The award will recognize innovations in additive manufacturing for industrial applications. This includes developments in the design of systems or major components, advances in processes or materials, new applications, data generation or measurement. Those in the industry, such as system producers, users, component suppliers, and data modellers and international academia will be invited to apply. The inaugural winner will be announced at an award dinner at The MFG Meeting, Manufacturing for Growth, taking place 4-7 March 2015 in Orlando, Florida.
In 2016, the award will be presented at the METAV, the international fair for manufacturing technology and automation, in February in Düsseldorf, Germany.
AMT and VDW say that United States and Germany are the key markets/regions for additive technology in terms of suppliers, users and academia.
Manufacturing landscape
“It is clear that the advances in additive manufacturing will change forever the landscape of manufacturing, from the innovators of the technology to the users and consumers,” said AMT president Douglas K Woods. “Our collaboration with the VDW will spotlight some of the most innovative and impactful players driving this dynamic industry.”
“Additive manufacturing has now, following a lengthy phase of development, matured sufficiently to establish itself more firmly as a technology for industrial-scale applications,” said vdw executive director Dr Wilfried Schäfer. “In conjunction with AMT, the VDW aims to support all interested companies from the relevant sector in technical and market-related issues. With the International award, moreover, we want to turn the international spotlight on the pioneers and high-performers in the sector, and give them the recognition they deserve. The idea is that the premier players from academia, the business and industrial communities, from the political environment and from societal stakeholders in this multifaceted scene, shall get together regularly at the award ceremonies, so as to put in place a stable international network.”
The winner will receive a US$20,000 cash prize and a media package valued at US$80,000 to promote the winning development.
