We invite you to share this newsletter with a colleague and sign up here.
|
|
Resilience and Perspectives During COVID-19
– A message from IACMI CEO John Hopkins
Resilient. That is the word that comes to mind the most as I look back over the past three months. COVID-19 has impacted our lives in so many unprecedented ways. My heart aches for the people that have lost family members and friends to this deadly virus.
In just a short period of time, the coronavirus has fundamentally altered the way we live our lives and how nearly everyone conducts business. My work calendar over the past three months has been filled with conference calls, Zoom, Teams and WebEx meetings. Daily, I have spoken with people in a variety of organizations about COVID-related topics such as masks, face shields, ventilators, and test supplies, as well as the advanced composite materials used to make these items, the scalable innovation and immediate manufacturing needed, and supply chain independence required to respond to this emergency.
Many of you – our 150+ IACMI members – know this feeling all too well. You have transitioned and adapted your essential operations to meet the health and safety needs of your local communities as well as the nation.
|
|
IACMI members meeting moved to September and will follow CAMX 2020 in Orlando
Due to ongoing concerns surrounding the coronavirus and the low likelihood of being able to convene large groups in Michigan in July, the Summer 2020 Members Meeting, originally scheduled for July 14-16 in Detroit, has been moved to September and will now immediately follow CAMX 2020 in Orlando. CAMX 2020 is scheduled for Sept. 21-24 in Orlando and the IACMI Members Meeting will take place Sept. 24-25 in Orlando. IACMI will not hold a meeting in July in Detroit.
“Now, more than ever, it’s important that we make every effort to convene our members,” said Dale Brosius, IACMI Chief Commercialization Officer. (Read Dales’ blog “Changing composites paradigms in the wake of COVID-19” in CompositesWorld.) “COVID-19 has impacted our industry and our members have stepped up in response. How the composites industry emerges from the pandemic requires a full exchange of ideas and IACMI members meetings have been, and will continue to be, great settings for those ideas to flow.”
IACMI is partnering with the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) and the Society for Advanced Materials and Process Engineering (SAMPE) to organize what now is the Fall 2020 IACMI Members Meeting on the back of the programming for CAMX 2020.
Brosius said he hopes that IACMI members will be attending CAMX and will take advantage of this combined opportunity.
Fall 2020 IACM Members Meeting at CAMX 2020
September 24-25, 2020 in Orlando, Florida
Make plans now to attend and please check back on the Members Meeting page for additional information and for links soon to register for this Fall 2020 IACMI Members Meeting.
We are still planning a 2021 Winter Members Meeting in the late January or early February time frame, conditions permitting, and plan to host the Summer 2021 Members Meeting in Detroit, Michigan July 20 – 22, 2021.
|
|
U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens on funding, COVID-19
U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Michigan, shared insight into the congressional agenda for the future of the manufacturing industry in a virtual town hall May 29 coordinated by American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA). Stevens spoke at length with ACMA’s Government Affairs Lead MJ Carrabba about funding sources for manufacturers as well as the industry response to COVID-19. During the town hall she recognized IACMI and its partners for the efficient response to the pandemic. While discussing sources of funding for manufacturers, Stevens brought up the CARES Act, which will provide funding for several institutions, including $50 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program. Stevens’ supportive approach to manufacturing is good news for a number of IACMI members who have headquarters or significant operations in the 11th district.
|
|
Morrison to lead IACMI communications
IACMI welcomed Mark Morrison as Communications Director on May 11. In his new role, Morrison is leading IACMI’s public relations and external affairs responsibilities. He will also play a critical liaison role in leveraging the key capabilities of the organization’s 150+ members made up of industry, academia and government agencies. This collaborative partnership leads innovation and workforce development initiatives to drive the adoption of advanced composites and grow U.S. manufacturing and support national security. Read more here.
|
|
|
|
IN THE NEWS
|
|
|
|
IACMI supports NextFlex as Recipients of $5M in Naval Research Funding for Workforce Education Program Expansion
NextFlex®, America’s Flexible Hybrid Electronics (FHE) Manufacturing Institute, announced today the expansion of its manufacturing workforce education activities with $5 million in funding from the Office of Naval Research (ONR). Through the Manufacturing Engineering Education Program (MEEP), the $5 million will support the development of eight new education programs modeled on NextFlex’s award-winning, FHE-focused FlexFactor® program. Each new program will focus on a different technology area, such as advanced robotics, biopharmaceuticals and tissue biofabrication. Most programs will target K-12 students, with one program focused on 4-year university students.
Learn more about the program and IACMI's participation here.
|
|
ORNL works with Coca-Cola to develop COVID-19 test tubes
June 1 - While researching how to mass product COVID-19 test kids, Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers discovered Coca-Cola preform bottles fit the collection tube dimensions. Utilizing several injection molding preform tools, Coke has already produced over 7 million tubes for testing kits. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services collaborated with ORNL to identify manufacturers who could address a supply chain gap of COVID-19 test collection tubes. Read more.
|
|
UTSA to lead DOE Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute
May 20 - DOE has selected the University of Texas – San Antonio to lead the Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CyManII), a public-private consortium to bolster U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, energy efficiency, and innovation. The Institute will focus on early-stage R&D to advance cybersecurity in energy-efficient manufacturing. The partnership includes Idaho, Oak Ridge and Sandia National Laboratories. Read more.
|
|
Auto, aerospace leader Yajima establishing U.S. headquarters in Purdue Research Park
May 19 - Yajima Industry Company Ltd., with specialty in lightweight automotive and aerospace products and components and supplier to Subaru, will locate its U.S. headquarters in Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette, Indiana. The company will focus on development of lightweight parts and components to proactively take advantage of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites and noncombustible magnesium allow parts. Purdue University’s Composites Manufacturing Simulation Center, an affiliate of IACMI, played a role in attracting Yajima to the research park. Read more.
|
|
|
|
IACMI - The Composites Institute
2360 Cherahala Blvd.
Knoxville, TN 37932
Email preferences | Unsubscribe