity Stabilization and Enhancement initiative.
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. says the facility will be home to Ohio-based GE Additive’s Binder Jet technology, which will serve as a catalyst for “innovators, startups and manufacturers to advance research and development and 21st-century skills training in smart manufacturing.”
“Every day, Indiana manufacturers are developing safe, reliable and innovative products that help power the world,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger. “As new trends and technologies change the state of today’s manufacturing industry, Indiana is focused on partnering with forward-thinking organizations like GE Additive and advancing strategic initiatives to propel long-term growth in manufacturing and equip Hoosiers with the industry-focused skills and training needed for the future.”
The IEDC says EMC2 will allow manufacturers access to utilize state-of-the-art equipment to train employees, conduct third-party pilot manufacturing and increase awareness of products and software applications.
Additionally, the organization says GE Additive will grow its Binder Jet Beta program at the facility, collaborating to perform Binder Jet-enabled R&D in additive manufacturing, factory automation, advanced software development and manufacturing readiness.
“We’re excited by the opportunity presented to us by the state of Indiana,” said GE Additive Chief Technology Officer Christine Furstoss. “Binder Jet is one of the most dynamic areas within additive manufacturing today, and one that the automotive and mobility industry, in particular, is watching closely. Given Indiana’s strong automotive manufacturing focus, we have high hopes that this partnership will tap into its abundant seam of innovation and spark new forward-thinking applications – especially in fields of automation and software development.”
EMC2 and GE Additive will host a virtual industry day on Dec. 8 to give a first look at plans for the facility. The event will offer demonstrations of the company’s Binder Jet technology, industry-focused workshops and project discussions for the facility.