If, as Steve Jobs once said, "Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower," Howard Community College is poised to create generations of leaders whose ideas, prototypes, and products will be used in areas as diverse as product customization, prototyping, research, medicine, and dentistry. Thanks to 3D printing equipment from Howard County Economic Development Authority, HCC students and faculty will have the resources to transform their concepts and designs into reality at the school's new 3D Innovation Hub.
It's a timely move. A report by Price Waterhouse Coopers and Manufacturing Institute indicates that more than 71 percent of manufacturers have already adopted 3D printing, and 52 percent expect 3D printing to be used for high-volume production in the next three to five years.
"Scientists suggest that 3D printing may very well mark the next Industrial Revolution, and it's happening right here in Maryland," said Commerce Secretary Mike Gill. "With the leadership of President Dr. Kate Hetherington and Associate Vice President Edgar Swain – and with the resources of the 3D Innovation Hub – students and faculty can become the innovators, the entrepreneurs, the leaders who will dream the dreams, design the prototypes, and build the products that will change lives."
Located on the main floor of Duncan Hall on Howard Community College's campus in Columbia, Md., the 3D Innovation Hub features glass walls that allow passersby to watch products being designed and printed. Students are able to create and build objects that have real-life applications and that can prepare them for careers in digital fabrication, additive manufacturing, and other fields. Already, a working model of a flow cytometer was built in the hub, allowing students in the college's medical laboratory technology program to train on the equipment before using it on the job. Dental molds have also been created for HCC's dental hygiene program, an esophageal stent produced for HCC's bioengineering program, and a prototype built for a "smart" dog collar that was developed by an HCC student entrepreneur.
"Howard Community College's 3D Innovation Lab is an exciting next step for 3D printing and additive manufacturing in Howard County," said Larry Twele, CEO of the Howard County Economic Development Authority. "Under the guidance of HCC, this next phase will focus on educating students and the community on the growing role of additive manufacturing in the workforce – from architecture and engineering to the health sciences and business. By reinvesting in the students and providing them with access to industry-leading equipment, we are reinvesting in the future workforce in the county."
The center, which is open to students and faculty now, will eventually serve local companies as well. For additional information, visit 3D Innovation Hub.
