Youngstown, Ohio-based America Makes (also known as the National Additive
With its expansive reach across all sectors of the AM and 3D printing industries, America Makes holds an important position regarding the future of these technologies. In efforts to boost collaborative efforts across the Additive Manufacturing (AM) industry, America Makes is offering a new resource for its members. This is a “Capabilities Database” — a members-only searchable directory that details each member’s specific capabilities.
How will such a resource benefit the AM industry? Deputy Director of Technology Transition, Dr. Kevin Creehan, emphasizes open information and research exchange as a key mission of the new project:
“One of the key tenants of America Makes is to foster a highly collaborative infrastructure for the open exchange of AM information and research. With the new Capabilities Database, we are enabling our membership community to even more rapidly forge productive partnerships that maximize resources and knowledge and yield real, game-changing innovations for the AM industry.”
America Makes membership Director and Project Coordinator, Tiffany Westbay, summarizes how America Makes is the only current U.S.-based AM organization that has the resources to support a networking effort among vendors and customers across the industry. This is a unique position to play for an AM organization:
“Currently, no single AM organization has the resources or the partnerships that America Makes has to innovate and accelerate AM to increase our nation’s global manufacturing competitiveness. This week’s launch of the new America Makes Capabilities Database is another significant addition to the invaluable resources exclusively available to our members.”
Not a member yet, but considering joining to receive the benefits? You can check out the membership information here. The database is an important added benefit that can help you in all of your organization’s AM and 3D printing endeavors.
Let’s hear your thoughts on this new initiative. Discuss in the Capabilities Database forum thread on 3DPB.com.