Penny Pritzker
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will tour the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Knoxville on Thursday. It’s a trip to tour the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation, part of the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation.
President Barack Obama created the NNMI to strengthen the global competitiveness of America’s manufacturing sector and our workforce. The NNMI currently has six institutes, and three additional institutions under competition, each of which is focused on the development of a different 21st century technology.
The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation works to develop lower-cost, higher-speed, and more efficient manufacturing and recycling processes for next-generation materials, including advanced polymer composites for vehicles, wind turbines, and compressed gas storage, a press release said. In addition, IACMI’s research, development, and demonstration programs are focused on reducing technical risk and developing a robust supply chain to support a growing advanced composites industry.
Like each NNMI institute, it is structured as a public-private partnership between industry, academia, government, and workforce and economic development organizations, creating a national network that can help translate cutting-edge research into American-made products, the release said.
While at the institute, Secretary Pritzker will participate in a walking tour of the facility. She will also meet with the leadership of the institute, and participate in a roundtable with business leaders and industry partners to discuss NNMI’s role in strengthening America’s economy and workforce. Governor Bill Haslam, Representative Chuck Fleischmann, Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero, and Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett will join Secretary Pritzker for portions of the day’s activities.
The Manufacturing Demonstration Facility is located on Cherahala Boulevard in Knoxville.
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