Texas Manufacturer Joins Neighborhood 91

Neighborhood 91 just got another new resident.

Texas-based manufacturer Cumberland Additive last week announced plans to expand its production to the innovation campus at Pittsburgh International Airport.

Cumberland, headquartered just outside of Austin, produces parts and engineering design services in both metals and polymer materials for major industries such as aerospace, defense, space, energy, and nuclear. Company officials said the expansion to Pittsburgh would allow them to further develop their additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing capabilities.

Located adjacent to PIT’s runways, Neighborhood 91 is the first development in the world to condense and connect all elements of the AM and 3D printing supply chain onto one campus. Cumberland joins fellow manufacturing anchor tenant Wabtec, a Pittsburgh-based Fortune 500 company, at the campus. Wabtec officially cut the ribbon on its facility earlier this month.

“Consolidating the supply chain for AM …. helps us mitigate risks, costs, and complexities for our customers,” said Cumberland president John Jenkins. “We’re excited to be part of the neighborhood to work together to further ignite the industry.”

Cumberland and Wabtec are already working together to support their needs for complex AM parts. The relationship will enable the two companies to leverage each other’s technical manufacturing capabilities and maximize the benefits of Neighborhood 91.

“Cumberland is an established additive manufacturing supplier who brings a unique expertise and skillset,” said Philip Moslener, vice president of advanced technologies at Wabtec. “Their addition to Neighborhood 91 will build upon the collaborative spirit of this community and accelerate the development, adoption and application of additive technology.”

Cumberland expects to be fully operational at the site by the fourth quarter of this year. Company officials said the expansion will allow the company to offer its customers AM capabilities in titanium, aluminum, nickel, and various polymers.

Cumberland Vice President of Engineering and Business Development Michael Celardo, left, and Additive Manufacturing Engineer Nick Bass discuss a 3D printed part. Cumberland is the latest manufacturer to join PIT’s Neighborhood 91. (Photo courtesy of Cumberland)

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said he was delighted by the addition of Cumberland.

“The fact that this development is continuing to attract companies—not just those which are local, but companies from across the country—is a testament to the strength of our region and the vision of Neighborhood 91,” he said. “Thanks to Cumberland for choosing the Pittsburgh region for this expansion, and welcome to the Neighborhood.” Neighborhood 91 is helping to advance the Pittsburgh region’s role as a world leader in additive manufacturing, said state Sen. Devlin Robinson, whose district covers the airport.

“The announcement of Cumberland Additive’s expansion to this campus is yet another testament to the assets and readily available resources of the airport region,” he said. “Neighborhood 91’s ability to foster local employment while lowering costs and boosting production is one of a kind.”

Company officials called the expansion a regional effort. By providing a physical location at the campus, Cumberland plans to work with local universities and workforce development agencies to train workers to support the growing AM industry.

“Cumberland’s announcement is another example of how the vision for Neighborhood 91 to be a global headquarters of additive manufacturing is becoming a reality,” said Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis. “Cumberland is another manufacturing anchor tenant—choosing to expand in Pittsburgh at Neighborhood 91—which will help attract more companies.”

In addition to Cumberland and Wabtec, two other companies have also joined Neighborhood 91. Global aluminum supplier Rusal America and Arencibia, a supplier of noble gases such as new and recycled argon, a key element in AM, are also partners.