America Makes Names Winners of EARTH Project Totaling $1.2 Million

The National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) and America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, have chosen the winners of the $1.2 million 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 (OSD(R&E)) and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

These groups say they are focused on the additive manufacturing (AM) sector as it holds increasing importance within the U.S. 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, the groups say 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,” says 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.”

Below is the list of award winners and related topic areas:

Topic: Analysis of AM Sustainability and Environmental Benefits

• Project 1: Accelerating Additive in Department of Defense (DoD) Applications of High-Performance Recycled Polymers
  • Team Lead: IC3D Inc.
  • Project Team: 3Degrees, Harrisburg University, The Ohio State University
• Project 2: Powder and Process Optimization for Sustainable Additive Manufacturing (POSAM)
  • Team Lead: RTX Technology Research Center
  • Project Team: 6K Additive, The University of Arizona

Project teams will report on their progress at the America Makes Technical Review and Exchange, and other industry events during the execution phase of the program.

America Makes is a public-private partnership for AM technology and education. Its members from industry, academia, government, workforce and economic development organizations work together to accelerate the adoption of AM and the nation’s global manufacturing competitiveness. Founded in 2012 as the Department of Defense’s national manufacturing innovation institute for AM and first of the Manufacturing USA network, America Makes is managed by the not-for-profit National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM).