New additive manufacturing technologies are being explored at DOE’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at ORNL. The MDF is on Hardin Valley Road in west Knox County. (Photo courtesy ORNL)
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Strangpresse LLC of Youngstown, Ohio, have signed a non-exclusive licensing agreement on a portfolio of ORNL patents related to large-scale additive manufacturing.
ORNL is leading advances in the production of large-scale 3-D printed materials, refining industrial processes to decrease costs and increase efficiency.
Under the agreement, Strangpresse, a Hapco Inc. affiliate, may make, use, or sell the lab’s patented developments of materials, processes and controls that enable the manufacture of parts much larger than current standards.
“We’re very pleased to be joining with ORNL to carry large-scale additive manufacturing technology to the marketplace,” said Strangpresse President Chuck George. “Our leadership team has over 70 years of experience in the thermoplastics extrusion industry, and we see this partnership as a great opportunity to expand this technology.”
“The additive manufacturing industry is starting to take notice of some of the ORNL intellectual property,” said Eugene Cochran, ORNL senior commercialization manager. “ORNL is interested in identifying and working with other companies interested in engaging in this space.”
The additive manufacturing agreement is the latest in a series of ORNL advances following printing of a Shelby Cobra at DOE’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at ORNL. The Cobra debuted at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in January.
Lonnie Love, leader of ORNL’s Manufacturing Systems Research group, said the speed of next-generation additive manufacturing offers new opportunities for the automotive, aerospace, and prototyping industries.
“Our goal is to demonstrate the potential of large-scale additive manufacturing as an innovative and viable manufacturing technology,” Love said. “We want to improve digital manufacturing solutions for the automotive industry.”
Strangpresse LLC, founded in 2014, was formed to research, develop, and commercialize fully controllable, lightweight, thermoplastic extruders that are the cornerstone of 3-D printing. Strangpresse supplies extruders and other equipment for research and development in additive manufacturing to industry leaders.
A portfolio of ORNL patents associated with large scale additive manufacturing is available for licensing on a non-exclusive basis. ORNL and UT-Battelle work closely with licensees to ensure successful commercialization of licensed technologies. More information concerning licensing of ORNL technologies can be obtained at www.ornl.gov/partnerships/technology-licensing.
This technology development was supported by DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy – Advanced Manufacturing Office. AMO supports applied research, development and demonstration of new materials and processes for energy efficiency in manufacturing as well as platform technologies for the manufacturing of clean energy products.
ORNL is managed by UT-Battelle for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. DOE’s Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit science.energy.gov.
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