August 21, 2018
Today, global standards leader ASTM International announced that Wichita State University's
(WSU) National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) will join its Additive Manufacturing
Center of Excellence as its first "strategic" partner. ASTM International and four
founding partners recently launched the center to support R&D that advances additive
manufacturing standards, which in turn will drive commercialization of cutting-edge
additive manufacturing technologies.
Dr. John Tomblin, WSU vice president for research and technology transfer, and Dr.
Mohsen Seifi, ASTM International's director of global additive manufacturing programs,
made the announcement this morning at a joint workshop focused on qualifying and certifying
metal additively-manufactured parts. Hundreds of government and industry leaders attended
the event, co-sponsored by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
"We're proud to be the first strategic partner in this globally-recognized center
of excellence that will help build the technical foundation for the future of additive
manufacturing," Tomblin said. "The center is attracting an array of leading industry
players to the table to speak with one voice and make an impact."
"Building on its strengths, NIAR will lead efforts to qualify additively-manufactured
materials and to further strengthen relationships with key aerospace regulators worldwide,"
Seifi added. "Leveraging their expertise in R&D, we will develop much-needed standards
that will significantly enhance certification in aviation and other industries. We"re
thrilled to have the NIAR team on board."
NIAR is an industry-focused research institute at WSU, home to one of the world's
leading aerospace engineering programs. As such, NIAR plans to be engaged in the center
of excellence's R&D activities, education and workforce development efforts, and other
functions and programs.
To learn more about the center and its activities, visit www.amcoe.org or read this
recent article in Standardization News.
Today's news follows last month's official launch of the center, when ASTM International
signed an agreement with founding partners Auburn University, NASA, manufacturing
technology innovator EWI, and the UK-based Manufacturing Technology Centre.
About ASTM International Committed to serving global societal needs, ASTM International positively impacts
public health and safety, consumer confidence, and overall quality of life. We integrate
consensus standards - developed with our international membership of volunteer technical
experts - and innovative services to improve lives... Helping our world work better.
About Wichita State University's National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) NIAR supports the aviation industry by providing research, development, testing, certification
and training. Laboratories include Additive Manufacturing, Advanced Coatings, Aging
Aircraft, Ballistic & Impact Dynamics, CAD/CAM, Composites & Advanced Materials, Crash
Dynamics, Environmental Test, Flight Simulation, Full-Scale Structural Test, Mechanical
Test, Nondestructive Test, Research Manufacturing, Reverse Engineering, Robotics &
Automation, Virtual Engineering, Virtual Reality and the Walter H. Beech Wind Tunnel.
NIAR operates on a nonprofit budget and is the largest university aviation R&D institution
in the U.S., located in Wichita, Kansas, the "Air Capital of the World."
Contacts: ASTM International: Nate Osburn, director of corporate communications, nosburn@astm.org, +1.610.832.9603
NIAR: Tracee Friess, director of communication, tracee.friess@wichita.edu, +1.316.978.5597
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