• About
    • About Us
    • What We Cover
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Our Advertisers
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Send News
  • Subscribe

Oak Ridge Today

  • Home
  • Sign in
  • News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Police and Fire
    • U.S. Department of Energy
    • Weather
  • Sports
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • Recreation
    • Rowing
    • Youth
  • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Dancing
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Premium Content
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds




Guest column: President Obama’s manufacturing announcement—what it means for UT, ORNL, East Tennessee

Posted at 8:32 pm January 12, 2015
By University of Tennessee Leave a Comment

Jimmy Cheek and Martin Keller and Shelby Cobra

University of Tennessee Knoxville Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek, right, stands with Martin Keller, associate laboratory director at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, in front of a Shelby Cobra printed as a collaboration between ORNL and UT personnel. The car served as a highlight of President Obama’s visit to the area on Friday. (Photo courtesy UT) 

 

KNOXVILLE—President Obama’s announcement on Friday that the University of Tennessee in Knoxville would be the lead institution in a $259 million advanced composites manufacturing project known as the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation, or IACMI, was met with applause, but also a few questions.

Many wondered what advanced composites manufacturing really means, why the UT-led consortium was selected, and what the impact for the area might be.

Here are some answers.

What is IACMI?

IACMI is the newest federally funded institute for manufacturing innovation. Its focus is on advancing innovation in the manufacturing of composites used in automobiles, wind turbines, and compressed gas storage tanks.

Related video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VobUkNKpCGE

Advertisement

IACMI has three composites application centers directed to specific industrial applications. These centers are located in Michigan (automotive), Colorado (wind), and Ohio (compressed gas storage), with enabling technology centers in Indiana (modeling and simulation) and Tennessee (composite materials and process technology).

These states, along with Kentucky, are the six core partner states of IACMI, which also involves a 122-member consortium that includes industry leaders, universities, and national laboratories such as fellow founding partner Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

In addition to $189 million in funding from those partners, $70 million came from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Manufacturing Office within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

The funds will be used to establish this newest institute for manufacturing innovation. UT’s Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement, Taylor Eighmy, serves as the principal investigator, while ORNL’s Craig Blue is the chief executive officer of the institute.

The day-to-day operations of the institute will be managed by a new not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization established by the UT Research Foundation and located in Knoxville.

Advertisement

The institute staff will coordinate activities across the six states and five centers, interact with the other national institutes, focus on research and development project selection with corporate partners and researchers, manage workforce development and education efforts, and ensure the Department of Energy’s goals in advanced composites manufacturing are met.

On the industry side, members include Volkswagen, Ford Motor Company, Dow Chemical, DowAksa, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Dassault Systemes Americas Corp, the Strongwell Corporation, and Local Motors, among others.

“This project will accelerate the development of an advanced manufacturing system in East Tennessee, particularly around automotive manufacturing and materials development,” Eighmy said. “Increasingly, we are seeing keen interest in the development of low-cost carbon fiber for use in composites, their use in new composite materials and manufacturing technologies, and how these become integrated in hybrid material—containing both composites and metals—in manufactured products.”

What is advanced composites manufacturing?

Advanced composites manufacturing typically involves the use of revolutionary materials, such as carbon and glass fibers, or processes, such as the 3D printing technique used to print the Shelby Cobra on display during Obama’s visit.

Composites are made by combining a polymer resin with strong reinforcing fibers, typically glass or carbon. This process results in a composite material with enhanced overall performance, including improved strength and stiffness.

Advertisement

Historical demand for composites has been for low-volume, high-value industries such as aerospace. High-speed production at lower cost could enable broader use of composites in high-volume, cost-sensitive markets such as automotive, wind energy, and compressed gas storage.

For example, making lighter weight vehicles is an important energy efficiency strategy in transportation. A 10 percent reduction in vehicle weight can improve fuel efficiency by six to eight percent for vehicles with conventional internal combustion engines.

“Being the lead institution on this project is a testament to the ideas, research and faculty that we bring to the table,” said Wayne Davis, dean of UT’s College of Engineering.

