3D Printing

UL and University of Louisville to Open Advanced 3D Printing Training Center

Global safety sciences company UL LLC has steadily been growing its additive manufacturing division and, now, via a partnership with the University of Louisville to launch a 3D printing training facility called the UL Additive Manufacturing Competency Center (UL AMCC). The facility is adjacent to the UofL campus and is set to open in autumn of 2015.

UL is a leading global safety science organization whose aim is to promote safe living and working environments for all and their new facility is meant to further that mission in the field of 3D printing.  The UL AMCC was developed to provide additive manufacturing businesses and technical professionals with a hub for advancing their workforce expertise and knowledge. By offering hands-on training in machine set up, part production, design correction and set up, testing and validation, and post-processing and parts instruction, professional trainees will have a comprehensive understanding of how to produce parts printed in metal, as well as other emerging materials, using a variety of 3D printers.  They’ll also be able to identify potential hazards from materials and machines. The training will impart technical professionals with the ability to manufacture and design parts with built-in safety.

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Their CEO Keith Williams explains how this new partnership ties into UL’s larger goal of improved safety in 3D printing, “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. Through the UL AMCC, UL is committed to meeting ever-evolving safety and quality needs and accelerating knowledge transfers within the 3D printing industry.”

University of Louisville President James Ramsey is also excited about the partnership, saying “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.”

UL AMCC will begin as an off-shoot of UofL’s global advanced manufacturing campus and the Institute for Product Realization (IPR), but the University hopes that the Center can share knowledge and collaborate with local corporations as well, like FirstBuild and GE.  Neville Pinto, dean of the J.B. Speed School of Engineering and a professor of chemical engineering at UofL says that “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.”

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UL AMCC plans to continually evolve their curriculum to keep up with the rapidly changing additive manufacturing industry. They plan on introducing new content every six to 12 months. UL also plans to develop a formal certification program for additive manufacturers this coming year, to help traditional engineers, designers and operators transition into additive manufacturing.  Simin Zhou, vice president of Digital Manufacturing Technologies at UL, explains their future roadmap, “We anticipate the UL AMCC will expand over time to take on additional innovations to advance manufacturing. 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 [email protected].  And, to learn more about UL’s role in the 3D printing industry, read our interview with Simin Zhou here.