Rugged 3D Moves California Operations to YBI

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — The Youngstown Business Incubator welcomes Rugged 3D as its newest tenant downtown.

YBI CEO Barb Ewing made the announcement during the virtual Regional Economic Diversification Summit. Co-founded by Ohio natives Collin Boring and Micah Tindor, Rugged 3D engineers and manufactures forward deployable 3D printers for the military, disaster relief, oil and gas, and heavy industries, according to a release from the YBI.

The goal, according to Boring, chief technology officer, is to deliver advanced manufacturing directly at the point of failure to realize its maximum potential in the military.

“Rugged 3D is enabling the ingenuity of warfighters to be exercised in-theatre to improve a team’s operational readiness & self-sustainability,” Boring said.

Rugged 3D is the 10th tenant in the YBI’s Tech Block Building 5. With the new addition, all space from the 2017 renovation has been leased.

“We are excited to have Rugged 3D joining us here in Youngstown,” said the YBI’s Ewing. “When the Rugged 3D team toured the YBI campus, met with our staff, it was clear that they agreed with our assessment that Youngstown really is the heart of the additive manufacturing industry in North America, and this is where they need to be to grow their company.”

“One of the missions of America Makes is to help build environments where AM can thrive, and the collaboration between America Makes and YBI has helped build a successful ecosystem for AM in Youngstown,” added America Makes Executive Director John Wilczynski. “AM companies around the country are seeing what’s happening in the Valley and understanding the benefits of being here.”

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-13 Ohio, praised the announcement, adding that “for two decades, we’ve been working to build a technology belt between Cleveland and Pittsburgh.

“The announcement of another new additive manufacturing start-up locating in Youngstown validates the work of YBI, America Makes, YSU, and all the other partners who have been fighting to strengthen and diversify the Valley’s manufacturing base,” Ryan added. “With Rugged 3D’s focus on military applications, I look forward to using my position on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee to find ways to support their efforts to grow their business in the region.”

Read more about Rugged 3D and the YBI in George Nelson’s story Wednesday morning at BusisnessJournalDaily.com.

Image: Rugged 3D

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.