“From our expertise in developing the materials of the future to our work in advanced manufacturing techniques and 3D printing, our college has a wealth of expertise that we can share with the institute, and that really shows in our selection to lead that enterprise.”

Why was UT picked to lead the project?

UT has many core partners that it is working with on this project: ORNL, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Michigan State University, the University of Dayton Research Institute, Purdue University, and the University of Kentucky.

UT has emerged as a growing force in the field, as evidenced by the ongoing partnership between UT and ORNL, its long history in nonwoven composites, its extensive collaboration with the federal government on composites research and development, and the selection of Suresh Babu as UT-ORNL Governor’s Chair in Advanced Manufacturing.

Several departments within the College of Engineering in particular have focused on advancing the use of materials in manufacturing and the process itself.

Carbon fiber, additive manufacturing (3D printing), and the development of other materials are but a few of the areas where UT and ORNL have a shared wealth of knowledge.

“Having IACMI will not only help cement expertise in traditional manufacturing, but will bring together UT’s expertise in design, polymer science, textiles, processing of composites, as well as testing and characterization of composites,” said Babu, who works out of UT’s Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering as well as ORNL.

“This unique partnership will advance the deployment of polymer composites to provide benefit to member companies, as well as train the future high tech workforce.”

What might the impact be?

In terms of economic impact, IACMI’s analysis has shown that the market for composite materials will nearly double globally by 2020.

Making sure that workers, employers and suppliers in the U.S. are able to stay ahead of the curve on the process is seen as crucial by industrial, academic, and political leaders across the spectrum.

Additionally, the “green effect” of decreasing both the amount of materials needed to produce a product and the energy to run it should save consumers and producers alike.

Socially, the promise of composites as stronger, lighter materials could impact everything from cars to medical devices, with an increase in durability extending the life of both.

One of the key objectives of the plan is supporting American manufacturing and raising the profile of industries in the U.S. as production processes change, which is both a highlight of Obama’s upcoming State of the Union address as well as a reason for his visit to East Tennessee.

For more on IACMI, visit http://iacmi.org.

Filed Under: Business, College, Education, Federal, Government, Guest Columns, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Opinion, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: 3D printing, additive manufacturing, advanced composites manufacturing, Advanced Manufacturing Office, automobiles, Boeing, carbon, carbon fiber, College of Engineering, composites, composites application centers, compressed gas storage tanks, Craig Blue, Dassault Systemes Americas Corp, DOE, Dow Chemical, DowAksa, Ford Motor Company, glass fibers, IACMI, Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation, Jimmy G. Cheek, Local Motors, Lockheed Martin, manufacturing, manufacturing innovation, Martin Keller, Michigan State University, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, ORNL, Purdue University, Shelby Cobra, Strongwell Corporation, Suresh Babu, Taylor Eighmy, Tennessee, U.S. Department of Energy, University of Dayton Research Institute, University of Kentucky, University of Tennessee, UT, UT Research Foundation, UT-ORNL Governor's Chair in Advanced Manufacturing, Volkswagen, Wayne Davis, wind turbines

Advertisements

 

Join the club!

If you appreciate our work, please consider subscribing. Besides helping us, your subscription will give you access to our premium content.

Most of our stories are free, brought to you by Oak Ridge Today with help from our members—advertisers, subscribers, and sponsors.

But some are premium content, available only to members. Those are in-depth, investigative, or exclusive stories that are available only on Oak Ridge Today. They generally require at least four hours to report, write, and publish.

You can subscribe for as little as $5 per month.

You can read more about your options here.

We currently offer five primary subscription options to readers, and they include benefits.

Basic

  • Basic monthly subscription ($5 per month)—access premium content
  • Basic annual subscription ($60 per year)—access premium content

Pro

  • Pro monthly subscription ($10 per month)—access premium content, get breaking news emails first, and submit one press release or public service announcement per month
  • Pro annual subscription ($100 per year)—save $20 per year, access premium content, get breaking news emails first, and submit one press release or public service announcement per month

Temporary

  • Temporary access ($3 per week for two weeks)

We also have advanced subscription options. You can see them here.

