Herty AMDC Part of Winning Team – Composites Manufacturing Institute

January 26, 2015

Herty AMDC becomes a founding member of the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation, U.S. Department of Energy awards $70 million grant

The Herty Advanced Materials Development Center (AMDC), an applied research center of Georgia Southern University, is pleased to announce that it is a founding member of a new national research institute created under the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI). The new institute, the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop better composite materials and technologies for rapid deployment within the automotive, wind turbine and compressed gas storage industries. Partners in the new institute include the DOE and a consortium of 122 companies, nonprofits and universities that will invest more than $250 million to advance the development of low-cost, high-performance composites. “Lighter, stronger materials are key to increasing energy efficiency and fuel economy,” said Dr. Walter Chappas, director of Advanced Materials at Herty AMDC. “Herty has considerable experience in the design and production of composite materials so we are very excited be part of this national effort and contributing our expertise to this endeavor.” The new institute, announced by President Obama, will focus on advanced fiber-reinforced polymer composites that combine strong fibers with tough plastics to yield materials that are lighter and stronger than steel. While advanced composites are used in selective industries such as aircraft, military vehicles, satellites and luxury cars, these materials remain expensive, require large amounts of energy to manufacture and are difficult to recycle. IACMI is dedicated to overcoming these barriers by developing low-cost, high-production, energy-efficient manufacturing and recycling processes for composites applications. “Being a partner in this national network allows us to collaborate with other leading technology providers to solve real world problems and to create the manufacturing platforms of the future,” said Alexander A. Koukoulas, president and CEO of Herty AMDC. “Our participation also allows us to showcase the R&D and manufacturing capabilities here in Georgia and the expertise that our organization can bring to this national initiative.” IACMI is the fifth named Institute and became another important step toward fulfilling the President’s vision of the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI). The public-private partnership was selected through a competitive process led by the Advanced Manufacturing Office within the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Among the 57 corporate partners are: Adherent Technologies, Inc.; Altair; Ashland Performance Materials; BASF Company; Boeing Company; Celanese International; Dow Chemical Company; DuPont; Ford Motor Company; GE Water & Power; Honda R&D Americas, Inc.; Johns Manville; Lockheed Martin; Materials Innovation Technologies; Owens Corning; PPG Industries, Inc.; and Volkswagen. Key University Partners include: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Colorado School of Mines; Colorado State University; Iowa State University; Michigan State University; Mississippi State University; National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Purdue University; The Ohio State University; University of Colorado-Boulder; University of Dayton Research Institute; University of Kentucky; University of Michigan; and Vanderbilt University. About Herty The Herty Advanced Materials Development Center, an applied research center of Georgia Southern University, is a world-class research, development, and demonstration facility. Herty is a new product and process accelerator providing technical, market, and development expertise in short-fiber composites, biomaterials, and biomass processing. Herty’s expertise and extensive pilot-scale capabilities for prototyping new products help companies de-risk the commercialization process. Visit: www.herty.com. About Georgia Southern University Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers more than 125-degree programs serving more than 20,500 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered and hands-on approach to education.