International Additive Manufacturing Award Announced
The first award winner will be announced at the MFG Meeting in March 2015.
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AMT—The Association For Manufacturing Technology and VDW—Verein Deutscher Werkzeugmaschinenfabriken (German Machine Tool Builders’ Association) have announced a partnership to present an annual International Additive Manufacturing Award (IAMA), beginning in 2015.
The award will recognize innovations in additive manufacturing for industrial applications, including developments in the design of systems or major components, advances in processes or materials, new applications, data generation and measurement. System producers, users, component suppliers, data modelers and international academia will be invited to apply, and a winner will be chosen by an international jury comprised of representatives from industry, academia, the health sector, the media and trade associations. The winner will receive a $20,000 cash prize and a media package valued at $80,000 to promote the winning development.
The inaugural award will be announced at a dinner during the MFG Meeting, Manufacturing for Growth, taking place March 4-7, 2015, in Orlando, Florida. In 2016, the award will be presented at the METAV international fair for manufacturing technology and automation in Dusseldorf, Germany.
The award is designed to recognize valuable contributions to additive manufacturing while also supporting an exchange of views and knowledge. According to AMT President Douglas K. Woods, “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. Our collaboration with the VDW will spotlight some of the most innovative and impactful players driving this dynamic industry.”
Dr. Wilfried Schäfer, VDW executive director, says, “Additive manufacturing has now, following a lengthy phase of development, matured sufficiently to establish itself more firmly as a technology for industrial-scale applications. 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.”
