NIAR is first strategic partner for ASTM International’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence
August 21, 2018
Wichita State University (WSU)’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), Wichita, Kansas, USA, will join ASTM International’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence as its first ‘strategic’ partner. ASTM International and four founding partners recently launched the centre to support R&D to advance Additive Manufacturing standards, and in turn drive the commercialisation of cutting-edge Additive Manufacturing technologies.
Dr John Tomblin, WSU’s Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer, and Dr Mohsen Seifi, ASTM International’s Director of Global Additive Manufacturing Programs, made the announcement during a joint workshop focused on the qualification and certification of metal AM parts. “We’re proud to be the first strategic partner in this globally-recognised centre of excellence that will help build the technical foundation for the future of Additive Manufacturing,” stated Tomblin. “The centre is attracting an array of leading industry players to the table to speak with one voice and make an impact.”
Speaking during the workshop, Seifi added, “Building on its strengths, NIAR will lead efforts to qualify additively manufactured materials and to further strengthen relationships with key aerospace regulators worldwide. Leveraging their expertise in R&D, we will develop much-needed standards that will significantly enhance certification in aviation and other industries. We’re thrilled to have the NIAR team on board.”
NIAR is an industry-focused research institute and, as such, stated that it plans to be engaged in the centre of excellence’s R&D, education and workforce development activities, in addition to other functions and programmes. The centre’s founding partners are US based Auburn University, NASA and EWI, as well as the UK’s Manufacturing Technology Centre.