We also accept donations. You can donate here.

If you prefer to send a check for a subscription or donation, you may do so by mailing one to:

Oak Ridge Today
P.O. Box 6064
Oak Ridge, TN 37831

Thank you for your consideration and for reading Oak Ridge Today. We appreciate your support.

Commenting Guidelines

We welcome comments, but we ask you to follow a few guidelines:

1) Please use your real name, including last name. Please also use a valid e-mail address.
2) Be civil. Don't insult others, attack their character, or get personal.
3) Stick to the issues.
4) No profanity.
5) Keep your comments to a reasonable length and to a reasonable number per article.

We reserve the right to remove any comments that violate these guidelines. Comments held for review, usually from those posting for the first time, may not post if they violate these guidelines. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Thank you also for reading Oak Ridge Today and for participating in the discussion.

More information is available here.

More Business News

Update on downtown Oak Ridge Tuesday

A city official will give an update on the proposed development of downtown Oak Ridge during a lunchtime meeting Tuesday. The presentation will be led by Wayne Blasius, director of the Oak Ridge Planning and … [Read More...]

CROET president tells Oak Ridge story on national podcast

Teresa Frady, president of the Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee, is the Spotlight Interview guest on this week’s episode of the Gone Fission Nuclear Report podcast, which covers U.S. Department of … [Read More...]

Willow Ridge Garden Center named small business of month

  Willow Ridge Garden Center has been named the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce's Small Business of the Month for February 2022. The award is sponsored by Enrichment Federal Credit Union. Willow Ridge Garden Center is … [Read More...]

Frady named CROET president, CEO

Teresa Frady has been named president and chief executive officer of the Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee. CROET is a regional economic development nonprofit organization that helps find new uses for … [Read More...]

3M expanding in Clinton

The 3M Company plans to expand in Clinton, investing about $470 million and adding around 600 new jobs by 2025, a press release said. The expansion was announced Thursday by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Department of … [Read More...]

More Business

More Education News

Secret City Academy student charged with terrorism after alleged shooting, bomb threats

A Secret City Academy student was charged with terrorism and other crimes after allegedly threatening to shoot people and use a bomb at the school on Friday, Anderson County's district attorney general said. This is the … [Read More...]

ORHS Masquers presents ‘Into the Woods’

Oak Ridge High School Masquers, the school’s extracurricular drama program, is presenting "Into the Woods," the Stephen Sondheim musical based on the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tales, in four performances this … [Read More...]

Roane State employees receive excellence awards

Four Roane State Community College employees have been recognized as winners of the prestigious Excellence Award bestowed by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development. NISOD has been named the … [Read More...]

Tennessee Holocaust Commission accepting student entries for 2022 contest

“The Holocaust is a lesson in human (and inhuman) history that took place because of hate, bigotry, indifference—all characteristics that know no bounds. These traits spread like wildfire. If we remain indifferent to … [Read More...]

Former AC school employees charged with theft

Two former Anderson County Schools employees have been charged with stealing more than $10,000 in a two-year period between January 2018 and January 2020. Heather Dawn Heatherly, 44, of Jacksboro, and Stephanie Leann … [Read More...]

More Education

More Government News

Update on downtown Oak Ridge Tuesday

A city official will give an update on the proposed development of downtown Oak Ridge during a lunchtime meeting Tuesday. The presentation will be led by Wayne Blasius, director of the Oak Ridge Planning and … [Read More...]

Clinch-River-Site-Bear-Creek-Road-Entrance-March-27-2016

TVA has virtual open house for Clinch River Nuclear Site

The Tennessee Valley Authority will have a virtual open house for the Clinch River Nuclear Site in west Oak Ridge this evening (Thursday, March 10). The open house follows the release of a draft environmental impact … [Read More...]

Oak Ridge names first honorary poet laureate

The City of Oak Ridge has named Erin Elizabeth Smith as its first honorary poet laureate. Smith will serve in this role for a two-year period, a press release said. "In this role, she will inspire and promote literacy … [Read More...]

