Printing the Plan for the Future: The SPE Cleveland Additive Manufacturing Symposium
On October 17, 2024, Northeast Ohio’s leading plastics processors gathered at Corporate College East for the SPE Cleveland Additive Manufacturing Symposium. This event underscored the region’s expanding role in the additive supply chain and highlighted the engineering expertise that makes Northeast Ohio a crucial player in the future of manufacturing.
MAGNET’s COO, Mike O'Donnell, contributed to a dynamic panel discussion that included leaders from the Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI), Team NEO, and America Works with Stephanie Hendrixson from Additive Manufacturing Media serving as the moderator. The panel touched on critical supply chain updates, advancements in technical acumen, and future research within the industry. During the panel, O'Donnell emphasized the advantages of additive manufacturing for rapid prototyping and scaling in plastics production:
"Additive manufacturing makes it possible to quickly develop and prototype, then rapidly scale to volume without needing to purchase expensive tools or equipment. This capability increases the speed at which the plastics industry can bring products to market. At MAGNET, we’ve assisted many manufacturers in this way."
O'Donnell also offered practical advice for businesses looking to start or expand their use of additive manufacturing. He stressed the importance of having a clear business case before jumping into the technology:
"Before jumping into additive manufacturing, it’s important to first understand what problem or process it will help you solve and how it adds value to your business. Whether you're making a fixture or something else, knowing the purpose behind using this technology is key. Do the business analysis first, so you can see the potential for profit—otherwise, you may end up disappointed. For companies just starting out, it often makes sense to use a vendor for printing until you have enough demand to justify buying your own machine. And if you do purchase a machine, make sure you have an engineer who knows how to design for additive manufacturing since it uses different techniques than traditional methods."
Darlyn McDermott, Amy Incorvati-Aloisi and Bass Khoury from MAGNET joined fellow attendees in engaging with the diverse mix of nonprofit organizations, engineering services, prototyping firms, manufacturers, plastic processors and economic development organizations. The day was filled with opportunities for networking, learning, and collaboration. A special thank you to the SPE Cleveland Chapter for organizing this thoughtful symposium and to all the sponsors who made the event such a success.