America Makes Awards $1.2M to Winners of EARTH Project

In partnership with NCDMM, the project is funded by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Research and Engineering Manufacturing Technology Office and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

The National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) and America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, have announced the winners of the $1.2M Environmental Additive Research for Tomorrow’s Habitat (EARTH) Project funded by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Research and Engineering Manufacturing Technology Office and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

The AM sector holds increasing importance within the US manufacturing landscape due to its ability to decrease lead times, provide personalized products, produce intricate shapes, and facilitate on-demand part printing.

As this industry progresses, it is imperative to emphasize sustainable practices that encourage the reutilization and recycling of AM materials. The recipients of the EARTH project awards will assume a crucial role in identifying and validating AM designs and materials that consistently meet the necessary qualifications and performance standards for end users.

“There is the need to acknowledge the potential environmental impact of AM innovations within the manufacturing industry, even as it invests resources in research and development,” said Brandon Ribic, Technology Director at America Makes. “We applaud the efforts of the awardees in exploring sustainable approaches for reusing and recycling AM materials and designs. Their initiatives are expected to make a substantial contribution to reducing waste, conserving energy, and mitigating carbon emissions. The forward-thinking of our industry partners demonstrates a commitment to understanding sustainable AM practices which will influence future adoption of the technology in a variety of sectors.”

The award winners for the Analysis of AM Sustainability and Environmental Benefits topic are: ‘Accelerating Additive in Department of Defense (DoD) Applications of High-Performance Recycled Polymers’, led by IC3D, Inc., with team members including 3Degrees, Harrisburg University, and Ohio State University; and ‘Powder and Process Optimization for Sustainable Additive Manufacturing (POSAM)’, led by RTX Technology Research Center, with team members including 6K Additive and the University of Arizona.

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