UL, UofL create center to train workers for additive manufacturing

UL LLC, a global safety science organization, and the University of Louisville (UofL) 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.

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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 enable 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.

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