Troy, NY – The Center for Automation Technologies and Systems (CATS) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the Center for Economic Growth (CEG) partnered again to host the second annual Advanced Manufacturing Conference.
The two-day conference, themed “Make it Smart, Make it Here,” was held on April 22-23, 2014 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Troy, NY. The conference attracted over 300 attendees from industry, government and academia to address common challenges faced by manufacturers, and uncover opportunities for innovation and growth. The conference provided manufacturers a strategic view at emerging ways to leverage the power of smart manufacturing technologies and business best practices, and take advantage of available federal, state and regional resources to manufacture locally and better compete in the global marketplace.
The 2014 CATS/CEG Advanced Manufacturing Conference built upon the success of the inaugural conference “Think Smart, Make Value,” held in April, 2013. This year’s conference featured workshops and discussions on leading-edge manufacturing topics including: Additive Manufacturing, Continuous Processing, Robotics, Process Modeling and Simulation, Precision Manufacturing, and Advanced Digital Manufacturing. The conference also featured business-focused sessions and training on key manufacturing business topics including: Supply Chain Development, Leveraging MEP Services, Maximizing Enterprise Value, Sandler Sales, Managing the Innovation Pipeline and a Chief Executives Network for Manufacturing CEO Panel Discussion.
In addition to the technical and business-oriented sessions, the second annual Advanced Manufacturing Conference featured a FuzeHub Solutions Forum, a half-day event designed for New York manufacturers to meet directly with business and technology experts in one-on-one consultations to help find solutions to business challenges and take advantage of available resources and opportunities for growth.
Also featured were workshops covering topics in Industrial Automation and PLCs, Export Strategies, Funding Innovation and Growth, and Technology Driven Market Intelligence. There was also a panel discussion titled “The Technical Talent Pipeline,” an open house featuring RPI Manufacturing laboratories and facilities, and a Poster and Exhibits Session featuring a broad array of projects and areas of research and offering an opportunity for one-on-one interaction with student and faculty researchers, and numerous networking opportunities.
“Manufacturing in the U.S. is experiencing a renaissance. Unfortunately, many U.S. firms are not fully prepared to re-shore their manufacturing or expand their domestic operations to meet market demands following two decades of outsourcing, downsizing, and in some cases, neglect. Rensselaer CATS plays a critical role in helping a variety of manufacturers, many in New York State, overcome these hurdles by: (1) helping move new materials and products from the lab into production with innovative manufacturing processes including automation and robotics; and (2) helping fill the talent pipeline for industry,” said Dan Walczyk, Director of Rensselaer CATS.“The 2nd annual CATS/CEG Advanced Manufacturing Conference will provide a wealth of information through workshops, technical and business sessions from academia, industry and government leaders, along with numerous networking opportunities, to help industry meet market demands and challenges and take advantage of new opportunities.”
“The Center for Economic Growth (CEG) is pleased to once again partner with the Center for Automation Technologies and for the 2014 ‘Make it Smart, Make it Here’ Advanced Manufacturing Conference this April,” said Jeffrey Lawrence, Executive Vice President of Technology at CEG. “As the Capital Region’s New York State Regional Technology Development Center (RTDC) and NIST MEP (Manufacturing Extension Partnership) center, we know how essential advanced manufacturing is to job creation and growth across the region. ‘Make it Smart, Make it Here’ provides local manufacturing companies leading edge research and new technologies to overcome barriers to growth.”
Click here to view the conference website including the full agenda.