Imagine transforming manufacturing technologies to better develop complex 3-D objects to create viable market-based solutions that impact almost every industry from operating rooms to oil fields — all while producing practically zero waste and cost savings that give Texas’ companies an advantage.

That’s exactly what UNT’s Center for Agile and Adaptive Additive Manufacturing intends to do with $10 million in funding awarded by the 86th Texas Legislature.

“We are grateful to the Legislature for funding our new center and especially appreciative of the unwavering support we received from Texas Senator Pat Fallon and Representative Lynn Stucky,” UNT President Neal Smatresk says. “Through CAAAM, UNT will advance its research and expand its role as a leader in this exciting new technology.”

With world-renowned faculty expertise in the emerging field, UNT launched the center in 2018 under the umbrella of the university’s existing Materials Research Facility, which is co-sponsored by the Office of Research and Innovation and the College of Engineering for the dual purpose of research and providing students with additional hands-on education opportunities in this growing area. 

UNT has developed one of the most advanced university research facilities in the nation for materials analysis, allowing faculty and industry to collaborate to advance the science and application of materials processing and additive manufacturing.

UNT will establish a Texas-based prototype center that could globally transform the future of advanced manufacturing. Research conducted at the center will lead to smart materials and environmentally friendly technologies while helping Texas develop a highly skilled workforce of engineers.