WHAT IS THE AMC?

The Advanced Manufacturing Center is an engineering support and service center at the University of Maine. We help move Maine’s ideas from concept to production through hands-on prototyping, design, and fabrication services for companies across the state. We also lead workforce development efforts by delivering industry-aligned training, micro-credentials, and applied learning experiences for both students and professionals.

The B.O.T. Loft

Projects

Our Mission

We empower businesses, entrepreneurs, and researchers by delivering cutting-edge manufacturing solutions, targeted workforce development, and hands-on collaboration that fuels innovation, drives meaningful progress, and strengthens the future of industry in Maine and beyond.

Our Values

We value innovation, collaboration, and accessibility, and are committed to creating opportunities that advance Maine’s manufacturing economy. Through education, research, and measurable economic impact, we deliver lasting value to individuals, businesses, and the surrounding region.

INSIDE THE AMC

A University of Maine student focuses on a machining task inside the Advanced Manufacturing Center, working hands-on with industrial equipment during a technical training session.

An Advanced Manufacturing Center staff member and a student at the University of Maine work together to adjust the gripper of a Universal Robots collaborative robot during technical training on the workshop floor.

Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Center at the University of Maine holds up a machined part while speaking to visitors during a tour

Close-up of a CNC laser cutting machine in the University of Maine’s Advanced Manufacturing Center workshop, used for precision metal fabrication and prototyping.

An Advanced Manufacturing Center staff member demonstrates a handheld 3D scanner while capturing a part’s surface geometry, with the live scan displayed on a monitor during a facility walkthrough.

AMC leadership and visiting industry partners discuss equipment capabilities inside the Advanced Manufacturing Center's CNC lab during a facility tour.

MEET THE DIRECTOR

John Belding has led the Advanced Manufacturing Center since 2009 and oversees operations, project management, and industry outreach. A licensed Professional Engineer and Six Sigma Greenbelt, he focuses on advancing Maine’s economy through innovative manufacturing solutions. He is a UMaine graduate, advisory board member, and former Senior Manufacturing Engineer at ZF Lemforder.