Breakfast with Legislators on Feb. 28

The first Breakfast with the Legislators this year is scheduled for Monday morning, February 28. The breakfast will be virtual, and it scheduled from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. It has been organized by the League of Women … [Read More...]

Tax assistance center opens Feb. 8

The Oak Ridge Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Center will open on Tuesday. The VITA program is an Internal Revenue Service initiative to help taxpayers by providing trained volunteers to prepare and electronically … [Read More...]

More Government

More U.S. Department of Energy News

DOE, UCOR to highlight ETTP transformation, opportunities

The U.S. Department of Energy and its contractor UCOR will highlight the transformation of the East Tennessee Technology Park (the former K-25 site) and discuss the economic opportunities there during a virtual event on … [Read More...]

CROET president tells Oak Ridge story on national podcast

Teresa Frady, president of the Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee, is the Spotlight Interview guest on this week’s episode of the Gone Fission Nuclear Report podcast, which covers U.S. Department of … [Read More...]

Workers devise strategies to clean up high-risk contaminated lab at ORNL

Innovation has been required as federal cleanup crews work to deactivate and demolish the final portion of the former Radioisotope Development Laboratory at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The structure is known as the … [Read More...]

Controlled burns scheduled on Oak Ridge Reservation

Controlled burns are scheduled on the U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Reservation. "The public should expect to see some smoke from this activity," a press release said. "However, smoke in this and other areas in … [Read More...]

Scientist-entrepreneur to talk about regenerative medicine, potential COVID treatment

A former molecular geneticist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory will discuss regenerative medicine and a potential treatment for severe COVID-19 disease patients and those who struggle with "long haul" symptoms. The talk … [Read More...]

More DOE

More Opinion

Letter: Submarine Veterans base commander ‘very disappointed’ with festival this year

To the Editor: The Smoky Mountain Submarine Veterans, the Knoxville chapter of the United States Submarine Veterans, has had a booth and performed a Tolling of the Boats Ceremony at the Secret City Festival for the … [Read More...]

Five ways to foster resilience in young children

By Marjorie Alcorn: Home Visitor Healthy Families Tennessee/Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee East Region Resilience is defined as the ability to thrive, adapt and cope despite tough and stressful times. It’s a natural … [Read More...]

Letter: Oak Ridge Country Club responds to comments made at Council meeting

Editor's note: This is a letter sent to Oak Ridge City Council by the Oak Ridge Country Club in response to comments made during a City Council meeting in January, when Council considered whether to provide $120,000 for … [Read More...]

Opinion: How far can we move the needle?

By Ron Woody The buzz around the Roane County Courthouse and School Board has been what will our leaders do about the future of education in Roane County? The initial discussions were about consolidation of high … [Read More...]

Billy Paul Sams

Letter: Anderson County Bar Association wants to name law library after Billy Sams

Editor's note: The Anderson County Bar Association and legal community is proceeding with an effort to name the Anderson County Law Library after Billy Sams because "you never saw him without a book in his hands." Here … [Read More...]

More Opinion

Recent Posts

  • Rocky Top woman pleads guilty to murder, sentenced to life
  • REAC/TS welcomes new team members: John Crapo, Josh Hayes and David Quillen
  • NASA Postdoctoral Program seeks early career and senior scientists for prestigious fellowships at its locations across the U.S.
  • ORAU names Brandon Criswell associate general counsel
  • Update on downtown Oak Ridge Tuesday
  • TVA has virtual open house for Clinch River Nuclear Site
  • Science and supercomputers at ORNL topic of Mar. 8 talk
  • First Presbyterian offers free meals & groceries on Mar. 10
  • Secret City Academy student charged with terrorism after alleged shooting, bomb threats
  • ORHS Masquers presents ‘Into the Woods’

Search Oak Ridge Today

About Us

About Oak Ridge Today
What We Cover

How To

Advertise
Subscribe

Contact Us

Contact Oak Ridge Today

Copyright © 2022 Oak Ridge Today