Press Releases

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded a $600,000 grant to Virginia Tech. The funds awarded will go towards a project to procure industrial metal additive manufacturing machines to support scientific research and workforce development. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“As the U.S. manufacturing industry grows and transforms, innovative engineering and technological advances are needed.

“This grant for $600,000 helps Virginia Tech conduct applied research into new and emerging industrial manufacturing technologies, particularly focusing on MELD technologies.

“MELD’s development and delivery of reliable equipment enables printing in any metal, at any size, and at unsurpassed speed, while maintaining forged properties.”

BACKGROUND

The NIST-supported project highlights the use of state-of-the-art technology created and produced in Virginia’s Ninth District. Medal additive manufacturing, or metal 3D printing, is an emerging technology championed by MELD Manufacturing of Christiansburg, Virginia.

This project trains engineers, designers and researchers on how to use game-changing machines.

In March of 2023, Congressman Griffith submitted a fiscal year 2024 appropriations community project funding request to make these funds available.