New Hudson Valley 3D Printing focuses on training students, businesses for future in 3D printing
A $1 million, cluster marketing initiative has been launched at a New York college, bringing 3D printing equipment, expertise and investor funding to the Hudson Valley region to help develop a 3D imaging industry there.
At an event Thursday, the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC) launched Hudson Valley 3D Printing www.hudsonvalley3dprinting.com (HV3D), which includes setting up the Hudson Valley Advanced Manufacturing Center at SUNY New Paltz.
“3D printing is having a huge impact on the future of the U.S. manufacturing industry, and this initiative will help educate students in the Hudson Valley on the many possibilities of this transformative technology,” said Sharon Smith, vice president of marketing for 3D printer manufacturer Stratasys Ltd., who presented at the event.
A certificate program run by the college will be established to help prepare SUNY-New Paltz students for 3D printing jobs, and the region’s community colleges will have access to the center for training and use of the equipment.
Local businesses will also be able to rent the 3D printing equipment to help grow their businesses.
“Having the ability to design and print prototypes, models, and final products that we can work with very quickly has significantly improved our ability to provide innovative and custom solutions to our scientists,” said Joanne Deyo, vice president of facilities at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. “A multitude of processes have benefited from this technology. When we learned that the HVEDC had also embraced 3D printing and was actively working to advance the capabilities in our region we were excited to join the team in support of this amazing technology.”
Investor Sean Eldridge, who set up Kingston, N.Y.-based Hudson River Ventures, pledged $250,000 to help set up the center. A three-year matching grant from Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. was also pledged.
Eldridge is also committing $500,000 from Hudson River Ventures to invest in Hudson Valley companies that incorporate 3D printing in their businesses.
“3D printing has tremendous potential to grow our economy and create jobs in the Hudson Valley,” said Eldridge, founder and president of Hudson River Ventures. “There is a great tradition of innovative manufacturing in the Hudson Valley. We have skilled workers, world-class universities, access to the largest markets in the world – and now we will have the equipment, the training and the investment needed to lead the charge on 3D printing.”
HVEDC is the leading economic development agency for New York’s seven-county region of Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, Ulster and Sullivan counties.
