HAMR Joining Neighborhood 91 Additive Manufacturing Production Campus

Highly Advanced Materials Research Industries (HAMR) has signed an agreement with The Buncher Co. for the build-out of a new additive manufacturing (AM) R&D and production facility at Pittsburgh International Airport’s Neighborhood 91 (N91) campus. HAMR is a developer of advanced materials and manufacturing techniques for components functioning in harsh and extreme environments.
 
“The advantages of Neighborhood 91 are clear and HAMR is excited to join the Neighborhood,” says Dr. Michael P. Schmitt, HAMR CEO and senior research scientist. “HAMR has acquired new AM equipment that will allow us to rapidly expand and mature our technologies, and N91 provides the perfect ecosystem to foster innovation.” 
 
Neighborhood 91 is the world’s first end-to-end AM production campus, providing all the elements of advanced manufacturing on one campus. Located on airport property, it has potential for rapid part deployment for customers around the world. It is said Pittsburgh is home to a strong workforce, academic resources and recruiting opportunities from universities focused on machine learning, AM and artificial intelligence, including the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, the company says. 

HAMR Industries was started in State College, Pennsylvania, by Dr. Michael Schmitt and Dr. Jeremy Schreiber to transition materials-driven technologies out of laboratory settings and into commercial use. The company bolsters its internal capabilities by working with collaborating institutions and partners, such as the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Energy, NASA and Pennsylvania State University. The company says these collaborations provide access to additional fabrication equipment, test and analysis facilities, and leading experts in a variety of fields.

The original N91 is now at capacity with existing tenants. Construction on the site’s next phase and building is set to begin in 2023.

“In a brief three years, Neighborhood 91 went from concept to reality as a result of partnership with the community and innovative companies that believe in N91’s overall mission of condensing and accelerating the AM supply chain process,” says Brian Goetz, executive vice president of The Buncher Company, which is the master developer of Neighborhood 91.