3D Printing and Smart Manufacturing Highlighted at SME’s SOUTH-TEC

From October 24th to the 26th, the SOUTH-TEC exhibition and conference will be taking place at the TD Convention Center in Greenville, South Carolina. Produced by SME and the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT), the event will bring together exhibitors showcasing the latest in manufacturing technology – with a special focus on additive manufacturing and smart technology. Attendees can expect to see several presentations about the adoption of these types of advanced technologies, as well as real world applications, workforce development, cost reduction and speed to market in multiple industries.

Three keynotes are currently scheduled. The first will take place on October 24th from 9:15 to 10:00 AM, and will be given by Patricia Buckley, Managing Director, Economics, at Deloitte. Entitled “Economic Outlook—Factors Impacting Manufacturing Trends in the South,” this keynote will discuss current economic trends and their impact particularly on the manufacturing sector of the Southeastern United States.

The second will take place on October 25th from 9:15 to 10:00 AM and will be given by Scott Geller, the CEO of PartWorks. Entitled “Real Life 3D Impact on Product Design and Production,” this keynote will go into real world applications for 3D digital technologies like 3D scanning, 3D printing, reverse engineering and 3D CAD in industries as diverse as aerospace, medical devices, Hollywood, and automotive. Examples will include how 3D scanning and 3D printing can be used in part maintenance, tooling and fixtures in industries such as aerospace, as well as how 3D modeling and 3D printing are impacting everything from medical devices to movies.

The third keynote will take place on October 26th from 9:15 to 10:00 AM and will be given by Julia Crew, Head of Training and Development at Panasonic Automotive. The focus is on steps women can take to grow as remarkable, confident leaders who can ignite other women leaders in manufacturing.

The event will also feature several panel discussions. One in particular looks at the future of manufacturing; titled, appropriately, “The Future of Manufacturing,” this panel discussion will take place on October 25th from 1:30 to 2:30 PM and will look at emerging technologies as well as barriers to their adoption (particularly for small to medium-sized businesses) and the skills needed to implement them. It will be moderated by Dr. Jeff DeGrange, Chief Commercial Officer at Impossible Objects. Panelists include:

• Ralph Resnick, FSME, President and Executive Director of the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) and Founding Director of America Makes
• Tony Schmitz, Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science, Advanced Manufacturing Research, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• Mihaela Vlasea, Faculty, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo

SOUTH-TEC will offer a unique presentation titled “Biomimetic Manufacturing” by Tony Schmitz, PhD, FSME from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Schmitz invites the audience to look to nature to discover their next manufacturing solution. Biomimicry is the imitation of models and systems of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems. Attendees should come with an open mind and be ready for bold visions of the future of manufacturing.

There will also be a “Brew & View” presentation entitled “How Digital Fabrication Promises to Make Small, Fulfilling, Local Manufacturing Competitive Again.” Led by Ted Hall, Founder and CEO of ShopBot Tools, this presentation will discuss digital fabrication technology including 3D printing, laser cutting, plasma cutting, CNC machining, and robotic assembly. Attendees will learn about how this technology is continuing to evolve, as well as its impact on small manufacturers.

Other highlights of SOUTH-TEC include a Smart Manufacturing Hub, which will showcase multiple advanced manufacturing technologies including 3D printing, 3D scanning, automation, advanced materials, and the Industrial Internet of Things. There will also be a special Student Innovation Tour that will allow students to explore exhibits, examine the technology, and talk with industry experts. If you’re interested in signing a class up for the tour, you can do so here. Registration for SOUTH-TEC is open; if you’d like to attend, you can sign up here.

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