The Applied Science & Technology Research Organization (ASTRO) of America is proud to partner with GENEDGE, the Department of Defense’s Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, and Virginia Tech on a series of workshops designed to increase the adoption of metal additive manufacturing capabilities in small and mid-size independent machine shops across Virginia.

The Reconfigure Virginia’s Manufacturers for Modernization Program (Re-VAMMP) was created to strengthen Virginia’s defense industrial base, which is facing a critical need to modernize. Independent machine shops, serving as the backbone of the defense manufacturing supply chain, are encouraged to adopt additive technologies to lower costs, boost reliability, and expand capabilities to meet this need.

“These workshops are essential for independent manufacturers in Virginia looking to expand their manufacturing business, grow their additive capabilities, and innovate their techniques,” said Neal Orringer, President of ASTRO America. "ASTRO is proud to collaborate on this critical initiative to support the Department of Defense, which depends extensively on these shops for manufacturing weapon system components."

The workshops will be held in Norfolk, Richmond, Weyers Cave, and Roanoke, and will focus on the basics of metal additive manufacturing, the vital role it plays in modern manufacturing, and how adoption by small machine shops in Virginia can enhance their businesses. The workshops will feature two guest speakers: Griffin Keller (1/28 & 1/30) and Kevin Nims (all dates), representatives from AUSTAL USA and operators of the Navy Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence at IALR in Danville, will discuss the assistance programs they offer to additive manufacturers in order to qualify for U.S. Navy supply chain opportunities.

Workshop schedule and registration links:

• January 28, 2025: 9:30a-5p, The Slover, 235 East Plume Street Norfolk, VA 23510

• January 30, 2025: 9:30a-5p, Virginia Tech Richmond Center, 2810 North Parham Road #STE 300 Richmond, VA 23294

• February 18, 2025: 9:30a-5p, Blue Ridge Community College – Plecker Center, One College Lane, Weyers Cave, VA 24486

• February 20, 2025: 9:30a-5p, Roanoke Higher Education Center, 108 N Jefferson St, Roanoke, VA 24016

The Applied Science and Technology Research Organization of America (ASTRO America) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, non-partisan Research Institute and Think Tank. It was established in 2018 to advance the public interest through manufacturing technology and policy. Led by manufacturing professionals with broad public and private sector experience, ASTRO America supports collaborations by government agencies and companies to address supply chain challenges in highly regulated industries, including aerospace and defense.

Since 1992, GENEDGE has served the manufacturing supply chain as Virginia’s best public resource to help industry innovate, compete, and grow. GENEDGE delivers these services on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia through high quality consulting, training, and programmatic solutions. A member of the MEP National Network™, and the lead for Virginia’s DOE supported Smart Manufacturing Accelerator (VSMA), we service a market of over 13,844 companies, with nearly 439,848 employees, that produces 14% of Virginia’s GDP.

Raynor Ave.

Bradley Sinkaus

+1 570-446-7585

bradley@raynoravenue.com

https://astroa.org/

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