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MSOE’s Rapid Prototyping Consortium Continues a Long Standing Tradition of Research and Innovation in Additive Manufacturing Industry

Michael Reader

Mike Reader, President of Precision Plus and Barry Butters, Director of Education and Training were asked to speak at the October 17, 2014 meeting of the Milwaukee School of Engineering’s Rapid Prototyping Consortium.   The meeting also featured Reed Pulver, National Accounts Manager of All-State Industries and Vito Gervasi Director or R&D, Rapid Prototyping Research. Tom Bray, Dean of Applied Technology Center at MSOE began the meeting with a presentation on the history of the organization and recognition of long standing members.

For over 23 years, the consortium has forged together one of the most successful academic-industry partnerships in additive manufacturing, and is a powerful ally to businesses to drastically cut down on the turnaround time for producing a prototype. A driving force of the consortium has been MSOE’s Rapid Prototyping Research Department, which is credited with many rapid prototyping research accomplishments, such as creating—and patenting– a complex, three dimensional lattice structures modeled after the atomic bond structure found in diamond (TetraLattice), and developing an algorithm to produce the first complex protein model built using rapid prototyping.

The Rapid Prototyping Consortium has consistently been at the forefront of technology. “Today, with its 10 installed systems and over 15 material choices, the center supports about 65 consortium companies on a daily basis with their new product development needs.” Among member organizations, the consortium includes not only industrial companies, but also educational institutions.

Rapid Prototyping Center’s tagline is “Use tomorrow’s technology today.” Sheku Kamara is the director of the consortium.

The M7 Continue to Drive Economic Growth Through Its ‘Choose Milwaukee’ Initiatives

Michael Reader

Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha Counties came together in 2005 in order to create a regional cooperative economic development platform with the sole mission to attract, retain and grow diverse business and talent in southeastern Wisconsin.  This initiative is known as  Milwaukee7’s ‘Choose Milwaukee‘.

In the 8 years since its launch, this collaborative initiative has been credited with bringing 10,000 jobs to the region with over $500 million in payroll and over $700 million in capital investment. According to Milwaukee Business News, “The M7 has also leveraged millions of dollars in federal earmarks, state assistance and other municipal investments for business projects.”

This year’s Milwaukee7 Council meeting took place on November 5, 2013, at the Museum of Wisconsin Art (MOWA) and featured the following keynote speakers on current initiatives:

  • Paul Byrne of Modine Manufacturing who spoke about exports;
  •  Julia Taylor of the Greater Milwaukee Committee whose subject was ingenuity and entrepreneurship;
  • David Mitchell of Monarch Corp., who spoke about manufacturing career awareness and training programs; and
  • Giacomo Fallucca of Palermo Villa and FaB Milwaukee, who promoted food and beverage manufacturing.

The M7 has published a detailed program outlining the topics covered during the council meeting.   Their next meeting is scheduled for February 2014 in Racine County.