Media publish UMaine release about $500K grant for Composites Center

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

October 18, 2018 Advanced Materials for Infrastructure and Energy, Signature and Emerging Areas, UMaine in the News

Boothbay Register, Wiscasset Newspaper and Penobscot Bay Pilot published a University of Maine news release about a $500,000 Maine Technology Institute grant awarded to the UMaine Advanced Structures and Composites Center. The grant will be used to form a technology cluster to help Maine boatbuilders explore how large-scale 3D printing using economical, wood-filled plastics can give the industry a competitive advantage, the release states. Using 3D printing to fabricate boat molds can reduce production time by as much as 75 percent, according to UMaine researchers, and this can reduce challenges facing small and medium boatbuilders. “The combination of additive manufacturing and cost-effective, bio-filled materials is a potential game-changer for Maine’s boatbuilding industry by reducing the cost of marine tooling by as much as 50 percent,” said James Anderson, senior research and development program manager at the Composites Center. “We have the tools and knowledge to help Maine boatbuilders increase productivity, reduce costs and, ultimately, continue their tradition of excellence in the boatbuilding industry.” Habib Dagher, the executive director of the Composites Center, said, “By 3D printing plastics with 50 percent wood, we aim to produce boat molds much faster and cheaper than today’s traditional methods. As we learn, we will be working with boatbuilders to incorporate 3D printing in their production process for larger boat parts and, eventually, the boats themselves.” The MTI grant will be matched with an equal grant from the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development & Engineering Center, according to the release. The technology cluster will include UMaine engineers and researchers, and boatbuilders from throughout Maine. WABI (Channel 5) and 3D Printing Industry also reported on the grant.