Gateway's Advanced Manufacturing Expo April 17 Features GE Aviation Expert in Additive Technologies

Greg Morris, strategy and business development lead for additive technologies at GE Aviation, is the featured speaker at the Advanced Manufacturing Expo April 17 at Gateway Community & Technical Colleges Boone Campus.

Morris, who works closely with all GE businesses to promote and integrate additive manufacturing into a broad array of products and processes, will talk about additive technologies with specific examples of how GE uses them. Additive manufacturing is the basis for 3-D printing and other high-tech processes that enable the production of parts and prototypes without the need for molds or dies.

His talk at 5:30 p.m. highlights Gateway's Advanced Manufacturing Expo. The event is designed to provide high school students, their parents and others interested in manufacturing careers with an opportunity to meet manufacturers and explore training opportunities.

Additive manufacturing is really exciting because you can make a 3-D solid object of virtually any shape from a digital model. A layman's example might be a toy like a transformer or action figure, but the applications are endless, said Carissa Schutzman, Gateway dean of Workforce Solutions and expo organizer. We are so pleased Mr. Morris can join us and describe some of the real-life, dramatic examples of today's opportunities in advanced manufacturing.

Gateway offers credentials and certification in electrical technology, machining, mechatronics, welding, drafting, industrial technology and related areas. The training prepares students for immediate entry into the job market or to pursue more education, including four-year engineering degrees.

The expo includes breakout sessions on dual credit programs that allow students to earn college credits in high school, apprenticeship programs, admissions and financial aid. Participants will learn how they can enroll at Gateway to obtain these valuable workplace skills at a reduced or even no cost, Schutzman added.

Classroom tours begin at 6:20 p.m. and run every 20 minutes. The tours highlight training facilities in computer-aided drafting, industrial maintenance, computerized manufacturing and machining, mechatronics, robotics and welding.

Morris was one of three principals and CEO of Morris Technologies, Inc., a Cincinnati based rapid prototyping, product development and engineering firm as well as a principal of Rapid Quality Manufacturing, an additive manufacturing production-oriented company, until both were acquired by GE Aviation in late 2012. He has been involved in the additive manufacturing industry since 1994 and has written numerous related articles and presented at various trade shows. A member of SMEs RTAM Steering Committee and Event Advisors board, he a current member of the Dayton Defense board and Boston University's Industrial Advisory Board, serving as GE Aviation's representative.

Gateway's Advanced Manufacturing Expo takes place Thursday, April 17, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Boone Campus, beginning in the Center for Advanced Manufacturing at 500 Technology Way, Florence. The event is free and open to the public.