The Pittsburgh region is strengthening its position in advanced manufacturing with the development of Neighborhood 91 (N91), an additive manufacturing campus adjacent to Pittsburgh International Airport. The 195-acre campus is being master-developed by the Regional Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC) on land owned by the Allegheny County Airport Authority. A new building is currently being planned for the site, adding to existing facilities.
Current members of the N91 community include HAMR Industries, which focuses on advanced materials for harsh environments, and Cumberland Additive, a contract manufacturer specializing in metal and polymer 3D printing. Other campus residents include Metal Powder Works with its DirectPowder™ process, THE FUTURE OF JEWELRY with its 3D ring design web app, RJ Lee Group’s analytical laboratory, and JEOL Inc with its electron beam metal AM machine.
The campus joins an established manufacturing ecosystem in Southwestern Pennsylvania that includes industry leaders like ATI, Kennemetal, Inc., and Arconic Corporation. This development builds upon Pittsburgh’s historical foundation as a center of metals production and manufacturing expertise.
The region’s academic institutions provide additional support to the additive manufacturing sector. The University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing coordinates research activities related to advanced manufacturing. Carnegie Mellon University’s Next Manufacturing Center leverages engineering and data science expertise to advance additive manufacturing with laboratories on campus and at RIDC’s Mill 19.
“The Neighborhood 91 project represents an exciting opportunity to build on the region’s manufacturing history and current business and academic assets to create an economic catalyst for the region,” said RIDC Senior Vice President Tim White. According to White, discussions are already underway with additional companies interested in locating at the campus.
Source: bizjournals.com