Pa. Additive Manufacturing, Neighborhood 91 Get a Boost

A new Pennsylvania initiative aimed at boosting advanced manufacturing could have a profound effect on Pittsburgh International Airport’s advanced manufacturing campus Neighborhood 91.

The new Max Manufacturing Initiative Fund will provide grants and loans for specialized equipment, infrastructure and facilities dedicated to advanced manufacturing. The initiative is designed to foster public-private partnerships between state-related universities and private engineering companies.

State Sen. Devlin Robinson, who sponsored the bi-partisan bill in the legislature, celebrated its implementation at a press event last week with other state leaders, including Treasurer Stacy Garrity and Reps. Valerie Gaydos and Anita Kulik. Leaders from the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University also attended as their graduates often fill jobs related to additive manufacturing.

“Pennsylvania boasts one of the most productive workforces in the world, and with the Max Manufacturing program, we’re positioned to attract even more innovative experts to our state and especially to our region,” Robinson said. “This new law not only bolsters cooperation between state universities and engineering firms, but it also fosters business partnerships, and drives innovation and production of high-value, high-tech products.”

The event took place at HAMR Industries, located at Neighborhood 91 – an advanced manufacturing innovation campus adjacent to Pittsburgh International Airport. Neighborhood 91 allows tenants to share resources and leverage each other’s strengths, offering easy access to air, highway and water transportation for product distribution.

“Neighborhood 91 is a key economic development project for this region, and I thank Sen. Robinson for his diligence in getting this support legislation passed,” said Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis. “This legislation is a key tool as we continue to build out the Neighborhood 91 campus at PIT and for advanced manufacturing across the state.”

Boon for Neighborhood 91

Neighborhood 91 tenants applauded the legislation, saying it was key to help grow additive manufacturing in Pennsylvania, helping the commonwealth compete with other states.

“Things like (this bill) are critical… traditionally, Pennsylvania has not been that competitive,” said Michael Schmitt, CEO of HAMR. “Bills like Max Manufacturing are incredibly important so that our companies can compete with other startups in other states getting a lot of support.”

John Barnes, President of The Barnes Global Advisors, a firm specializing in all aspects of additive manufacturing, said the bill will allow for a public-private partnership model through grants and low-interest loans, particularly for equipment.

“I think it’s big. It’s been years in the making,” Barnes said. “I think the Max Manufacturing bill reinforces that notion that this is team-based effort – not a (single) company working alone and coming up with random things. This is a coordinated effort.”

Neighborhood 91 is the world’s first end-to-end additive manufacturing production campus that provides all the elements of advanced manufacturing in one location. Adjacent to four runways at PIT, it has the potential for rapid part deployment for customers around the world.

The concept is based on co-locating capital resources at the core of the development. It houses a complete end-to-end additive supply chain ranging from powders to production, testing, analysis and delivery. Neighborhood 91 tenants gain efficiencies in production, cost savings from on-demand printing, and access to a major international airport.

Companies in Neighborhood 91 share infrastructural efficiencies, including storage for powder materials, such as stainless steel and aluminum.

Neighborhood 91 is part of the Pittsburgh Airport Innovation Campus, a 195-acre site developed on the west end of the airport’s 8,800-acre property.