Ohio-based machine tool manufacturer Cincinnati Incorporated has announced a 10-year agreement with 12-time NASCAR Cup Series champions Hendrick Motorsports. In this partnership, Cincinnati Inc. will act as the team’s Official Metal Fabrication and Additive Equipment Provider, it will also become a full-season associate sponsor of the team’s four-car stable.
Rick Hendrick, Hendrick Motorsports team owner, said, “Ten years is quite a statement. It demonstrates how the Cincinnati team feels about NASCAR and the opportunities the sport presents for their business.”
“From the perspective of our team, it’s a major endorsement of how fantastic the Cincinnati products are and the confidence we have that the relationship will help provide a competitive advantage on the racetrack. We look forward to a lot of trips to Victory Lane together over the next decade.”
Cincinnati Inc. and Hendrick Motorsports
Cincinnati Inc. is a manufacturer of metal fabrication equipment including press brakes and shears. In the 3D printing industry, the company is known for commercializing Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) polymer FFF machines, as well as the Small Area Additive Manufacturing (SAAM) and Medium Area Additive Manufacturing (MAAM) ranges. In partnership with Cincinnati Inc., Hendrick Motorsports will harness the full range of the company’s expertise, applying both conventional metal fabrication equipment, and additive manufacturing to the development and construction of its fleet of racecars. Moreover, the company will be showcased as the primary sponsor of professional stock car racing driver Alex Bowman’s No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the Cup Series playoff race at Dover International Speedway in October 2019, in addition to two events in 2020.
“Rick Hendrick’s teams have a long and storied history of winning at every level. We are proud to be associated with that incredible record and partner with another enduring American brand,” stated Rakesh Kumar, vice president of sales, service, and marketing for Cincinnati Inc.
BAAM and automotive applications
Earlier this year, Cincinnati Inc. donated a custom 3D printed “13.1” sign to the 2019 Flying Pig Marathon, a charity event established by non-profit organization Cincinnati Marathon, Inc. The 3D printed number, made using the BAAM machine, represented the 13.1 miles of the marathon.
The BAAM system was also featured in the Guinness World Records in 2016 for producing the largest 3D printed part in the world. Furthermore, the system was also utilized to 3D print the hull of a submarine for the U.S. Navy in 2017. Prior to this, Local Motors, a ground mobility company, used BAAM technology to 3D print an entire vehicle known as the Strati in 44 hours.
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Featured image shows the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro belonging to Alex Bowman. Image via Hendrick Motors.
