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ORNL Turns Pollution into Fuel, Plastics, and High-End Clothes

What if you could capture pollution off a smokestack and turn it into a polyester dress, jet fuel or high-end running shoes? That’s something that Oak Ridge National Lab scientists have been working on and it’s already hitting stores. ORNL and LanzaTech, a biotechnology company, have created a synthetic bacterium that eats industrial pollution and secretes useful chemicals as waste.

IACMI Names Dale Brosius as Interim CEO

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (March 31, 2022) The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing InnovationÒ (IACMI) today announced Dale Brosius has been appointed interim chief executive officer effective April 1, 2022. Brosius will lead IACMI as it identifies a permanent CEO to succeed Dr. John Hopkins, who is stepping down after leading the organization for more than four years. IACMI is one of 16 Manufacturing USA innovation institutes created to secure U.S. global leadership in advanced manufacturing through large scale public-private collaboration on technology, supply chain and workforce development.

Y-12 and LLNL Partner to Accelerate Production, Innovation for U.S. Nuclear Deterrent

Y-12 National Security Complex and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have teamed up to rapidly modernize legacy technology and production methods of crucial components for the U.S. nuclear deterrent. A leading example of this collaboration is the recent successful installation and testing of the electron beam cold hearth melter (EBCHM) – a machine that can melt and cast various metals including uranium alloys.

Xerox Installs 3D Liquid Metal Printer at DOE’s ORNL

Xerox Elem Additive Solutions announced the installation of a Xerox ElemX 3D metal printer at DOE’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at ORNL to advance metal Additive Manufacturing technologies. The ElemX leverages Liquid Metal AM that uses cost-effective aluminum wire and is easily deployed, requiring no special facility modifications for operation. Unlike many metal 3D printing technologies, the ElemX requires minimal post-processing and therefore provides a faster time-to-part.

John A. Hopkins Announces He Will Step Down as IACMI CEO

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (February 10, 2022) – The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) today announced that John A. Hopkins, Ph.D., will step down from his role as chief executive officer effective March 31, 2022.

Dream it. Do it. Program Kicks Off

The Anderson County Chamber, Anderson County Schools, and Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS) partnered to virtually kick off the annual Dream It. Do it. East Tennessee competition on Anderson County Television Dec. 1. The competition pairs area industries with middle schools to enable students to learn more about careers in manufacturing.

Y-12 Development Team Designs, Creates Advanced Lithium Cell Prototype

For nearly three years, Y-12 Development has been working to design, install, and operate an advanced lithium electrolytic cell (LEC) to produce lithium metal. Recently, the prototype unit was the first-ever advanced lithium cell to make lithium metal that mitigates corrosive gas, high temperature, and lithium metal fire concerns. The advanced LEC is one of the most sophisticated lithium cells in the industry and significantly improves safety for personnel performing the production, as it produces metal in an enclosed cell. It also provides higher efficiency and minimizes chloride corrosion of the manufacturing facility.

UT-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute Researcher Training Manufacturers to Ease Supply Chain Crisis

One of the issues causing the supply chain crisis around the U.S. is a lack of skilled manufacturers, according to a White House Document released earlier this year. Dr. Tony Schmitz is a researcher for the UT-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute, who studies machine tooling. Under a Department of Defense (DoD) project, Dr. Schmitz works to better understand manufacturing and train skilled machinists. 

Polymer discovery gives 3D-printed sand super strength

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory designed a novel polymer to bind and strengthen silica sand for binder jet additive manufacturing, a 3D-printing method used by industries for prototyping and part production.