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August 14, 2022 | Tom Ballard

UTK is core member of new multi-institutional research center for advanced manufacturing

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) has announced that it is a core member of a new multi-institutional research center for advanced manufacturing. The center is focused on developing and deploying revolutionary intelligent autonomous manufacturing systems and educating a future manufacturing workforce.

The “Hybrid Autonomous Manufacturing, Moving from Evolution to Revolution (HAMMER) Engineering Research Center” will develop innovations critical to next-generation manufacturing and the preparation of a diverse workforce, and create economic opportunities and ease supply chain issues by strengthening American industry. This focus complements UT’s land-grant mission by strengthening the competitiveness of Tennessee manufacturers and creating educational and workforce development opportunities for Tennesseans.

“We are delighted to be a core member of the HAMMER team working with them and our industry partners to make Tennessee manufacturing best in class,” said Deborah Crawford (pictured right), UTK Vice Chancellor for Research. ”HAMMER is a strategic asset in UT’s Institute for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing and demonstrates the university’s steadfast commitment to strengthening U.S. competitiveness in next-generation manufacturing.”

Tony Schmitz (pictured left), Professor of Mechanical Engineering, will lead the institution’s involvement. HAMMER is led by The Ohio State University, and other core university partners are Case Western Reserve University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and Northwestern University. In addition, more than 70 collaborating industry, educational, and technical organizations will help develop and implement new manufacturing technologies for agile high-performance and high-quality components.

The National Science Foundation announced funding for HAMMER for five years at $26 million with the ability to renew for another $26 million for an additional five years.

For more information, click here.



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