University of Maine breaks ground on “Factory of the Future” | News [Video]

ORONO — The University of Maine is hoping to usher in a new era of large-scale advanced manufacturing with their Factory of the Future project. 

Construction is underway in Orono for a research facility soon to be called the “Green Engineering and Materials (GEM) Factory of the Future.” 

 “The University of Maine is leading the nation in the use of composites and advanced manufacturing, we have the largest 3D printer in the world,” said Senator Susan Collins. 

This is the latest effort from the university’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center to advance manufacturing innovation across various sectors and to inspire more students to explore the field. 

“The need for engineering and computing graduates is really sky rocketing and it is increasing to a rate that is almost double that of the nation,” said Dr. Giovanna Guidobono, Dean of the Maine College of Engineering and Computing. 

According to the center’s Executive Director Dr. …