AIKEN, S.C. – EM’s Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) is moving closer to developing the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative (AMC) after taking part in a workshop with South Carolina universities that focused on forming partnerships for the planned 70,000-square-foot facility. 

   It was the first of several planned meetings with potential university and industry partners. Aiken Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AAMP) was selected in March to develop a proposal to create space for the collaborative on the University of South Carolina (USC)-Aiken campus. 

   "Reaching out and engaging with our universities is a high priority,” SRNL Laboratory Director Dr. Terry Michalske said. “With the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative, we are building a community for academia, government, and industry for the very best science and technology. This will promote success in our cleanup mission, increase manufacturing innovation, and prepare the next generation workforce.” 

   At the workshop, Michalske and other SRNL leaders presented an overview of the AMC vision and initial focus areas to representatives of USC-Aiken, USC-Columbia, South Carolina State University, and Clemson University. SRNL hopes the partnerships expand faculty fellowship opportunities, encourage shared faculty resources, and increase student opportunities, including internships, rotations, and pathways to graduate programs.

   “The AMC presents a tremendous opportunity for the Department of Energy and SRNL to shorten implementation and innovation cycles for new technologies that can be applied to nuclear cleanup and nuclear materials missions,” Michalske said. “For our potential partners, it provides an equally valuable opportunity to put their technologies to the test on some of the toughest advanced manufacturing problems.” 

   The proposed facility would include chemistry and engineering fabrication labs, high bay and industrial work space, and staff offices. AAMP would maintain the laboratory and office space, and Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, DOE’s managing and operating contractor at the Savannah River Site, would enter into a lease agreement for use of the facility. 

   SRNL aims to occupy the space by August 2018. 

   “In the commercial chemical and manufacturing sectors, there are a range of advanced technologies currently in use that could be leveraged to lower cost and improve safety," SRNL Strategic Development and Innovation Director Thad Adams said. "We want to use AMC to bridge that gap for the full spectrum of DOE facilities, including those in current operation, those just entering operation, and those still in the design and planning stage. This is not just a collaborative to address existing needs; this is a partnership for future technologies."