America Makes, Regional Chamber to Host MMX

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – America Makes will host its annual Members Meeting & Exchange, or MMX, Oct. 30 and 31 at Stambaugh Auditorium.

America Makes, the flagship Institute for Manufacturing USA, the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation, will partner with the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber to present the event this year.

MMX will feature updates about advancements in 3D printing/additive manufacturing from industry leaders and shine a spotlight on the Mahoning Valley, as more than 350 attendees from all over the country will participate.

“We’re all going to be talking about really the state of the industry – trying to coordinate, collaborate, and really make sure we understand how to best take advantage of the printing process,” said Rob Gorham, executive director of America Makes.

Attendees are expected to include C-suite executives from Fortune 100 companies, military brass and leading researchers from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Notre Dame, among others.

“It’s rare to have hundreds of business partners of this caliber gathering in our community,” James Dignan, president and CEO of the chamber, said in a news release. “The MMX event is not only great for the Valley overall but also enables our organization’s members to develop their businesses and opens doors for the Chamber’s team in the economic development realm.”

Additionally, Dignan characterized the timing of the event as “perfect,” given the recommendation in the Ohio Chamber Research Foundation’s report, Ohio BOLD, that calls on the state to use America Makes as a means “to boost the future economy throughout all of Ohio.”

Highlights of the event include:

• Keynote from Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel.

• “State of the Additive Manufacturing Industry” address from Terry Wohlers, principal consultant and president, Wohlers Associates.
• Perspective on the industry from Tracy Frost, Department of Defense, Rob Ivester, Department of Energy, U.S. Reps. Tim Ryan and Bill Johnson and Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof.
• Representatives from Ford Motor Company, United Technologies Research Centers, Raytheon Company, 3D Systems, Wolf Robotics, Humtown Products and Youngstown Business Incubator, who will discuss how they are utilizing additive manufacturing to further their success.
• Additive manufacturing advancements being made at Carnegie Mellon, Arizona State University and the University of Texas El Paso.

The event provides local business leaders the opportunity to interact with industry leaders and “get real takeaways on how to consider 3D printing as it evolves and continues to become a productive and effective way of manufacturing,” Gorham said.

“A.T. Kearney just published a report that said that the printing process has the potential to disrupt up to $900 billion of the manufacturing sector over the next decade,” he said. “My question is: How do we make sure that our Mahoning Valley manufacturing partners are capable and ready to take advantage of that?”

The report also predicts the potential of up to five million jobs being created because of the industry, he continued. “It’s pivotal that the local manufacturers understand this is the place to come and learn how to take advantage of this wave that is right in front of us.”

The city of Youngstown will also be showcased during the event, according to the release. A welcome reception will take place at the Whistle & Keg and a networking event is set for the Butler Institute of American Art. Many attendees will stay at the new DoubleTree by Hilton Youngstown Downtown, where they will experience the building’s unique architecture.

A full agenda for the event, as well as information on registration and pricing, is available here.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.