Gov. Hickenlooper kicks off Colorado Manufacturing Month at ADAPT

Gov. John Hickenlooper kicked off Colorado Manufacturing Month at the Alliance for the Development of Additive Processing Technologies (ADAPT) research lab on Monday at an event hosted by Colorado School of Mines and Manufacturer’s Edge.

. ADAPT is a consortium that provides manufacturers access to the latest research on how to take advantage of additive manufacturing technologies. ADAPT companies work closely with Colorado School of Mines researchers and students on world-class machines to develop technologies to accelerate certification and qualification of 3D printed metal parts.

Joined by Colorado School of Mines President Paul Johnson, Hickenlooper toured the facility and met with manufacturing leaders to discuss the growth of the sector and the role of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade’s (OEDIT) Advanced Industry Infrastructure grant program. ADAPT was started with support from the State of Colorado in the form of an Advanced Industries Infrastructure Grant from OEDIT.

”Colorado is home to 6,000 manufacturers that contribute $20 billion to the state’s economy. ADAPT is consistent with Colorado’s collaborative culture,” Hickenlooper said. “It provides our entrepreneurial manufacturers the ability to work closely with university researchers to develop the next generation of technologies.”

“Innovation is the key to survival and growth for small and medium manufacturers,” said Heidi Hostetter, vice president at Arvada-based Faustson Tool. “Through ADAPT, manufacturers of all sizes looking to incorporate the flexibility of 3D metal printing into their portfolio will have access to cutting-edge research and help shape the future of the industry.”

The tour launched Manufacturing Day celebrations in Colorado, which continue throughout October. Manufacturing Day is an annual celebration of modern manufacturing meant to inspire the next generation of manufacturers, including Colorado School of Mines students.

“In Colorado, one day is not enough to recognize our manufacturers, so, we are declaring October ‘Colorado Manufacturing Month,’” Hickenlooper said.

As ADAPT continues its work, the consortium is actively seeking additional academic and industry partners. Analysis is underway on more than 5,000 specimens with respect to build geometry, power, speed, number of lasers used, and more, to build a robust database.

About ADAPT

The Alliance for the Development of Additive Processing Technologies (ADAPT) is a research and development organization dedicated to the creation of next-generation data informatics and advanced characterization technologies for additive manufacturing technologies. ADAPT uses these tools to help industry and government qualify, standardize, assess, and optimize advanced manufacturing processes and parts. Several levels of membership to the ADAPT consortium are available. Founding industry members include Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Faustson Tool, Lockheed Martin, Citrine Informatics. Grant funding from the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT) was provided to Manufacturer’s Edge and The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership. For more information, find ADAPT on the web, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter.

About Manufacturer’s Edge

Manufacturer’s Edge is a statewide manufacturing assistance center, partially funded by NIST’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). Manufacturer’s Edge provides onsite technical assistance, coaching, training, and consulting, collaboration-focused industry programs, and leveraging government, university and economic development partnerships to boost the competitiveness of Colorado manufacturers.