The second week of November was highlighted by two of the most significant days on the calendar. On Tuesday, Nov. 8, Americans across the country went to the polls to vote in our democratic process; and on Friday, Nov. 11, we celebrated Veterans Day, honoring the brave men and women who protect this right and other freedoms.
Wedged in between these monumental days was SME’s FABTECH Expo (Nov. 8-10 in Atlanta). Albeit not on the same scale or democratic magnitude as the other two, the annual trade show represents a vital endeavor—manufacturing—in both the history and future of the United States.
Launched in 1981, FABTECH is the largest metal-forming, fabricating, welding, and finishing event in North America. This year’s show featured more than 1,200 exhibitors, 350 new products, and 150 educational sessions, with attendance back to pre-pandemic levels with 30,000 visitors. Advanced manufacturing was front and center, including cutting, forming and fabricating, finishing, lasers, tube and pipe, and an increasing number of additive manufacturing (AM) applications. In fact, one of the keynote speakers, NASCAR champion Brad Keselowski, shared how he launched his own manufacturing company to develop additive metal components to compete better on the racetrack. The company now supplies parts used in everything from next-generation air- and spacecraft to systems working on the ocean floor.
Likewise, this edition of SME’s Voices AMplified report features a pair of extraordinary AM innovators: Nanci Hardwick and Eric Barnes. Hardwick is a pioneering entrepreneur who runs two successful businesses, Aeroprobe and its Meld Manufacturing offshoot. She has worked on conceptual designs for unmanned air vehicles and developed tiny sensors and precise software to enable real-time data about flights and weather conditions. The U.S. Army recently invested millions in a pair of large-format machine tools equipped with Meld print heads, including one that’s touted as “The world’s largest metal printer.” It will be used to build jointless hulls for next-generation combat vehicles.
Hardwick also makes time to lead several volunteer initiatives—including an adult literacy program. She’s been recognized by the governor of Virginia and won various awards for her efforts.
Meanwhile, Barnes, a Northrop Grumman Fellow of advanced and additive manufacturing, spends his days finding ways to make next-generation aircraft faster, safer, and more cost-effective to build. Noting significant advances in recent years, Barnes believes AM is poised to become widespread throughout the aerospace industry. But he says much still needs to be done to bring the technology to the forefront. This includes increased use of modeling and simulation to speed development time and reduce time to market, while maintaining strict certification and quality processes. For its part, Northrop has hundreds of AM production parts in autonomous vehicles and is transitioning to applications in crewed air vehicles—including the first “true” structural part by the end of 2022.
Such breakthroughs are becoming commonplace in the AM world—thanks to the expertise and commitment of innovators such as Barnes and Hardwick. I hope you enjoy their stories and join SME at an upcoming industry event in 2023!
