GE Additive Education Program donates Concept Laser machine to Ohio State University
May 4, 2018
Staff from GE Additive and Ohio State University celebrate the machine’s donation at the College of Engineering (from left to right: Welding Engineering Professor Antonio Ramirez Londono, College of Engineering Dean David B. Williams, GE Advanced Lead Engineer Michael Meade, GE Aviation General Manager Mike Kauffman, GE University Relations Manager Cindy Hendrickson, Ohio State Vice President of Economic and Corporate Engagement Matt McNair, GE Additive Engineering Leader Mark Meyer and Materials Science and Engineering Chair Peter Anderson) (Courtesy Ohio State University)
GE Additive, the Additive Manufacturing division of General Electric (GE), has donated a Concept Laser Mlab cusing R metal Additive Manufacturing system to the College of Engineering at Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA. Ohio State is one of eight universities worldwide to receive a system under the GE Additive Education Program.
The university welcomed staff from GE Additive to its campus on April 30, 2018. During this event, the team learned from faculty staff and students in the College of Engineering’s Engineering Welding programme how the new machine will enhance their academic pursuits.
GE created its Additive Education Program in 2017, and has stated that it plans to invest $10 million over five years to develop future talent in Additive Manufacturing. Enabling educational institutions to provide access to AM systems will, it hopes, accelerate the adoption of AM worldwide.
At the time of the programme’s launch, Mohammad Ehteshami, Vice President of GE Additive, stated, “Additive Manufacturing is revolutionising the way we think about designing and manufacturing products. We want a pipeline of engineering talent that have additive in their DNA. This education program is our way of supporting that goal.”
David B Williams, Dean of the College of Engineering, commented, “We’re very happy GE chose to donate this printer to Ohio State in recognition of our Welding Engineering programme and [programme leader] Antonio Ramirez’s commitment to education and research. The printer will allow our students to learn cutting-edge technology and prepare them for careers in a wide range of industries.”
“Finding mutually beneficial partnerships is an increasingly important way for universities to add value beyond the classroom,” added Matt McNair, Vice President of Economic and Corporate Engagement at Ohio State. “Gifts like this benefit student learning today while building a talent pipeline for the future for companies like GE.”
More than 250 colleges and universities from around the world are reported to have applied to the GE Additive Education Program. In addition to Ohio State, GE donated metal AM systems to Auburn University, Boston University, Iowa State University, North Carolina State University, the University of Cincinnati, University of New South Wales and the U.S. Naval Academy.
Two GE Additive metal printers were also recently installed at Ohio State’s Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence (CDME). These machines, an industrial-grade Arcam Q10+ and Concept Laser metal AM system, were purchased by Ohio-based company Proto Precision Manufacturing Solutions.
