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New York State is America’s Yogurt Capital, a title the Empire State took from California in 2013. With FAGE’s announcement of a planned $82-million expansion at its Johnstown facility, New York is poised to retain this production distinction. Driven by consumer demand for Greek yogurt, the number of New York State yogurt manufacturers has doubled since 2000 and now includes 28 companies, including Chobani.

The Syracuse Learning and Technology (SALT) Makerspace is getting ready for its grand opening on Thursday, September 11 at 6:00 PM. Housed in the Delevan Center on West Fayette Street, the SALT Makerspace features metal and wood shops, a computer lab with 3D printers, and a lounge where local inventors and artists can connect. Recent presentations and an open house are energizing the community.
Backed by a $29,000 grant from the Syracuse Tech Garden, the SALT Makerspace is the brainchild of Mike Giannattasio, a Syracuse University alumnus with a Master’s Degree in Sculpture. Private donors have also contributed $16,000, along with what Giannattasio calls “countless pieces of equipment”. By sharing tools and knowledge, local artists and engineers can minimize costs while turning ideas into manufactured items.

GE Aviation is proving that the future of advanced manufacturing involves 3D printing. At a time when many manufacturers are still exploring or experimenting with 3D printers for parts prototyping, the aircraft engine builder is investing $50 billion in production equipment. “We spent years proving out this technology for a critical component,” says Greg Morris, GE Aviation’s General Manager for Additive Manufacturing.
The equipment upgrade to the company’s Auburn, Alabama plant will put at least 10 new 3D printers on the factory floor. Eventually, more than 50 machines could occupy a third of the 300,000 square-foot facility. Meanwhile, back at GE Aviation’s headquarters near Cincinnati, engineers will continue to develop new 3D printed components.

Manufacturing Innovation Institutes are public-private partnerships where businesses, universities, and the federal government collaborate to promote manufacturing breakthroughs. The government provides the initial funding, but corporate and educational partners must match or exceed this investment. Today, the United States has several “innovation hubs” – and that number is expected to grow.

In a recent white paper entitled 3D printing and the new shape of industrial manufacturing, PwC and the Manufacturing Institute share the results of a survey of 100 manufacturers and offer predictions about the economic impact of 3D printing (3DP). Most of the survey’s respondents report that they plan to use 3DP, or are embracing additive manufacturing already.
Nearly 67% of the manufacturers surveyed are evaluating, implementing, or experimenting with 3DP, typically for prototyping instead of production. Almost 25% of the respondents say they plan to use 3D printing sometime in the future. The remaining companies, which include small contract manufacturers and large multinationals, don’t plan to adopt additive manufacturing at all.

Dan North is bullish on reshoring. The chief economist at Euler Hermes, the world’s largest trade credit insurance company, cites America’s relatively low labor and energy costs, steady employment growth, and increased manufacturing productivity. Higher interest rates and a stronger U.S. dollar could pose long-term threats, but North expects today’s positive trends to continue.